Imagine cracking the code to financial success—not just for yourself, but for everyone on the journey with you. That’s exactly what Ashish Kashyap, the visionary behind INDmoney and ibibo, has mastered. Known for his focus on transparency, adaptability, and long-term thinking, Ashish has built more than just businesses; he’s created blueprints for financial freedom.
Not many know that Ashish Kashyap, the CEO of INDmoney, wasn’t a finance guy to begin with. Yep, he studied economics, went on to build India’s first digital travel company – ibibo – which he later sold to MakeMyTrip for $1.8 billion! Today with INDmoney, he is eyeing a way to help people achieve financial freedom by keeping their investments on track and saving them from all those hidden money leaks.
Ashish built INDmoney after watching people lose thousands of rupees because their investments were scattered across accounts, funds, and even forgotten subscriptions! Now, INDmoney is a powerful tool for those aiming for financial freedom, offering a roadmap tailored to personal finance goals.
Understanding Financial Independence: What It Means for Founders and Employees
Talking about financial independence in the startup world, it’s more than a pie in the sky goal. It creates a venture that stands on its own but builds wealth outside the business for founders. It offers freedom to innovate, take risks, and grow a company without financial constraints holding you back. Often, founders do it because they believe that they are capable of creating something valuable enough to sustain them-and even their teams-for a long time after a first big success.
For employees, especially those in startups, financial freedom often comes through opportunities of equity or Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) that give them a percentage of the company’s value. This allows them the direct route to wealth as this startup grows. Instead of just working for a pay check, employees can generate wealth from the inside of the company out—developing sweat equity into real personal financial freedom if the organization takes off.
nutshell, financial freedom is what both the entrepreneur and employee are after, with founders wanting to eventually establish a self-sufficient successful business and employees joining them for the opportunity at this great wealth creation with a view from the roots up. In this event, both are building into a financially secure entity – a financial freedom that liberates choice, investments elsewhere, and let’s all face it, perhaps quite a nice early retirement option too, if one proves successful enough!
Ashish’s Path to Financial Independence: A CEO’s Perspective
Let’s get into Ashish Kashyap’s story of financial independence—because let’s be honest, he didn’t get there by playing it safe!
Ashish started out in economics but soon came to the realization that if he stuck to one field, he wasn’t going to make much money. So, the first big break? Ibibo, of course. That became India’s first digital travel giant and was eventually merged into MakeMyTrip in a gigantic $1.8 billion deal! That is a level of “I did it” for the CEO.
But for Ashish freedom from financial burden is so much more than a lump sum payout. He started something called INDmoney. “It’s enabling normal humans to take ownership of finances by providing tools such as tracking investments and wealth and even saving hidden fees for everyday people.” In today’s world, where each rupee earned makes sense only when each one makes sense, being independent, Ashish noticed that that financial independence wasn’t really an event it’s all about lifestyle with strategic plays, innovation, and self-conscience of how the penny is going.
Ashish’s approach is quite simple:
Financial independence for a founder is not the hit of that one big milestone but staying in the game, finding gaps, and creating solutions that bring value to others while building personal wealth. And through INDmoney, Ashish pays his financial journey forward and helps thousands in working toward their own version of financial independence.
The Role of Equity in Building Wealth
Alright, let’s tear down how equity is this ultimate golden ticket in the game of building wealth!
For founders and employees, equity is ownership—a share of the company’s possible pie. Imagine this: you never just get a salary or bonus; rather, you own part of the startup. And at the point when the firm scales up or goes public, that little slice could just turn into a whole meal of financial feast!
Equity is something that entrepreneurs want to hold onto: it’s their profit to take the massive risk in putting in long, difficult hours and, admittedly, the chaos of having startups. If the startup proves successful, that same equity turns into a giant bank of personal wealth with great value: it can potentially enable subsequent ventures, new investment, or even premature retirement.
To the employees, equity is the “sweetener” of joining a startup. They do not get only cash but a stake in the future success of the company. Startups usually provide Employee Stock Ownership Plans or stock options that vest over time. As the company’s value grows, so does the worth of that equity, giving employees a chance to achieve financial independence along with the growth of the company.
Equity, at the end of the day, is a long-term investment into the company’s vision but, for founders and employees alike, it’s about building wealth that leads towards financial independence, freedom, and maybe even a little early retirement bliss.
How Do ESOPs Empower Employees toward Financial Freedom?
the magic key to having financial freedom without leaving your 9-to-5! Let’s break it down.
Employee Stock Ownership Plans are stock plans that give the employees partial ownership in their company. In other words, instead of working for the company, you are actually building your own investment into it. Therefore, if the company is doing well, the value they hold in shares will increase.
That’s where it gets interesting: when startups become successful, they often get taken public or acquired for a lot of money. That can mean a great payday for employees with ESOPs. Imagine working for a few years, then suddenly having stock worth several times your salary. That is financial freedom right there-much money to pay off debt, invest, or even fund early retirement.
Besides, ESOPs make the employees think owner, not worker. An employee will want to participate in growing the company innovatively because he or she will get every bit of the gain, directly into pocketbooks. It is being on a sports team where your win does not only carry the reward but also divides the prize money.
In a nutshell, ESOPs provide the direct access to the wealth that depends on the success of one’s own company. They give a rare opportunity at financial freedom that is very rewarding and empowering.
Long-term investment strategies for building wealth
Alright, so let’s dive into this desi long-term wealth-building guide, Indian style! Here’s how to think long-term when it comes to growing wealth in India’s unique market.
Equity Mutual Funds & Index Funds: Indian equity mutual funds, especially index funds tracking NIFTY or Sensex, are fantastic for long-term growth. These funds distribute risk evenly across top companies in numerous sectors, and Indian markets have proven solid returns with time. Just set it up and forget it for 10-20 years, then watch the magic happen.
Public Provident Fund: PPF is the ultimate Indian dad-approved investment, and for all the good reasons! It’s government-backed, with tax benefits under Section 80C, and currently giving around 7-8% interest per annum. Now, that’s a 15-year lock-in, pure long-term.
Real Estate: Right from a fancy flat in Mumbai to a plot in a fast-developing city, this is the quintessential Indian investment. Real estate appreciates over time, generates rental income, and hey-no one’s complaining about owning their own property!
SIPs in equity mutual funds are a game-changer for long-term investors in India. It allows you to ride out market ups and downs by investing a fixed amount every month, thereby taking advantage of rupee cost averaging. Over time, these small contributions compound into a sizeable corpus. Plus, they’re budget-friendly! ????
National Pension System (NPS): For retirement planning, NPS is an excellent low-cost, long-term scheme with tax benefits. You get the security of a government-backed plan along with flexibility in choosing equity and debt allocations. And once you hit 60, it gives you a steady pension, which means freedom from the monthly grind!
Gold ETFs or Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB): Indians and gold? Classic combination, it is! Gold ETFs and SGBs will help you invest in gold without holding physical gold. The Sovereign Gold Bond will give you guaranteed returns of 2.5% over and above market returns on gold. You will also have a return of 8 years; in case you keep the gains till maturity, then all the gains will be tax-free. That is not bad, huh!
EPF: If you are a salaried person, the contributions to EPF can be a good source of long-term savings. It is tax-effective and keeps on building up. And compounding interest makes this modest deduction into a good nest egg over time.
Direct Equity Investing: So, if you are that keeda on the stock market, a long term portfolio of blue-chip Indian stocks would make big returns. You’re looking at Infosys, TCS, Reliance or HDFC, right? But, again, always research or talk to someone in the business as entering it alone could be something of a roller coaster.
Bonds & FDs: For those who like stability in returns, corporate bonds, government bonds, and FDs are tried-and-tested options. They won’t give you massive growth, but they add stability to your portfolio. And hey, an FD still makes any Indian parent proud!
In short, long-term investing in India is all about leveraging our rich mix of traditional and modern investment tools. Just keep it diversified, patient, and let compounding do its magic. All said and done, achhe din come to those who wait (and invest wisely)!
Managing Risks of the Journey to Startup
You are starting a start-up? Buckle up, baby! It is like hopping on a rollercoaster with a blindfold on! The risks are tremendous, from running out of cash faster than a teenager’s allowance to discovering that your “genius” product has zero fans. You are juggling all these different demands from the customers, investor expectations, and a team that may jump ship at any given time. Add a few government regulations and tech glitches for good measure. Not for the faint of heart, but what makes it so thrilling!
Mastering risk in the startup world is embracing chaos. You can’t predict every twist and turn, but you can learn to dance with them. Adapt, innovate, and don’t cling to any one idea. Don’t try to avoid every risk; ride that wave, turn setbacks into fuel for the next big win. The ultimate prize of a completely risk-filled startup journey is the adventure that builds legends.
Basic Infrastructure Building a Solid Financial Foundation in a Rapid Growth Company
Like constructing the ground rules for the game you intend to win because, without them, even the best ideas collapse. As Ashish loves reminding everyone, every building block of financial infrastructure today will support the weight of success tomorrow.
Start from building automated, scalable accounting systems that grow with the scale of your business—every rupee moving into or out of it, that is. It’s all about visibility from Ashish on INDmoney, where you know exactly where every single paisa is, and the system will prevent things from falling through the cracks. Now, budgeting and forecasting isn’t about numbers but is actually a roadmap of your company. In such high-growth environments that sometimes can seem chaotic, knowing exactly how things stand allows you to know exactly when to turn the wheel, accelerate, or brake.
Then there’s regulatory compliance—a game-changer in markets like India’s. Being in line with the rules from day one avoids last-minute panics where the stakes are higher. And, as Ashish has shown, internal controls help maintain integrity and prevent risks from growing along with the company. These are not just technicalities but your guardrails, strategic advantage, and foundation for sustainable, fearless growth.
Major Take-Aways from Ashish about being Financially Successful
Let’s dive into key lessons by Ashish Kashyap on financial success in the style of Indian start-ups.
Think Long-term, Always: Ashish builds businesses that have a real, solid, and sustainable future. He is against quick wins or shortcuts, but strong foundations, much like the ones he made with ibibo and later with INDmoney. He believes in financial success never being overnight but strategic, patient planning, and always making the right decisions when they’ll pay off over the years.
Know Where Every Paisa Goes: One of the core principles that Ashish has is complete visibility in your finances. Whether it is investments, hidden fees, or even personal expenditures, you know where every rupee goes so you can make informed, confident financial moves. INDmoney was born from this need to help people track and optimize their finances and eradicate the “unknown” which sabotages success.
Stay Agile and Adaptable: Ashish’s journey reflects the need to stay flexible. Markets change fast, and he’s always been open to pivoting, especially when he spots a new trend or challenge. Financial success means being adaptable to new opportunities or risks and keeping a dynamic strategy that can evolve.
Invest in Yourself and Your Team: Success is not just about money but also investment in knowledge, skills, and the right people. Ashish values learning-from be it the market trend or a tech innovation-and hiring the right people for the long-term goal of the company.
Build for other people’s financial independence. Financial empowerment is at the core of Ashish’s work. He saw the need for better control over finances and built INDmoney for this purpose. For him, financial success is not only individual success but a system that brings benefits to all stakeholders from employees to users.
In short, Ashish’s journey has been about creating value that lasts, staying nimble in a fast-changing world, and empowering others to achieve financial independence alongside you.
