Gaurav Kate’s Journey: From a Small Village in Akola to Building Ezo Books, a ₹300-Crore Company

Gaurav Kate’s story is one that captures the timeless essence of rural grit, ambition, and the transformative power of education and vision. Born in a small village in Akola district, Maharashtra, his early life was surrounded by the simplicity of farmland, small markets, and a community bound tightly by tradition. His village had limited resources—patchy electricity, a single government school, and very few opportunities beyond agriculture. But even in this environment, young Gaurav carried something special: an inner fire to build something of his own and lift his family into a better life.

Growing Up With Challenges and Curiosity

As a child, Gaurav was fascinated by numbers. While other children enjoyed long afternoons on the playground, he often sat beside his father, watching him maintain handwritten records of farm expenses, grain sales, and monthly budgets. Though his father had never studied beyond Class 10, he maintained immaculate registers—an early inspiration that unknowingly planted the seeds for Gaurav’s future venture.

Electricity cuts in the village were frequent, so Gaurav learned to study under the dull light of a kerosene lamp. His parents pushed him to focus on studies, believing it was his only path out of financial struggle. Despite limited resources, he topped his school and became known among teachers as the boy who always asked questions about how businesses work, why some people succeed, and how money flows in a marketplace.

Stepping Out: The Move to Akola City

After completing his schooling in the village, Gaurav moved to Akola city for higher education. The transition was overwhelming at first—new classrooms, larger crowds, and unfamiliar competition. But he quickly adapted. He chose commerce as his field of study, driven by his love for accounts and management.

During his college days, Gaurav worked part-time at a small accounting firm for a modest stipend. There, he observed firsthand how small businesses struggled with bookkeeping, GST filing, and financial management. Most shop owners were sincere and hardworking, but they lacked financial literacy. They depended entirely on accountants, often paying large sums for even small tasks.

This gave Gaurav a powerful insight:

Millions of small businesses in India were struggling simply because financial processes were complex and inefficient.

He began imagining a software solution—simple, affordable, and entirely user-friendly—designed especially for small traders, shopkeepers, and rural entrepreneurs.

The Spark of an Idea

After completing his studies, Gaurav moved to Pune to work in a mid-sized tech firm. Though he wasn’t from a software background, he learned quickly. He collaborated with developers, attended weekend workshops, and spent nights sketching his dream product on sheets of paper. His goal was not to copy existing accounting solutions but to create something that even a shopkeeper in a village could use without training.

During this period, he saved as much money as he could—skipping outings, walking instead of taking buses, and living a minimalist lifestyle. His colleagues often teased him for his frugality, unaware that he was preparing for something bigger.