What Kotak Securities does

Kotak Securities, operating as Kotak Neo since a 2024 rebrand, is an Indian securities brokerage firm founded in 1994 and headquartered in Mumbai as a subsidiary of the Kotak Mahindra Group (CIN: U99999MH1994PLC134051). The company serves retail investors, active traders, high-net-worth individuals (via the Private Client Group), non-resident Indians, and corporate/HUF accounts across multi-asset investing including equities, futures and options, mutual funds, IPOs, exchange-traded funds, commodities, non-convertible debentures, and specialized investment funds. Its customer base exceeds 5 million users, with the Kotak Neo mobile app surpassing 10 million downloads and holding a 4.4 app store rating.

The company's core technology is the Kotak Neo platform, delivered as a mobile app, web interface, and the Nest Trading Terminal desktop client (powered by NEST software). The platform includes proprietary features such as a Strategy Bot for automated execution, Trade From Charts for chart-based execution, Options Chain analysis, MTF providing up to 4X leverage on 1,300+ stocks, NEO Trade APIs for algorithmic trading, and Kotak Neo MCP (a Model Context Protocol integration enabling AI-assisted trading workflows). A 3-in-1 integrated banking-trading-demat account with the parent Kotak Mahindra Bank enables seamless fund transfer. Kotak Securities holds SEBI registration (INZ000200137) with membership across NSE, BSE, MSE, MCX, and NCDEX exchanges, and AMFI mutual fund distributor registration (ARN 0164).

Kotak Neo operates a transaction-fee-led revenue model: equity brokerage (₹0 for the first 30 days as an onboarding incentive, then standard rates), intraday/F&O brokerage at flat ₹20/order post-promotion, MTF interest income on leveraged margin trades, mutual fund distribution commissions across partnerships with HDFC, Nippon, Axis, ICICI Prudential, Tata, and Kotak Mahindra AMCs, IPO distribution fees, and account maintenance charges. The go-to-market combines product-led growth through the self-serve mobile platform, enterprise field sales via the Private Client Group for affluent clients, direct-to-consumer NRI account opening, and a Business Associates sub-broker channel for broader market reach.

Name

Kotak Securities

Legal name

Kotak Neo: CIN: U99999MH1994PLC134051

Website

https://kotaksecurities.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Kotak Securities, operating as Kotak Neo, is an Indian retail and institutional brokerage subsidiary of Kotak Mahindra Group offering multi-asset trading including equities, derivatives, mutual funds, IPOs, and commodities through a digital-first platform serving 5M+ customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Brokerage and Online Trading

NAICS

Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage (5231), Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (52315), Commodity Contracts Intermediation (523160)

SIC

Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211), Commodity Contracts Brokers & Dealers (6221)

akta.pro primary industry

Agency Equity Execution (Cash Equities) (FSACAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Equity Derivatives (Options, Variance/Volatility) (FSACADAA)

Keywords

• Retail brokerage
• Online trading platform
• Equity derivatives
• Mutual fund distribution
• Investment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Equity Brokerage: Brokerage charges on equity delivery, intraday, and futures & options trades. Delivery brokerage currently offered free for first 30 days, then standard rates apply.
2. Margin Trading Facility Interest: Interest income from MTF leverage product offering up to 4X margin on stocks
3. Mutual Fund Distribution: Commission revenue from distributing mutual funds from multiple AMCs (HDFC, Nippon, Axis, ICICI, Tata, Kotak Mahindra, etc.) through Kotak Neo platform
4. IPO Distribution: Fees from facilitating mainboard and SME IPO subscriptions
5. Account Maintenance Charges: AMC for demat and trading accounts, with free AMC for BSDA accounts meeting balance criteria

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Kotak Securities (operating as Kotak Neo) is a SEBI-registered stockbroker offering online trading and investment services across equities, derivatives, commodities, mutual funds, IPOs, ETFs, non-convertible debentures, and specialized investment funds. The firm delivers these via a proprietary digital platform (mobile app, web, and Nest Trading Terminal) with research, margin trading facility, and APIs for algorithmic trading. It serves retail investors, active traders, HNW individuals, NRIs, and corporate/HUF accounts in India.

Product overview

Kotak Neo (formerly Kotak Securities) is a comprehensive online trading and investment platform operating as a single unified platform with multiple integrated product modules. The core Kotak Neo platform serves as the central interface, supported by specialized access channels including the Nest Trading Terminal for professional traders and NEO Trade APIs for automated trading. The product portfolio includes core investment verticals for Stocks, Mutual Funds, Futures & Options, IPO, ETFs, Commodities, Stock Baskets, Non-Convertible Debentures, and SipIt for systematic investing. Additional features include MTF (Margin Trading Facility) providing up to 4X leverage, the Payoff Analyzer for derivatives strategy evaluation, and Kotak Neo MCP for AI-powered platform interactions. The platform is accessible via mobile app (10M+ downloads), web interface, and desktop terminal, with dedicated premium services through Private Client Group and a complete suite of financial calculators for investor planning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kotak Neo Platform Flagship online trading and investment platform (formerly Kotak Securities) offering a unified interface for stocks, mutual funds, F&O, IPOs, ETFs, commodities, and more, with \u20b90 brokerage on delivery trades.
• Equity (Stocks) Trading Equity trading across NSE and BSE with market movers, indices tracking, sector-specific stocks, and comprehensive stock research for retail and active investors.
• Mutual Funds Online mutual fund investment platform offering SIP and lump-sum investments in debt, equity, hybrid, and commodities funds from multiple AMCs.
• Futures and Options (F&O) Derivatives trading on Nifty 50, Bank Nifty, Sensex, FinNifty, Midcap Nifty, and individual stock options and futures with live option chains.
• IPO Subscription Mainboard and SME IPO investment platform with current, upcoming, and recently listed IPO tracking, subscription status, and allotment status tools.
• Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) Investment in ETFs including Gold, Silver, Nifty 50, Sensex, and sector-specific ETFs across NSE and BSE.
• Commodity Trading Commodity trading on MCX exchange covering metals, energy, and agricultural commodities.
• Stockcase (Stock Baskets) Expert-curated stock baskets allowing investors to buy a portfolio of stocks in a single transaction, providing diversification and professional selection.
• Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) Investment in non-convertible debentures offering fixed income returns with various tenure and yield options.
• SipIt (Systematic Investment Plans) Systematic investment plan feature allowing investments in stocks and ETFs at regular intervals with automated execution.
• MTF (Margin Trading Facility) Margin trading facility offering up to 4X leverage for over 1,300 stocks, enabling enhanced buying power for qualified investors.
• NEO Trade APIs REST APIs enabling traders and developers to automate and scale trades programmatically, with \u20b90 brokerage and zero platform fees for API access.
• Nest Trading Terminal Advanced desktop trading terminal powered by NEST, offering professional-grade charting, advanced order types, and multi-monitor support for active traders.
• Private Client Group Premium service tier offering personalized trading and investment services for high-net-worth individuals with dedicated relationship management.
• 3 in 1 Account Integrated banking and trading account combining savings, demat, and trading accounts for seamless fund transfers and investment execution.
• Specialized Investment Funds (SIFs) Category 1 and Category 2 Alternative Investment Funds offering exposure to unlisted securities and specialized investment strategies.
• Kotak Neo MCP Model Context Protocol integration enabling AI-powered interactions and automation within the Kotak Neo trading platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10M+ app downloads demonstrating platform adoption
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• NSE (National Stock Exchange)coreOthersExchange membership for equity and derivatives trading. Kotak Neo provides trading access to NSE-listed securities, indices including Nifty 50, Nifty Bank, and F&O contracts.
• BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange)coreOthersExchange membership for equity trading on BSE. Access to BSE Sensex, BSE Bankex, and other BSE-listed securities.
• MSE (Metropolitan Stock Exchange)minorOthersExchange membership for currency and other derivatives trading.
• MCX (Multi Commodity Exchange)minorOthersCommodity exchange membership for trading in commodity futures and options.
• NCDEX (National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange)minorOthersAgricultural commodities exchange for agri-derivatives trading.
• Kotak Mahindra Mutual FundcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAMFI-registered mutual fund distributor offering Kotak Mahindra MF schemes alongside other AMC partners through Kotak Neo platform.
• HDFC Mutual FundmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMutual fund distribution partnership for HDFC MF schemes on Kotak Neo platform.
• Nippon India Mutual FundmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMutual fund distribution partnership for Nippon India MF schemes on Kotak Neo platform.
• Axis Mutual FundmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMutual fund distribution partnership for Axis MF schemes on Kotak Neo platform.
• Tata Mutual FundmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMutual fund distribution partnership for Tata MF schemes on Kotak Neo platform.
• ICICI Prudential Mutual FundmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMutual fund distribution partnership for ICICI Prudential MF schemes on Kotak Neo platform.
• NEST (Nextgen Software Technologies) - Trading PlatformcoreTechnology or IntegrationAdvanced desktop trading terminal powered by NEST platform for active traders requiring sophisticated charting, strategy building, and order execution capabilities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• HDFC Securities: Bank-affiliated (HDFC Bank) full-service Indian broker offering equities, derivatives, MF, and IPO distribution. Comparable as a bank-parented retail brokerage leveraging integrated account structures and cross-sell.
• Zerodha: India's largest discount broker by active clients, offering equity, derivatives, commodity, and mutual fund trading through Kite. Directly comparable as a retail-first, multi-asset online brokerage competing for the same Kotak Neo customer segments.
• Groww: Leading Indian discount broker and investing platform focused on first-time retail investors in stocks and mutual funds. Comparable as a digital-first retail brokerage with strong mobile UX and broad AMC distribution.
• 5paisa Capital: Discount Indian broker offering equities, derivatives, MF, and insurance with low-cost pricing. Comparable as a digital-first, low-cost retail brokerage competing in the same MTF and F&O segments.
• Angel One: Full-service and discount Indian brokerage offering equity, derivatives, commodity, and MF trading with strong tech stack (Angel One app). Comparable as a listed Indian retail brokerage competing on price, research, and platform breadth.
• Sharekhan (BNP Paribas subsidiary): Full-service Indian broker with Trade Tiger platform offering equities, derivatives, MF, and IPO distribution. Comparable as an established multi-product retail broker transitioning toward digital channels.
• Motilal Oswal Financial Services: Full-service Indian brokerage and wealth manager with strong research franchise. Comparable as a multi-product retail brokerage with active trading, MF distribution, and Private Client Group services.
• Upstox: Tech-first Indian discount broker offering equities, derivatives, and MF investing with API access. Directly comparable as a digital-native multi-asset broker targeting active and algo traders.
• Axis Direct: Bank-affiliated (Axis Bank) retail brokerage offering equities, derivatives, MF, and IPOs via integrated account. Comparable as another bank-parented retail broker competing for India's growing retail investor base.
• ICICI Direct: Bank-affiliated (ICICI Bank) full-service Indian brokerage offering equities, derivatives, MF, IPO, and wealth services via integrated 3-in-1 account. Closest structural analogue to Kotak Securities given bank-parent integrated distribution model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@kotakneo
• Xx.com/kotaksecurities

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kotak Securities