Zerodha’s Nikhil Kamath launches grant fund WTFund for entrepreneurs under age 25; check details

financialexpress.com:

Focusing on promoting entrepreneurship in India, Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath on Monday launched a non-dilutive sector-agnostic grant fund WTFund. The new fund will back entrepreneurs aged 25 and under with the potential to “revolutionize their industries through innovative ideas and compelling visions,” WTF said in a statement.

Entrepreneurs will get access to a non-dilutive grant of up to Rs 20 lakh, without any equity loss, along with access to “operator-first mentorship pods, a vibrant community through the WTF ecosystem, a Go-To-Market (GTM) studio, beta testing, and feedback opportunities, as well as talent acquisition channels through an internship program, a fractional CXO database, and moonlighting opportunities.”

The fund will select 40 entrepreneurs for funding and mentorship over one year following a screening process. The support will be offered until entrepreneurs are able to secure their first institutional funding.

Speaking on the new fund, Kamath said the 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,” he said. 

“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. Today, young founders tend to create the most impact within entrepreneurship,” Kamath added.

The fund, open to applications from its website, is an offshoot of the podcast series WTF by Kamath where he hosts experts from various sectors over casual yet intellectually stimulating conversations across topics in EVs, gaming, energy, social media, technology, finance and