Navi Technologies vs Zerodha: Founders, CEOs and History
Navi Technologies was founded in 2018 by Sachin Bansal, Ankit Agarwal and is led by Rajiv Naresh. Zerodha was founded in 2010 by Nithin Kamath, Nikhil Kamath and is led by Nithin Kamath.
Company facts
Navi Technologies
- Founded
- 2018
- Headquarters
- Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
- Current CEO
- Rajiv Naresh
- Employees
- 1,500
Zerodha
- Founded
- 2010
- Headquarters
- Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
- Current CEO
- Nithin Kamath
- Employees
- 1,100
Founders
Navi Technologies
Sachin Bansal
Sachin Bansal co-founded Navi in 2018 after exiting Flipkart. He funded the group largely himself, owning about 97% at the time of its 2022 IPO filing, and serves as Founder and Executive Chairman.
Ankit Agarwal
Ankit Agarwal co-founded Navi in 2018 and leads its finance function. He was the company's spokesperson on the FY2026 results, guiding for profitability in FY2027.
Zerodha
Nithin Kamath
Nithin Kamath co-founded Zerodha in 2010 and has been its CEO since. He introduced the flat-fee model, made delivery trades free in 2015 and has kept the company self-funded.
Nikhil Kamath
Nikhil Kamath co-founded Zerodha and later co-founded True Beacon and Gruhas. He signed The Giving Pledge in 2023.
CEOs and their tenures
Navi Technologies
- Sachin Bansal2018–present
Founder & Executive Chairman
Steered Navi from a private holding company to an enterprise managing over 10,000 crore in loan AUM with FY23 consolidated revenue exceeding 2,040 crore ().
Source - Ankit Agarwal2018–present
Co-Founder & CFO
Managed the complex regulatory structuring and risk underwriting algorithms necessary to deploy mass-market digital loans across India.
Source - Rajiv Naresh2025–present
MD & CEO, Navi Limited
Previously MD and CEO of Navi AMC (March 2023 to February 2025) before taking charge of Navi Limited.
Zerodha
- Nithin Kamath2010–present
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Has led Zerodha since founding and publishes regular updates on its finances and risks.
Source - Nikhil Kamath2010–present
Co-Founder
Co-founded Zerodha and is also a co-founder of True Beacon and Gruhas.
Source - Kailash Nadh2013–present
Chief Technology Officer
Leads the in-house technology team behind Kite and Zerodha's other platforms.
Source
Timeline: Navi Technologies and Zerodha side by side
2010Zerodha
Zerodha founded in Bengaluru
Nithin and Nikhil Kamath started operations on 15 August 2010.
2015Zerodha
Free equity delivery and Kite
Zerodha dropped brokerage on delivery trades and moved clients to its own Kite platform.
2018Navi Technologies
Establishment of BAC Acquisitions: Sachin Bansal and Ankit Agarwal incorporate BAC Acquisitions in Bengaluru in December 2018 to deploy venture capital and build consumer-facing technology enterprises…
2019Navi Technologies
Acquisition of Chaitanya NBFC: BAC Acquisitions acquires Chaitanya India Fin Credit for 739 crore, securing an RBI NBFC lending license and bringing microfinance assets onto the balance sheet.
2020Navi Technologies
Rebranding to Navi Technologies & App Launch: Corporate entity is rebranded as Navi Technologies Limited; the flagship Navi mobile application is launched on Android, offering 100% paperless personal…
2020Navi Technologies
Acquisition of DHFL General Insurance: Navi acquires DHFL General Insurance for 100 crore, rebranding it as Navi General Insurance to underwrite retail health and motor insurance.
2021Navi Technologies
Acquisition of Essel AMC & Mutual Fund Launch: SEBI approves the takeover of Essel Mutual Fund; Navi AMC is established, launching the landmark Navi Nifty 50 Index Fund with a low expense ratio of 0.0…
2022Navi Technologies
Home Loan & UPI Integration: Navi launches digital home loans up to 5 crore with zero processing fees and integrates National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) UPI payment infrastructure.
2023Zerodha
Zerodha Fund House launches its first funds
After announcing a mutual fund joint venture with smallcase in April 2023, Zerodha Fund House opened its first two passive index funds, with the offer period running to November 3, 2023.
2024Zerodha
Margin trading facility launched
Zerodha began offering margin trading funding in December 2024.
2026Navi Technologies
FY2026 results: revenue from operations ~$346 million (₹2,982 crore), net loss ~$54.1 million (₹466 crore); Navi Finserv AUM above ~$1.51 billion (₹13,000 crore).
2026Navi Technologies
Prosus agrees to invest $100 million in Navi, its first institutional funding.
2026Zerodha
FY26 profit of ~$497 million (₹4,283 crore)
Profit rose about 1.2% while revenue stayed roughly flat.
2026Zerodha
Merchant banking registration
Zerodha Corporate Advisors received a Category-I merchant banking registration from SEBI.
Acquisitions
Navi Technologies
- Essel Mutual Fund (Essel Finance AMC)2021Undisclosed
- DHFL General Insurance Limited2020$13.5M
- Chaitanya India Fin Credit Pvt. Ltd. (CIFCPL)2019$100M
Zerodha
No verified acquisitions are listed.
Questions about Navi Technologies vs Zerodha
Who is the CEO of Navi Technologies and Zerodha?
Navi Technologies is led by Rajiv Naresh and Zerodha is led by Nithin Kamath. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Navi Technologies founded vs Zerodha?
Zerodha was founded in 2010 — 8 years before Navi Technologies, which was founded in 2018. Zerodha's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Navi Technologies.
How many employees does Navi Technologies have compared to Zerodha?
Navi Technologies employs approximately 1,500 people, while Zerodha employs approximately 1,100. Navi Technologies has the larger workforce at 1,500 employees, compared to Zerodha's 1,100. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Navi Technologies and Zerodha headquartered?
Both Navi Technologies and Zerodha are headquartered in India, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Navi Technologies and Zerodha?
Navi Technologies was founded by Sachin Bansal, Ankit Agarwal. Zerodha was founded by Nithin Kamath, Nikhil Kamath.
Which company has a longer operating history — Navi Technologies or Zerodha?
Zerodha has been operating for approximately 16 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Navi Technologies has been in operation for around 8 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Navi Technologies vs Zerodha overview