India’s leading discount broker, Zerodha, has decided to shut down its Zero1 creator network initiative, citing regulatory uncertainty and strategic realignment.
What Was Zero1?
Zero1 was designed as a modern media network to simplify complex topics in finance, health, and investments through data-driven storytelling. It collaborated with content creators to help them grow educational content on platforms like YouTube and Instagram.
The initiative worked as a flexible partnership, where creators kept ownership of their channels while operating under the Zero1 brand.
Why Zerodha Shut Down Zero1?
Zerodha said it shut down the Zero1 creator network mainly due to regulatory uncertainty around financial content and influencer-led education.
“There was a lot of regulatory uncertainty around the entire initiative, and we took a call to wind this down,” the company said in response to queries.
Some creators associated with the network suggested additional reasons, including a lack of direct return on investment (ROI) and increasing scrutiny by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on influencers and surrogate advertising practices.
What Happens to Zero1 Creators After Zerodha Shuts Down Its Influencer Network?
During its run, Zero1 managed to build a sizable network of financial content creators, including names like Varun Mayya, Loveena Kamath, Pranay Kapoor, Vishal Bhargava, and Sonia Shenoy, among others.
Zerodha supported these creators not just financially through monthly payments, but also operationally offering research assistance, studio access, and editing support to improve content quality and reach.
With the shutdown of the network, creators will continue to own and operate their channels independently. Many have already begun publishing content without Zero1 branding.
Will Zero1 Channels Continue?
Despite shutting down the creator network, Zerodha is not exiting the content space. Its own Zero1 channels will continue to operate and expand.
The Zero1 YouTube channel alone has amassed close to 800,000 subscribers, with several videos crossing one million views. Overall, the platform has produced more than 600 videos, with cumulative viewership exceeding 100 million.
Zerodha stated that the shutdown only impacts the affiliate creator network, not its in-house content operations. Going forward, Zerodha plans to focus on building and managing its content channels internally.
“We already run a few channels and will continue to expand these channels; the only difference is that we will have full control on the content that is put out,” the company said.
What Role Do LearnApp and Rainmatter Play in Zero1?
Zero1 operates as a joint venture between Zerodha and LearnApp, a Rainmatter-backed company. LearnApp will continue to build Zero1 and other Zerodha-owned educational properties.
Rainmatter, Zerodha’s investment arm, has invested over ₹1,500 crore across more than 160 startups spanning fintech, climate, health, media, and deep tech sectors.