Cred founder and CEO Kunal Shah had to work as a delivery agent and as a data entry operator after his family went bankrupt, shared Info Edge founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani on Tuesday. The two entrepreneurs met at a coffee shop in Delhi and it was during a conversation regarding Shah's education that he spoke about having to work two jobs as a youngster.
"Sitting with Kunal Shah at a coffee shop in Delhi. In a world of IIT, IIM Founders he stands out as a philosophy graduate from Wilson College in Mumbai," Bikhchandani wrote on X. "I asked him why he studied philosophy - is it that his marks in Class 12 only gave him admission in that subject or was it out of interest in philosophy. He told me it was neither. His family had gone bankrupt and he had to work as a delivery boy and a data entry operator full time. And philosophy was the only subject where the classes were from 8 am to 10 am. Salute."
Sitting with Kunal Shah at a coffee shop in Delhi. In a world of IIT IIM Founders he stands out as a philosophy graduate from Wilson College in Mumbai. I asked him why he studied philosophy - is it that his marks in Class 12 only gave him admission in that subject or was it out…— Sanjeev Bikhchandani (@sbikh) February 2, 2024
In earlier interviews, Shah has revealed that his family’s financial situation prompted him to start earning as a teenager. He has pirated CDs, and ran a cyber café out of his home, among other things, to earn his way. By 16, he was financially independent.
“From age 16, I became financially independent by doing odd jobs," Kunal Shah had said.
He had also claimed that he draws a salary of Rs 15,000 per month. On being asked why he chose to keep his salary relatively low, the CRED CEO shared in an Instagram story that he believes he shouldn't draw a large salary until the fintech company turns profitable.
“I don’t believe I should get a good salary till the company is profitable. My salary at CRED is Rs 15,000 per month and I can survive as I sold my company FreeCharge in the past," he wrote.
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