Paytm vs PhonePe: Founders, CEOs and History
Paytm was founded in 2010 by Vijay Shekhar Sharma and is led by Vijay Shekhar Sharma. PhonePe was founded in 2015 by Sameer Nigam, Rahul Chari, Burzin Engineer and is led by Sameer Nigam.
Company facts
Founders
Paytm
Vijay Shekhar Sharma
Vijay Shekhar Sharma is an Indian entrepreneur who founded One97 Communications in 2000 and launched Paytm in 2010.
PhonePe
Sameer Nigam
Sameer Nigam is a fiercely visionary Indian technology entrepreneur, highly strategic digital executive, and the profoundly influential CEO and co-founder fundamentally responsible for architecting the massively dominant PhonePe digital payments empire.
Rahul Chari
Rahul Chari is an absolutely brilliant software engineer, highly visionary digital architect, and the profoundly influential CTO and co-founder fundamentally responsible for programming the incredibly complex infrastructural bedrock of the massive PhonePe paym…
Burzin Engineer
Burzin Engineer is a highly dynamic software architect, fiercely skilled digital operator, and the profoundly influential Chief Reliability Officer and co-founder fundamentally responsible for the absolute operational resilience of the massive PhonePe digital…
CEOs and their tenures
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
PhonePe
- Sameer Nigam2015–present
Founder & CEO
Nigam holds a computer engineering degree from the University of Mumbai and an MBA from The Wharton School. His technological foresight built the largest digital payments pipeline in India.
Source - Burzin Engineer2015–2024
Co-Founder
Burzin Engineer co-founded PhonePe in 2015 alongside Sameer Nigam and Rahul Chari.
Source
Timeline: Paytm and PhonePe side by side
2010Paytm
Paytm launched in Noida by Vijay Shekhar Sharma under One97 Communications as a mobile recharge portal.
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.
2015PhonePe
PhonePe incorporated in Bengaluru by Sameer Nigam, Rahul Chari, and Burzin Engineer.
2016Paytm
Indian demonetization triggers exponential merchant QR code adoption; Paytm becomes a national household brand.
2016PhonePe
Acquired by Flipkart in April; launches India's first UPI consumer app in August ahead of demonetization.
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.
2018PhonePe
Walmart acquires 77% of Flipkart Group, becoming the ultimate majority owner of PhonePe.
2019Paytm
Invents and deploys the first Paytm Soundbox, pioneering audio payment confirmation for shopkeepers.
2020PhonePe
Successfully migrates millions of users to multi-bank architecture in 24 hours during Yes Bank crisis; launches insurance.
2021Paytm
Lists on NSE and BSE following historic $2.5 billion initial public offering.
2021PhonePe
Crosses 1 billion monthly UPI transactions, cementing #1 market share in Indian digital payments.
2022PhonePe
Completes corporate separation from Flipkart; reverse-flips domicile to India; acquires Indus OS.
2023Paytm
Deploys over 10 million subscription devices; Vijay Shekhar Sharma increases voting stake to 19.4%.
2023PhonePe
Raises $850 million at a $12 billion valuation from General Atlantic, Tiger Global, and Walmart; launches Share.Market.
2024Paytm
Migrates UPI clearing to Yes Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC, and SBI; sells ticketing business to Zomato for 2,048 crore.
2024PhonePe
Launches Indus Appstore nationwide; surpasses 550 million registered users and 40 million merchants.
2025Paytm
Antfin sells its remaining stake, leaving Paytm without Chinese shareholders; Paytm receives an online Payment Aggregator licence.
2025PhonePe
Files a confidential DRHP for an Indian IPO; FY25 revenue rises 40% to ~$825 million (₹7,115 crore) and net loss narrows to ~$200 million (₹1,727 crore).
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).
2026PhonePe
Pauses its IPO in March, citing market volatility. Crosses 700 million registered users in April.
Acquisitions
Paytm
- Balance Technology2018Undisclosed
- Insider.in2017Undisclosed
- Nearbuy & Little2017Undisclosed
PhonePe
- Indus OS (Indus App Bazaar)2022$60M
- WealthDesk & OpenQ2022$75M
- GigIndia2022$12M
Questions about Paytm vs PhonePe
Who is the CEO of Paytm and PhonePe?
Paytm is led by Vijay Shekhar Sharma and PhonePe is led by Sameer Nigam. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Paytm founded vs PhonePe?
Paytm was founded in 2010 — 5 years before PhonePe, which was founded in 2015. Paytm's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger PhonePe.
How many employees does Paytm have compared to PhonePe?
Paytm employs approximately 40,000 people, while PhonePe employs approximately 20,000. Paytm has the larger workforce at 40,000 employees, compared to PhonePe's 20,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Paytm and PhonePe headquartered?
Both Paytm and PhonePe are headquartered in India, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Paytm and PhonePe?
Paytm was founded by Vijay Shekhar Sharma. PhonePe was founded by Sameer Nigam, Rahul Chari, Burzin Engineer.
Which company has a longer operating history — Paytm or PhonePe?
Paytm has been operating for approximately 16 years, making it the more established of the two companies. PhonePe has been in operation for around 11 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 Paytm vs PhonePe overview