How Ankur Nagpal Turned Adversity into a $250M Empire

This week, I talk with Ankur Nagpal, founder of Teachable, Carry, and Vibe Capital. Ankur’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. From immigrating to the U.S. for college to founding a company that grew exponentially and sold for a life-changing $250 million, Ankur has built a remarkable career. We explore how he went from creating Facebook apps in college to funding his own education at Berkeley, starting and scaling Teachable in New York, and what he learned about himself after the sale. Ankur shares how success has allowed him to focus on what truly matters—family, meaningful relationships, and purpose-driven work. Now with Carry, he’s on a mission to bring elite investment and tax strategies to everyday business owners. This is a story of resilience, authenticity, and leadership. Let’s get to it!

In this episode:

(00:00) - Intro
(02:51) - What makes cricket a beautiful sport?
(06:40) - Growing up in Oman and moving to the US
(16:32) - Navigating the US visa system
(22:09) - What Ankur learned from his initial success building Facebook apps
(32:01) - Making a million dollars and forgetting to pay taxes
(33:51) - Finding home in New York
(38:07) - How New York has shaped Ankur professionally and personally
(43:10) - Teachable and the evolution of the creator economy
(49:08) - Challenges of scaling a startup
(57:45) - What will change for content creators over the next 10 years?
(01:04:35) - Deciding to sell Teachable
(01:09:22) - Life-changing realizations
(01:12:31) - Ankur's first big purchase after selling the company
(01:14:13) - Walking away from CEO
(01:16:42) - Investing and family priorities
(01:19:36) - What Ankur learned as an investor that he didn't know as a founder
(01:24:01) - Traveling self-discovery
(01:27:19) - Building a new company
(01:38:29) - Ankur's beautiful future
(01:40:19) - Who Ankur is becoming

Key Takeaways

Rediscover Joy in Childhood Passions: Ankur highlighted the importance of reconnecting with the things that brought joy in childhood. As life becomes less about external validation and more about personal fulfillment, returning to these passions can offer deep satisfaction and a sense of authenticity.
Adaptability is Key in Building Wealth: Ankur’s journey, from leveraging Facebook’s platform to scaling businesses, underscores the importance of adapting to opportunities and trends. His emphasis on “playing the game smartly” highlights the need to be flexible and strategic in uncertain environments.
Generosity and Mentorship are Engines of Goodwill: Ankur’s commitment to signing O-1 visa recommendation letters for others, even for those he barely knows, demonstrates the profound impact of small acts of generosity. This reflects a philosophy of lifting others up as a way to create broader opportunities.
Navigating Dual Cultures Requires Intentionality: Growing up in a multicultural environment taught Ankur to blend perspectives and build relationships across diverse contexts. This adaptability, combined with a focus on community and connection, has significantly influenced his personal and professional success.
Learn from Adversity: Challenges like visa struggles, scaling businesses, and navigating personal dilemmas have been formative for Ankur. His story reminds us that setbacks are often the crucibles in which resilience and innovation are forged.

Quotes

“The older I’ve gotten, the more drawn I am to the sorts of things that I found cool as a child. I go back to what the eight-year-old version of me would want to do.” ~ Ankur Nagpal

“[America] creates this talent magnet where you get smart, motivated people from around the world to come here. The strength of immigration here is, in my opinion, why we have so many successful businesses, why we're doing really well in innovation.” ~ Ankur Nagpal

“The first time you make money online, something in your brain changes forever. You realize you can create your own success without needing anyone’s permission.” ~ Ankur Nagpal

Links