In a recent LinkedIn post, Nithin Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, shares the origin story and enduring impact of Zerodha Varsity, highlighting the pivotal role of Karthik Rangappa in its development. Kamath emphasizes the platform’s commitment to accessible financial education, free from commercial pressures.
The journey of Zerodha Varsity, Kamath explains, began with a personal connection and a shared vision. He recounts his initial interaction with Rangappa nearly three decades ago, a far cry from their later collaboration. “I’ve known Karthik Rangappa 🇮🇳 for almost 30 years. My first interaction was me trying to sell him a Reliance Money demat account as a sub-broker. 😄”, Kamath shared, illustrating the long arc of their acquaintance.
The Genesis of Zerodha Varsity
Kamath details how the idea for a dedicated financial education platform took shape in 2014. He approached Rangappa, who was then teaching markets on the side, with the proposition to build a robust platform at Zerodha. Rangappa’s immediate acceptance marked the beginning of what would become a cornerstone of Zerodha’s educational initiatives.
“In 2014, he was teaching markets on the side while figuring out his next thing. I asked if he wanted to build a proper financial education platform at Zerodha. He said yes on the spot. That’s how Zerodha Varsity started,” Kamath wrote, underscoring the spontaneous yet decisive moment that launched the project.
A Model for Accessible Education
A key aspect of Zerodha Varsity, as highlighted by Kamath, is its unwavering commitment to providing education without barriers. The platform has maintained a strict policy of no paywalls, no advertisements, no signups, and no spam, ensuring that knowledge is freely available to all interested readers.
The success and reach of Varsity are evident in its longevity and readership. “12 years, millions of readers. No paywall, no ads, no signups, no spam. He still personally replies to reader questions in the comments,” Kamath noted, emphasizing Rangappa’s continued personal engagement and the platform’s dedication to its readers.
Expanding Educational Horizons
Beyond the core Varsity platform, Rangappa has been instrumental in developing several other educational initiatives under the Zerodha umbrella. These include Varsity Live, Varsity Junior for younger audiences, and Rupee Tales for children, demonstrating a broad commitment to financial literacy across different age groups.
Kamath also revealed the latest development: the transformation of Varsity’s first module into a published book, “A Beginner’s Guide to the Indian Stock Market.” This move further solidifies Zerodha’s dedication to making financial education accessible in various formats.
Karthik Rangappa’s Multifaceted Contributions
Kamath humorously touches upon Rangappa’s diverse skill set and dedication, listing him as a “Bodybuilder, photographer, teacher, author, coder.” This portrayal emphasizes Rangappa’s dynamic and multifaceted nature, which Kamath suggests might be driven by a long-term personal goal.
In a lighthearted closing remark, Kamath mused about the underlying motivation for Rangappa’s intense focus on education. “Btw, we keep joking with him, is all this education obsession really just a 25-year project to fix his image with his father-in-law, who happens to be a legendary educator himself? 😄”, he posted, adding a personal and humorous anecdote to the narrative of Rangappa’s impactful career in financial education.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Nithin Kamath on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on April 26, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →