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Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, has launched WTFund, a non-dilutive grant fund targeting Indian entrepreneurs under the age of 25.
The fund aims to empower young founders who demonstrate the potential to disrupt industries with innovative ideas. The WTFund is distinctive in that it allows founders to retain full equity in their ventures, offering a grant of Rs 20 lakh without taking any ownership stakes.
What support does the WTFund provide?
The WTFund will offer a robust support package to help young entrepreneurs grow and succeed. This includes operator-first mentorship pods, access to a Go-To-Market (GTM) studio, beta testing, feedback opportunities, and talent acquisition avenues through an internship program, a fractional CXO database, and moonlighting opportunities.
The WTFund originates from the podcast hosted by Nikhil Kamath.
Who can apply?
Unlike others, The fund is open to all sectors and seeks applications from the "top 1%" of young entrepreneurs in India, specifically those aged 25 or younger. It will accept applications from the WTF Website.
Forty entrepreneurs will be chosen to receive this grant and mentorship for a one-year period. Candidates will undergo a rigorous selection process to ensure that only those with the most compelling visions and potential for impact are chosen.
What Nikhil Kamath said about the new fund?
“Respecting our elders has been deeply engrained in our culture. But this doesn’t mean we should treat the youth of the country with any less of it. The India of my childhood differs markedly from the country we see today. Back then, the emphasis was on securing stable employment rather than pursuing entrepreneurship and embracing risk. Young founders tend to create the most impact within entrepreneurship," said Nikhil Kamath, who is also the co-founder of Zerodha.
"At WTF, our goal is to cultivate a culture that encourages young entrepreneurs to embrace risk by providing a comprehensive support system. We are excited to launch the fund and see where it goes,” Kamath added.