Affirm vs Paytm: Founders, CEOs and History
Affirm was founded in 2012 by Max Levchin, Nathan Gettings, Jeffrey Kaditz and is led by Max Levchin. Paytm was founded in 2010 by Vijay Shekhar Sharma and is led by Vijay Shekhar Sharma.
Company facts
Founders
Affirm
Max Levchin
Max Levchin (born 1975) is a highly influential Silicon Valley entrepreneur and investor. After helping build the foundational infrastructure of the modern digital payments industry at PayPal, he founded Affirm to challenge traditional credit card networks.
Nathan Gettings
Nathan Gettings co-founded Affirm, bringing immense expertise in massive-scale data analytics and risk modeling from his time building Palantir's core anti-fraud systems.
Jeffrey Kaditz
Jeffrey Kaditz co-founded Affirm and served as its first Chief Technology Officer.
Alex Rampell
Alex Rampell co-founded Affirm based on his deep understanding of point-of-sale financing and merchant networks.
Paytm
Vijay Shekhar Sharma
Vijay Shekhar Sharma is an Indian entrepreneur who founded One97 Communications in 2000 and launched Paytm in 2010.
CEOs and their tenures
Affirm
- Max Levchin2014–present
Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
Levchin founded Affirm in 2012 and leads its payment network, lending products, and no-late-fee strategy. He previously co-founded PayPal and served as its chief technology officer.
Source
Paytm
- Madhur Deora
President & Group CFO
Senior finance executive who led Paytm's investor communication through the 2024 RBI restructuring and the FY26 return to profit.
Source - Vijay Shekhar Sharma2010–present
Founder, MD & CEO
Born in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, Sharma graduated in engineering from Delhi College of Engineering. His tenacity established mobile QR code transactions across millions of Indian street vendors and small merchants.
Source
Timeline: Affirm and Paytm side by side
2010Paytm
Paytm launched in Noida by Vijay Shekhar Sharma under One97 Communications as a mobile recharge portal.
2012Affirm
Affirm Founded
Max Levchin, Nathan Gettings, Jeffrey Kaditz, and Alex Rampell founded Affirm as part of the HVF startup studio.
2014Paytm
Launches the Paytm Wallet, allowing consumers to store digital cash for bus tickets and mobile recharges.
2015Paytm
Alibaba Group and Ant Financial invest $680 million, validating Paytm as India's mobile payment leader.
2016Affirm
Sweep Acquired
Affirm acquired the technology, staff, and assets of personal-finance app Sweep; terms were not disclosed.
2016Paytm
Indian demonetization triggers exponential merchant QR code adoption; Paytm becomes a national household brand.
2017Paytm
Launches Paytm Payments Bank; raises $1.4 billion from SoftBank Vision Fund.
2018Paytm
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway invests $300 million in One97 Communications.
2019Affirm
Walmart Partnership
Affirm began offering installment financing to Walmart customers online and in stores.
2019Affirm
$300 Million Series F
Affirm announced a $300 million Series F funding round led by Thrive Capital.
2019Paytm
Invents and deploys the first Paytm Soundbox, pioneering audio payment confirmation for shopkeepers.
2020Affirm
$500 Million Series G
Affirm raised a $500 million Series G and said it had raised more than $1.3 billion from investors to date.
2020Affirm
Shopify Partnership
Shopify selected Affirm to power Shop Pay Installments in the United States.
2021Affirm
PayBright Acquisition Completed
Affirm completed its acquisition of Canadian BNPL provider PayBright after announcing consideration of approximately $245 million (C$340 million).
2021Affirm
Nasdaq IPO
Affirm sold 24.6 million Class A shares at $49 each in its initial public offering and began trading on Nasdaq under AFRM.
2021Affirm
Returnly Acquisition Completed
Affirm completed its approximately $300 million acquisition of online returns and post-purchase payments provider Returnly.
2021Affirm
Amazon Partnership
Affirm began testing pay-over-time options for eligible Amazon.com purchases in the United States.
2021Paytm
Lists on NSE and BSE following historic $2.5 billion initial public offering.
2023Affirm
Affirm Card Launch
Affirm launched its debit card with pay-in-full and pay-over-time functionality.
2023Paytm
Deploys over 10 million subscription devices; Vijay Shekhar Sharma increases voting stake to 19.4%.
2024Affirm
United Kingdom Launch
Affirm launched its pay-over-time products in the United Kingdom, its first market outside the United States and Canada.
2024Paytm
Migrates UPI clearing to Yes Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC, and SBI; sells ticketing business to Zomato for 2,048 crore.
2025Paytm
Antfin sells its remaining stake, leaving Paytm without Chinese shareholders; Paytm receives an online Payment Aggregator licence.
2026Paytm
Reports FY26 revenue of ~$979 million (₹8,437 crore) (+22%) and its first full-year profit; Q1 FY27 profit rises 79% to ~$25.5 million (₹220 crore).
Acquisitions
Paytm
- Balance Technology2018Undisclosed
- Insider.in2017Undisclosed
- Nearbuy & Little2017Undisclosed
Questions about Affirm vs Paytm
Who is the CEO of Affirm Holdings, Inc. and Paytm?
Affirm Holdings, Inc. is led by Max Levchin and Paytm is led by Vijay Shekhar Sharma. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Affirm Holdings, Inc. founded vs Paytm?
Paytm was founded in 2010 — 2 years before Affirm Holdings, Inc., which was founded in 2012. Paytm's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Affirm Holdings, Inc..
How many employees does Affirm Holdings, Inc. have compared to Paytm?
Affirm Holdings, Inc. employs approximately 2,358 people, while Paytm employs approximately 40,000. Paytm has the larger workforce at 40,000 employees, compared to Affirm Holdings, Inc.'s 2,358. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Affirm Holdings, Inc. and Paytm headquartered?
Affirm Holdings, Inc. is headquartered in United States and Paytm is headquartered in India. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Affirm Holdings, Inc. and Paytm?
Affirm Holdings, Inc. was founded by Max Levchin, Nathan Gettings, Jeffrey Kaditz, Alex Rampell. Paytm was founded by Vijay Shekhar Sharma.
Which company has a longer operating history — Affirm Holdings, Inc. or Paytm?
Paytm has been operating for approximately 16 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Affirm Holdings, Inc. has been in operation for around 14 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Affirm vs Paytm overview