15% of the 1% Club's Workforce is Let Go by Sharan Hegde

Nitin Konde, Varun Bhardwaj

Nov 9, 2024 — 2 min read

Sharan Hegde’s 1% Club Cuts Workforce by 15%

As part of its attempts to increase profitability and reduce unnecessary expenses, finance influencer Sharan Hegde's 1% Club has laid off 15% of its employees. In a LinkedIn post, Hegde stated that he recently let go of 15% of his employees and that he had received numerous messages from friends and the media asking if he was going bankrupt. The irony is not lost on him as a finance guru who made financial education the cornerstone of his business.

Hegde did not specify how many workers were impacted; however, a Reddit user stated that about 40 workers were let go.

Sharan Hedge Discusses the Financial Results of 1% Club

Hegde's LinkedIn post states that 1% Club has a strong EBITDA margin of 35–40% and generates about $8 million in annualised revenue. Hegde emphasised the company's sound financial standing by stating that it has operated independently of outside investor funding.

He said that the client had placed INR 10 crore in a fixed deposit (FD) that was yielding an 8.5% interest rate. In October of last year, millionaire Nikhil Kamath's Gruhas and Abhijeet Pai from the Puzzolana Group contributed INR 10 crore to the 1% Club. Additionally, according to Hegde, 1% Club has been creating new financial services and products that have already turned a profit and serve close to 85,000 active, paying clients.

What Caused the Layoffs?

The layoffs, according to Hegde, are a part of the startup's first significant cost-cutting initiative since its founding. He disclosed that 1% Club, which started off with just five interns two years ago and currently has close to 200 employees, saw quick expansion that resulted in some hiring and operating expense inefficiencies.

"Two years ago, I launched this business in my bedroom with just five interns. Today, we employ about 200 people. It goes without saying that when you expand at such a rapid rate, you will inevitably make some hiring and unnecessary spending blunders," he said.

This is the company's first cost-cutting initiative since its founding. According to Hegde, the company has discovered substantial AI-driven cost savings that can increase efficiency and profitability and be put back into the expansion of the company.

Assistance for Impacted Workers

Hegde recognised the decision's difficulty and the psychological toll it would take on the impacted staff. He stated that the 1% Club will continue to assist laid-off workers in locating new employment prospects and has provided substantial severance compensation depending on seniority.

One of the leading financial influencers in India, Sharan Hegde, has more than 3 million followers on social media, including more than 2.7 million on Instagram. The online platform 1% Club, which was co-founded by Raghav Gupta and Sharan Hegde, assists users in becoming financially independent. The startup offers masterclasses, financial planning tools, and teaching materials.