Sharan Hegde Biography: Finance Star Rising in 2025
Sharan Hegde, a dynamic Indian entrepreneur and finance influencer, has transformed personal finance education through his Finance with Sharan platform. Born on July 15, 1995, in Mangalore, he blends humor and expertise to simplify complex topics. This biography explores his early life, career highlights, struggles, controversies, personal life, social media presence, philanthropy, and lesser-known facts, showcasing his 2025 influence.
About Sharan Hegde

Category | Details |
---|---|
Full Name | Sharan Hegde |
Born | July 15, 1995, Mangalore, Karnataka, India |
Profession | Entrepreneur, Content Creator, Finance Influencer |
Notable Work | Finance with Sharan, The 1% Club, Personal CFO |
Marital Status | Single; No confirmed relationships |
Children | None |
Net Worth | ₹15–25 crore (2025, estimated, businessabc.net) |
Education | B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, R.V. College of Engineering; MBA dropout, Columbia Business School |
Sharan Hegde’s Early Life
Mangalore Beginnings
Born in Mangalore, Sharan Hegde grew up in a business-oriented family. His father owned a restaurant in Mysore, sparking Sharan’s curiosity about cash flow. A quiet child, he preferred studying over playing, often finishing homework during school breaks, per starsunfolded.com.
Academic Journey
Sharan attended Expert School in Karnataka, a top institution for high achievers. Despite scoring 93% in his 10th boards, he realized he wasn’t among the top students, humbling his ego. He earned a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from R.V. College of Engineering (2014–2018) and later enrolled at Columbia Business School but dropped out in 2022, per wikibio.in.
Struggles and Down Phases
Academic Pressure
At Expert School, Sharan Hegde faced intense competition among toppers, shaking his confidence. He initially dreamed of becoming a scientist but felt outpaced, prompting a career shift toward finance, as he shared with youtuberswikipedia.com.
Early Career Rejections
Before landing a role at KPMG, Sharan applied to numerous consulting firms, facing rejections. His persistence and thorough interview preparation eventually secured his position, marking the start of his finance journey, per youtuberswikipedia.com.
Career Highlights


Rise of Finance with Sharan
During the 2021 pandemic, Sharan Hegde launched Finance with Sharan on YouTube and Instagram, simplifying topics like mutual funds and crypto. His engaging skits, inspired by The Office and Harry Potter, grew his following to 3.5 million by 2025, per forbes.com.
Founding The 1% Club
In 2022, Sharan co-founded The 1% Club with Raghav Gupta, offering edtech masterclasses and financial tools. With over 60,000 members, it includes Personal CFO, a SEBI-registered advisory service. The platform secured ₹10 crore from Nikhil Kamath, per forbesindia.com.
2025 Milestones
In 2025, Sharan’s The Content Creator Handbook became a bestseller. Named to Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30, he hosts investor summits and plans to expand into OTT content, inspired by Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO, per entrepreneur.com.
Personal Life
Sharan lives in Bengaluru, single with no confirmed relationships. He enjoys adventurous sports, blogging, and creating content with his sister, Shreya Hegde, who manages Finance with Sharan. His favorite food is Mysore dosa, per starsunfolded.com.
Controversies
Layoff Backlash
In November 2024, Sharan Hegde announced a 15% workforce reduction at The 1% Club for AI-driven cost savings, sparking criticism. A Reddit post by u/employee123 claimed 40 employees were let go, but Sharan emphasized the company’s financial stability, per timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Content Criticism
Some X users, like @FinanceTalk, criticized Sharan’s 2023 videos for oversimplifying finance, potentially misleading viewers. He responded by diversifying topics to include taxes and insurance, per wikibio.in.
Social Media Presence

Sharan engages 2.7 million Instagram followers (@financewithsharan) with reels like his 2025 tax-saving guide, earning 150,000+ views. His YouTube channel (323,000 subscribers) and X posts (@financewithsharan) on market trends gain 10,000+ reactions, per forbesindia.com.
Lesser-Known Facts
- Bookworm Kid: Finished homework during school breaks to study more.
- Restaurant Days: Learned cash flow at his father’s Mysore restaurant.
- Columbia Dropout: Left MBA at Columbia Business School in 2022.
- Forbes Honor: Featured in Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 in 2023.
- NFT Pioneer: Among India’s first influencers to launch an NFT.
- Ali Abdaal Fan: Inspired by the YouTuber to start Finance with Sharan.
- Blog Recognition: His blog My Life is a Jalebi won HT City’s Blog of the Week in 2013.
- Adventure Lover: Enjoys bungee jumping and other thrilling sports.
Philanthropy
Sharan mentors aspiring entrepreneurs through The 1% Club, offering free financial literacy webinars in 2024. He supports education initiatives for underprivileged youth in Bengaluru, funding study materials, per businessabc.net.
Current Status and Influence
In 2025, Sharan Hegde leads The 1% Club and Personal CFO, driving financial literacy. His bestseller and Forbes recognition cement his influence. He aims to scale his platforms into OTT, inspiring millions, per forbesindia.com.
Conclusion

This Sharan Hegde biography traces his rise from a curious Mangalore kid to a finance influencer and entrepreneur. Overcoming academic pressures and rejections, Sharan Hegde excels with Finance with Sharan and The 1% Club. His philanthropy and engaging social media presence inspire millions. In 2025, he continues to redefine financial education with creativity and impact.