‘Don’t turn to previous generation…’: Zerodha’s Nikhil Kamath shares the secret to future-proofing your business

Nikhil Kamat, co-founder of Zerodha, says the secret to business success lies not in corporate strategy or generational wisdom, but in what the country’s 16-year-olds are doing.

Speaking with LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky in The Path video series, Kamat made a bold case for teenage intuition: Don’t look to the previous generation to plan 20 years ahead.”

For Kamath, the next big idea isn’t in your book of business—it’s on TikTok or Instagram.

Kamat’s philosophy is simple. teenagers don’t just consume trends, they create them. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube are shaping the cultural and consumer landscape, making them important areas for business to explore. Look to the younger generation for inspiration, no or the older generation,” Kamat said, urging leaders to rethink how they plan for the future.

Teens are driving changes in technology, entertainment, fashion and lifestyle, and Kamath believes their habits provide a roadmap for the future. Ignoring these signals, he warns, is a recipe for failure.

Kamath’s focus on the future is not limited to his market insights.As the youngest philanthropist on the Hurun India Philanthropy List, he and his brother Nitin have donated over 120 crores to causes like climate change and sustainability through the Rainmatter Foundation.

The Kamat 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.

Kamat previously said on the podcast that he saw untapped potential in areas such as men’s grooming, which he predicted was on the verge of explosive growth.

“With evolving gender norms, this market … is going to explode,” she noted, comparing it to how women’s beauty trends once revolutionized the industry.

According to research, the men’s grooming market is estimated to reach $202 billion worldwide by 2030, with India playing a major role. “Take what worked with women and build for men, maybe jewelry later.”