Meet Lalit Keshre, The Farmer’s Son From Madhya Pradesh Who Rose Above Early Hardships, Cracked IIT, And Became A Billionaire With His Rs 9,448 Cro...

If you had wandered into Lepa, a tiny village tucked away in Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone district, a couple of decades ago and asked the locals if a global fintech success story would one day spring from

their neighbourhood, they would have laughed politely and redirected you to the nearest bus stand. Life in Lepa moved at its own leisurely hum—fields, harvest seasons, long stretches of sunshine, and a sprinkling of dreams that didn’t usually travel beyond district borders. Yet, every now and then, villages produce someone who rewrites the script. Someone who looks at a world much bigger than the one immediately around him and decides to chase it anyway. One such story—now firmly etched into India’s startup history—is that of Lalit Keshre, co-founder and CEO of Groww, who has stormed onto the billionaire list after the company’s extraordinary stock market debut. His journey is one of those rare tales where grit, timing, and imagination mingle in perfect proportion. And yes, it all begins with a farmer’s boy who once studied in the only English-medium school in town, with grandparents who believed that doing one’s best was a form of worship.

Who Is Lalit Keshre?

Lalit Keshre, now 44, is the quiet force behind Groww—the investment platform that turned first-time investors into confident market participants and made financial literacy more accessible. While he is known today as the founder of one of India’s most successful fintech companies, his story is grounded in simple beginnings. Born into a farming family in Khargone district, Lalit lived with his grandparents for most of his childhood. The family may not have had much by way of material comforts, but they had something priceless—encouragement. It was this encouragement that nudged him to look beyond the fields and school corridors and dream of educational milestones that were almost unheard of in his district.

Lalit Keshre Early Life and Journey

Life in Lepa village came with its set of limitations. Facilities were scarce, opportunities even scarcer. His early education took place in the only English-medium school available in the district—a small but significant step that opened many doors later. A fun fact: Lalit did not grow up surrounded by tech. In fact, the first time he truly understood what IIT was, he was already halfway through school. Yet, once he learned about the JEE, he aimed straight for it. And as stories of determined youngsters often go, he cracked the exam and made it to IIT Bombay, where he completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in technology. At IIT, he wasn’t the stereotypical wide-eyed student wandering in awe. Instead, he treated the institution like a playground for possibilities—from product thinking to problem-solving, everything fascinated him. In hindsight, that curiosity has clearly paid off.

Lalit Keshre’s Struggles

The transition from a village upbringing to an IIT campus isn’t as glamorous as it sounds—especially when the world you step into speaks a completely different language, metaphorically and literally. Lalit often spoke of how the early years required more unlearning than learning. Catching up academically was challenging, but learning to blend confidence with humility was perhaps the real milestone. Then came the second wave of struggles—the startup grind. Leaving a stable job at a booming company like Flipkart to build something entirely new was loaded with risk. There were long nights, countless iterations, and the one emotion every founder knows too well: uncertainty. But the one thing he never struggled with? The belief that India needed a simple, transparent investment platform.

Lalit Keshre Career

Before Groww, Lalit spent several years at Flipkart, India’s e-commerce trailblazer. He worked as one of the early product managers, particularly on the Flipkart Marketplace, which was still shaping itself at the time. His stint at Flipkart exposed him to technology at scale and the importance of building products that ordinary people could use without hesitation. By 2016, Lalit—along with fellow Flipkart veterans Harsh Jain, Ishan Bansal, and Neeraj Singh—felt the itch that most innovators recognise: the urge to build something of their own. And so, Groww was born. The idea was refreshingly straightforward: make investing so simple that even first-time users felt empowered, not intimidated. No jargon, no complexity—just clarity. What began as an advisory platform soon evolved into one of India’s most trusted fintech ecosystems, connecting millions to the stock market.

Lalit Keshre Education

Lalit’s academic journey forms the foundation of his success story. After completing schooling in Khargone, he cleared the Joint Entrance Examination and joined IIT Bombay, where he pursued dual degrees—Bachelor’s and Master’s in Technology. It wasn’t merely the prestige of IIT that shaped him; it was the exposure to ideas, people, and diverse ambitions. IIT Bombay gave him a canvas larger than anything he had known before.

The Groww Surge: Lalit Keshre IPO Breakthrough

Now to the moment that catapulted him into billionaire territory. Groww’s IPO debuted on 12 November 2025, with its shares priced at Rs 100. What followed over the next four days was nothing short of phenomenal—an over 70% surge, pushing the share price to around Rs 174 by 17 November.

Lalit Keshre’s personal stake?

He owns 559.1 million shares, giving him a 9.06% holding. At current prices, this stake is worth approximately Rs 9,448 crore—or about $1.13 billion. Groww’s listing also boosted its market valuation to over Rs 26,000 crore, solidifying investor confidence in India’s fintech revolution. And here’s an eye-opener: the company’s private valuation was around $3 billion earlier—but the public markets have taken it to an entirely new league.

Groww’s IPO and the Overnight Millionaires

Lalit wasn’t the only one transformed by the listing. The other co-founders also saw their wealth multiply almost magically. Harsh Jain holds 411.6 million shares, worth around Rs 6,586 crore. Ishan Bansal owns 277.8 million shares, valued at Rs 4,444 crore. Neeraj Singh has 383.2 million shares, worth approximately Rs 6,132 crore. For a company built by four colleagues who once sat in Flipkart conference rooms with packed lunches and product notes, the moment is nothing short of milestone-making. A final fun fact: Groww’s early versions were reportedly built on simple laptops in makeshift workspaces—not glamorous, but effective. It’s a lovely reminder that in the world of startups, it’s the idea that wins, not the décor.