Jay Kotak picks a side in 'investing versus running businesses' debate that father Uday Kotak once ignited

New-age banking service Kotak811’s Co-Head Jay Kotak believes the younger generation should focus on building businesses and running operations, when asked about his father Uday Kotak’s recent remark that evoked a debate on whether younger scions of entrepreneurs should become financial investors early in their lives.

Kotak was speaking at a panel discussion on Network 18's Rising Bharat Summit 2025 being held in New Delhi, on April 8.

"Where India is today, I agree that the next generation should lean towards operating. If you look at the US a 100 years ago, you would see the sons and daughters of the largest industrialists – they tended to be in operations. It is only now, many many generations later, that folks wear more into the investment side in the US," Jay said, alluding to his father’s comment that had suggested a decline in India’s ‘economic animal spirits.’

Uday Kotak had recently sparked a debate by stating that the next generation of business families in India were prioritising stock market speculation and asset management over building and running businesses. "I would love to see this generation be hungry for success and build operational businesses. Even today, I firmly believe that the next generation must work hard and create businesses rather than becoming financial investors too early in life," he had said.