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Nikhil Kamath’s 2025 statement that “if you are 25 & going to an MBA college today, you must be some kind of an idiot” came up during Columbia Business School meet. News18 explains
Nikhil Kamath, the co-founder of Zerodha. (File)
Nikhil Kamath, the co-founder of Zerodha, has reignited a massive debate following a candid confrontation at Columbia Business School. This follows his controversial 2025 statement where he claimed that “if you are 25 and going to an MBA college today, you must be some kind of an idiot”.
Here’s all you need to know:
THE ‘IDIOTS’ COMMENT OF 2025
In a late 2025 podcast and AMA session, Kamath had argued that traditional higher education is failing to keep pace with rapid technological shifts and AI.
He had claimed that colleges are “dead” because they teach frameworks for a world that no longer exists. He suggested that the time and massive financial investment (often upwards of ₹2.5 crore for international degrees) are better spent on practical experience or entrepreneurship.
He predicted that shrinking job markets would soon make entrepreneurship a requirement rather than a choice, rendered traditional management roles less secure.
WHAT HAPPENED ON APRIL 4, 2026?
On April 4, 2026, while speaking at the Columbia India Business Conference in New York, a student named Anaheez Patel challenged him on his past remarks.
Kamath didn’t backtrack but instead leaned into a “return on access” argument. He calculated that with approximately 500 students in the room paying $300,000 each meant the room collectively represented a $90 million investment.
He jokingly admitted he attended the event because “knowing the rich kids of India of tomorrow has some value to me in the future”, suggesting the network — not the education — is the true product.
WHY IT SPARKED DEBATE
The exchange went viral on LinkedIn and Instagram, polarising the business community:
Critics argue that while a billionaire dropout can dismiss degrees, for the middle class, a Tier-1 MBA is the only bridge to high-level networks and credible career pivots.
The debate shifted from whether an MBA provides knowledge (which many agree is now democratized online) to whether it provides access to an elite “membership” that can’t be bought otherwise.
Supporters of Kamath, including some ed-tech founders, argue that AI is automating generalist management tasks, making specialized skills and “proof of work” more valuable than paper qualifications.
KEY FAQs
What was the ‘MBA-Idiot’ remark?
Nikhil Kamath called some MBA approaches “outdated”, sparking backlash.
Why is it back in the news in 2026?
Renewed debate on skills vs degrees in startups. Discussions around hiring trends and real-world experience.
What is the broader debate about?
MBA education vs practical skills and value of formal management training vs entrepreneurship.
With agency inputs
April 06, 2026, 7:30 PM IST
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