Source: Indian Startup Times
The journey from the rugged terrains of Munger, Bihar, to the high-stakes boardroom of Shark Tank India Season 5 isn’t just a story of grit; it’s a masterclass in emotional resilience and market timing. Aaditya Aanand, the founder of Multibagg AI, is on a mission to dismantle the “information asymmetry” that has long kept retail investors at a disadvantage compared to Wall Street giants.
In an exclusive sit-down with Business Outreach Magazine, Aanand shares how his background at IIT Kanpur and Goldman Sachs inspired him to build an AI-first fintech platform that thinks like a billionaire’s fund manager but talks like a friend.
The Resilience of Munger: Building a “Wall Street” Mindset
Aaditya’s journey didn’t start with venture capital; it began with scarcity. Growing up in Munger, Bihar, he learned early on that emotional stability is a founder’s greatest asset.
“Having seen uncertainty early on, I learned not to overreact to success or failure,” Aaditya explains.
This stoic approach, honed during his time as a Super 30 student and later at IIT Kanpur, became his secret weapon. While working on Wall Street, managing balance sheets worth a staggering $1.3 trillion, he realised that institutional success isn’t about luck; it’s about data, discipline, and de-risking.
Bridging the Gap: Why India’s Retail Boom Needs a Brain
India is currently witnessing a retail investing revolution. From 2 crore investors pre-pandemic to an expected 25 crore by 2030, the influx of capital is massive. However, Aaditya noticed a dangerous trend: while institutions use complex data models, retail investors often rely on “finfluencer” tips and gut feelings.
“Retail investors aren’t lacking intelligence; they lack access and time,” says Aaditya. Multibagg AI was born to fill this void, providing institutional-grade analytics for everyday users.
Meet Iris: The AI Research Assistant Changing the Game
At the heart of the platform is Iris, an AI-powered conversational agent. Think of Iris as a hyper-intelligent research intern that never sleeps. While it doesn’t give direct “buy/sell” advice (staying firmly within regulatory guardrails), it handles the heavy lifting:
- Company Screening: Sifting through thousands of stocks in seconds.
- Concall Insights: Summarising complex earnings calls into actionable points.
- Risk Exposure: Analysing portfolios for hidden vulnerabilities.
- Personalised Memory: Iris learns your style and risk appetite over time.
The Shark Tank Effect: A 50-Crore Valuation Move
Aaditya’s appearance on Shark Tank India Season 5 was one for the history books. Entering with a clear, data-backed pitch, he triggered a bidding war among the Sharks.
While he initially sought ₹50 lakh for 2% equity, his confidence and the depth of the product led to a deal with Aman Gupta (Co-founder of boAt) at ₹50 lakh for 1% equity. This effectively doubled his initial valuation to ₹50 crore, a testament to the “Goldman Sachs DNA” embedded in the platform.
The Road to 10 Million Users
Aaditya isn’t slowing down. His three-year goal is to onboard one crore (10 million) users, making Multibagg AI the default starting point for any Indian looking to invest in the stock market.
By compressing days of research into minutes of conversation, he is helping a new generation of investors move from “gambling” to “calculating.” For founders coming from small towns, his advice is simple: stabilise your finances, build your mental strength, and don’t rush the process.
In the world of fintech, trust is the ultimate moat, and with Multibagg AI, Aaditya Aanand is building it one intelligent conversation at a time.
