Sharan Hegde: A Journey from Curiosity to Finance Icon

Who is Sharan Hegde?

Sharan Hegde is a famous finance influencer and content creator. He runs the popular @financewithsharan Instagram and YouTube handles. He creates content on personal finance. His journey is nothing short of remarkable. 

Early Life and Education 

Sharan was born on July 15, 1995, in Mangalore district of Karnataka. Sharan grew up as an arrogant, quiet and introspective child. While most kids spent their recess time playing, he used to invest it. Sharan was a bookworm, always completing his homework. However, his quiet demeanour masked a deep curiosity about the world that sometimes got him into trouble for asking too many questions. 

Sharan’s early fascination with the business world was ignited during summers spent at his father’s restaurant in Mysore. There, at the cash counter, he delighted in counting money and inquiring about cash flow. He asked many times about money management.

He got to learn the basics of financing at his home and father’s hotel. Later after completing his schooling, Sharan pursued engineering at R.V. College of Engineering in Bengaluru. His initial dream was to become a chief engineer at prestigious companies like Ferrari or BMW. However, by his third year, his passion had shifted to finance. It was then that he began saving festival money from his grandparents and accumulated nearly ₹1 lakh by the time he was in his third year. This led him to invest in the stock market. This was his first step into the world of finance.

While at college, he also joined the Ashwa Racing Club, where he quickly rose to the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This was where Sharan’s formal education in finance began, as he was tasked with presenting a business project. His new role in the club and his desire to learn more about business made him fall in love with finance.

Overcoming Setbacks

Like many ambitious young professionals, Sharan also faced setbacks. Despite scoring an impressive 98% on the CAT exam, he found that prestigious investing firms were only interested in hiring IIT or IIM graduates. He applied to various top-tier institutions but was rejected. Undeterred, Sharan knew he had to carve out his own path.

In 2018, Sharan’s career took off when he was hired as an analyst at KPMG through college placements. He worked there for over two years and gained valuable experience. But in November 2020, Sharan decided to take a leap and leave his corporate job to pursue something bigger.

The Content Creation Journey

In the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown, Sharan realized that most people lacked basic financial literacy. In January 2021, he decided to educate others through content creation. He used his Mi phone and filmed his first finance video, which garnered 400 views and 80-90 subscribers. 

He steadily improved, upgrading his equipment, and drawing inspiration from finance influencers like CA Rachana Ranade and YouTuber Ali Abdaal. His hunger for knowledge led him to consume books and videos, and rather than relying only on people, he taught himself about taxation.

Sharan's big break came when he started focusing on Instagram. His sister played a significant role in this phase and encouraged him to post videos and even handle the editing. He observed that Instagram users preferred light-hearted, entertaining content, so he combined finance education with humour, skits, and pop culture references, often using Bangalore lingo to make his videos more relatable. This unique blend quickly resonated with audiences and propelled Sharan’s Instagram to 2.4 million followers and his YouTube channel, "Finance with Sharan," to over 2.5 million subscribers by 2024.

Collaborations and Brand Deals

As Sharan’s popularity grew, so did the opportunities. His manager played a pivotal role in securing brand deals with prominent companies such as The Souled Store, Coinswitch Kuber, Slice, and GoDutch. Sharan also collaborated with fellow influencers like Tanya Appachu and Raj Shamani, creating cross-platform content that appealed to both their audiences.

Sharan Hegde net worth 

He is one of the highest earning financial influencers in India. Sharan Hegde net worth is estimated at over 1.4 million U.S. dollars annually.

1% club finance by Sharan Hegde 

Sharan Hegde and Raghav Gupta (cofounder) founded The 1% Club in the year 2022 to help people become financially independent. 

Recognition and Influence

Sharan’s impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. He was featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia in 2023 and was recognized as the Economic Times’ Mega Influencer in the same year. He’s also been named Finance Influencer of the Year twice, in 2022 and 2023, and ranked in Forbes’ Top 100 Influencers of 2022.

Sharan Hegde’s journey from a quiet, curious child to one of India’s leading finance influencers is a testament to his resilience, passion, and willingness to learn. His story is an inspiration to millions, proving that setbacks can lead to success, and that with curiosity and dedication, one can transform their life.