Superstar Fininfluencer on his Entrepreneurial Journey
Internet sensation, entrepreneur, and Instagram’s beloved financial education content creator, Sharan Hegde, has risen to phenomenal success by sharing his knowledge and expertise with the world. Starting his entrepreneurial journey 2 years back with his startup, 1% Club, which takes financial education to the masses, he is redefining success on his own terms. He has an Instagram following of over 3 million people, and his followers continue to rise with each passing day.
Sharan studied mechanical engineering but chose to work in consulting to learn from experienced people and gain exposure to the finance world. He began his career in consulting as an analyst at KPMG and later worked at PwC. That experience inspired him to create finance content on Instagram, simplifying complex topics for everyone. In 2021, during the COVID pandemic, he started creating personal finance content in his free time. He exclaims that his first videos were only watched by his mother and her WhatsApp group! But when he started creating funny skits, people connected with the content since it was relatable, useful, and easy to understand.
That year, he was also accepted into Columbia to pursue an MBA. However, he felt a strong calling to make a bigger impact and decided to take the plunge. Instead of following the traditional MBA path, he chose to go all in on his passion for financial education and founded his startup, 1% Club, to help others achieve financial independence. Today, Sharan’s team of 150 people is working to make finance simple and accessible for all.
A complete believer in personal financial management and independence, Sharan’s goal is to make finance easy for everyone. He wants to break the misconception that finance is boring or complex. Through comedic videos and simple explanations, he aims to make financial literacy accessible to all and help people achieve financial independence.
Sharan talks about his inspiration and how it impacted his journey. He says, “Before I was born, my dad was a successful businessman who made great investments. But when he started a restaurant, the business struggled and eventually had to shut down. Later, he started another successful business, but growing up, I often heard stories about these financial challenges. These experiences inspired me to learn personal finance management and share what I’ve learned with others. That’s how I started creating content through Finance with Sharan, which eventually led to the creation of 1% Club.” For Sharan, his sister Shreya has been a constant source of motivation who influenced him to create social media content.
Being passionate about what he does, he feels that this quality helps him excel at his job. He is open to new ideas and fully supports their execution. He also surrounds himself with smart people who challenge and inspire him. One of his best qualities is that he is not afraid to ask questions and learn from others. He mentions, “On the flip side, I get so focused on work that I sometimes neglect my physical health. I’m working on finding a better balance to take care of myself while staying committed to my goals.”
With young entrepreneurs like Sharan Hegde who are ready to make their dreams come true through determination, diligence and perseverance, India is surely on a path to becoming a hub for brilliant minds in the financial sector.
