Zerodha’s Nikhil Kamath invests in One Hand Clap

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This isn’t just another routine investment headline—it’s a bold crossover between fintech credibility and creative rebellion. Zerodha’s co-founder Nikhil invests in One Hand Clap Media, a no-fluff creative agency built by former AIB masterminds Aakash Shah and Naveed Manakkodan. Kamath’s move isn’t just a financial stake—it’s a philosophical handshake. The kind that says, “I see you. I get what you’re building. Let’s disrupt some norms together.”

Shah shared the news on Instagram in a nostalgic yet fire-laced note, recalling the agency’s scrappy beginnings and embracing what lies ahead. Founded in the ashes of India’s once-iconic comedy collective AIB, One Hand Clap blends biting wit, cultural fluency, and digital instincts into brand campaigns that stick. They’ve already worked with juggernauts like Netflix India, CRED, Bumble, and Swiggy—not because they follow rules, but because they rewrite them.

And Kamath? He’s not investing in safe bets. He’s betting on creatives who’d rather break things than file reports—folks who live for the now and speak fluent internet. This partnership? It’s less a boardroom handshake, more a back-alley brainstorm. Together, a financial heavyweight and cultural insurgents are set to redraw the lines—because in today’s chaotic attention economy, content isn’t royalty. It’s the whole empire.

1. Introduction: Nikhil Invests in One Hand Clap

“Nikhil invests in One Hand Clap” sounds tame. But look closer. It’s a seismic moment where an old-school system disruptor (Kamath) throws his weight behind a new-age narrative engine. One Hand Clap, helmed by former AIB creatives Aakash Shah and Naveed Manakkodan, doesn’t just tell stories—it shapes how brands breathe in digital spaces.

The investment isn’t just money changing hands. It’s a bet on raw, unfiltered, culture-driven storytelling over agency jargon. Though the financials remain a mystery, what’s crystal clear is the intent: disrupt with purpose.

2. One Hand Clap Media: Inside the Startup’s DNA

2.1 Founders and Origins

Think grit meets satire. That’s where One Hand Clap began. After AIB’s rollercoaster shutdown, Shah and Manakkodan didn’t wallow—they built. They took lessons from viral misfires and hits alike, and channelled them into a content machine that puts story over structure.

2.2 Evolution of the Agency

Remember “Dank Irrfan”? That oddball, surprisingly heartfelt piece was a blueprint. One Hand Clap went from tiny setups to running creative campaigns for some of India’s sharpest brands. Since 2019, they’ve stayed scrappy, fearless, and allergic to creative bloat.

2.3 Services and Business Model

This isn’t an ad agency trapped in PowerPoint slides. Their work spans:

Ad films that don’t feel like ads. Campaigns that read like memes or poetry. Digital management that’s nimble, not noisy.

They run on a mix of project-based gigs, retainers, and collabs. Clients? The who’s who of digital India—Netflix, Swiggy, Bumble, Prime Video. And they’re just warming up.

3. What Problem Does One Hand Clap Solve?

Legacy agencies move at the speed of molasses. Layers upon layers. Approvals. Decks. Noise. One Hand Clap said, “No thanks.”

They address the hunger for relevance. For campaigns that talk with people, not at them. Brands don’t need more buzzwords—they need culture hits. Fast, witty, weird, wonderful content that keeps audiences leaning in. That’s their promise. That’s their fix.

4. Why Nikhil Kamath’s Investment Matters

4.1 Strategic Signal to the Industry

The startup world noticed when Kamath opened his wallet. Not because he was throwing cash, but because he was throwing belief. A fintech titan validating a creative upstart means something. It screams, “Creative storytelling matters.”

4.2 Shared Vision of Disruption

Aakash Shah nailed it: “Nikhil gets our DNA.” That’s not fluff—it’s fact. Both Kamath and the One Hand Clap founders have burned the playbook before. Now they’re co-authoring a new one.

4.3 Potential for Future Collaborations

Kamath’s orbit—Zerodha, Rainmatter, the works—is ripe for storytelling. Expect educational videos that don’t bore. Financial literacy with memes. Campaigns that spark discussion, not just impressions. The overlap is potent.

5. The Larger Context: India’s Booming Creative Startup Scene

5.1 Startup Ecosystem Backing Creative Agencies

Look around—creators are building businesses. FilterCopy. Pocket Aces. TTT. IP is the new inventory, and storytelling is the moat. VC money isn’t just for SaaS anymore—it’s flowing toward creative thinkers who can capture attention and own niches.

5.2 Industry Trends: Digital Storytelling > Traditional Ads

By 2025, India’s ad industry will hit ₹1.7 lakh crore. One-third of that is digital. Old-school jingles are out. Reels, memes, and mini-docs are in. Agencies fluent in Instagram and irreverence are running the show.

5.3 Competitors and Differentiation

Sure, there’s Schbang. The Glitch. Even bits of Pocket Aces. But One Hand Clap isn’t competing on scale. They’re competing on soul. On how weird, fresh, and culturally aware they can make a brand feel. It’s personal. It’s precise.

6. Founders’ Journey: From Satire to Strategy

Shah and Manakkodan went from writing punchlines to pitching decks. From viral hits to brand retainers. They didn’t just pivot—they pirouetted. AIB’s implosion could’ve crushed them. Instead, they extracted its essence—relatability, pace, humour—and retooled it for advertising.

It’s the kind of journey founders don’t glamorise but should. Messy. Real. Reinvented.

7. What This Means for India’s Startup Landscape

Kamath backing One Hand Clap isn’t just news—it’s a blueprint. Startup founders are recycling exits into the next rebellion. The ecosystem’s no longer tech-only. It’s welcoming content, culture, and quirk with open arms.

Creativity isn’t the cherry on top—it’s the cake. Kamath sees that. And now, so does everyone else.

Learning for Startups and Entrepreneurs

• Don’t tell boring stories. Craft narratives people want to hear.
• Big teams are cool. Small, obsessed ones? Better.
• Vision matters. Find backers who get your weird, not just your numbers.
• Speak in memes, videos, and real talk. Your audience isn’t reading whitepapers.
• Culture isn’t decoration—it’s your launchpad.

About Foundlanes

Startups aren’t what they used to be. Neither is journalism. That’s why foundlanes.com exists. We champion risk-takers, builders, and boundary-pushers. Whether it’s a fintech revolution or a storytelling uprising like One Hand Clap, we track it, write it, and amplify it.

Because startup stories aren’t just about funding rounds—they’re about founders, failures, pivots, and power plays.

And we’re here for all of it.