Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath says the secret to staying ahead in business lies not in corporate strategy or generational wisdom, but in looking at what the country's 16-year-olds are doing.
Speaking to LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky in The Path video series, Kamath made a bold case for teenage intelligence: “Look at what a 16-year-old boy wants and what he wants in the next 10 years. Don't turn to the previous generation to plan 20 years ahead.”
For Kamath, the next big idea isn't in your business playbook—it's on TikTok or Instagram.
Kamat's philosophy is clear: young people don't just consume trends—they create them. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube shape the cultural and consumer landscape, making them critical spaces for business to study. “Look ahead, look to the younger generation for inspiration, not the older generation,” Kamath said, urging leaders to rethink how they plan for the future.
Kamat believes that young people are driving changes in technology, entertainment, fashion and lifestyle, and their habits provide a roadmap for what's next. Ignoring these signals, he warns, is a recipe for irrelevance.
Kamath's focus on the future is not limited to his market insights. As the youngest philanthropist in the Hurun India philanthropist list, he and his brother Nithin have donated over Rs 120 crore to causes like climate change and sustainability through the Rainmatter Foundation.
The Kamath brothers are consistently ranked among India's top philanthropists and their contributions to environmental and social initiatives have made them prominent figures in the global philanthropic community.
In a previous podcast, Kamat said he saw untapped potential in industries like men's grooming, which he predicts are on the verge of explosive growth.
“With evolving gender roles, this market … is poised to explode,” he noted, comparing it to how women's beauty trends once revolutionized industries.
Backed by research, the men's grooming market is expected to reach $202 billion globally by 2030, with India playing a major role. Kamat even hinted at untapped sectors, saying, “Pick what works with women and build for men — maybe jewelry next.”