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Startup founder recalls getting reply from Nithin Kamath within an hour

The startup founder emailed Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath in 2020.

Published on: Jan 15, 2026, 18:37:58 IST
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In 2020, a hopeful entrepreneur launched his startup and took a long shot by emailing Nithin Kamath. To his surprise, the Zerodha CEO and co-founder replied within just one hour. While the pitch didn't result in an investment, the founder recently shared how that brief moment of accessibility gave him the momentum to keep building, ultimately leading to his current success with a company generating over $200,000 in revenue.

The startup founder shared his story of Nithin Kamath on X. (File Photo, X/@manoj_ahi)
The startup founder shared his story of Nithin Kamath on X. (File Photo, X/@manoj_ahi)

“I reached out to Nithin Kamath back in 2020 when I launched my startup MoneyFit. I didn't expect a reply, but he responded within an hour,” Manoj Ahirwar, who is currently in Singapore, wrote.

Also Read: India-origin entrepreneur in UK earns $200 an hour training AI models part-time: 'Intellectual curiosity drew me in’

He continued, “While I didn't end up getting investment from Zerodha, it was incredible to see how accessible he was. You could just reach out directly to the founder.”

He shared that the experience didn’t demotivate him; rather, it inspired him to keep building. After five years, he is running his own company, which has crossed $200K in revenue.

“When I look back, I realise that my startup MoneyFit wasn't ready for investment, but I'm glad I tried anyway,” Ahirwar posted.

He also shared a screenshot of the email from years ago. “I'm Manoj from India. Launched my Startup MoneyFit.io,” read the subject of an email dated August 30, 2020.

Ahirwar sent the email at 9:03 pm and received a reply from Nithin Kamath at 10:12 pm on the same day. In his response, Kamath had tagged a few members from his team and asked them to check Ahirwar’s email.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Manoj Ahirwar holds a B.Tech degree from the National Institute of Technology, Karnataka. He opened two startups before shutting them and joining a company in Bengaluru.

Also Read: US entrepreneur praises India's quick delivery platforms, compares with hour-long waits in America

He continued working on various jobs for a few years before founding MoneyFit in 2020, but the company ceased operations in 2022. He started his present company a year later in 2023.

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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