Watch Vijay Shekhar Sharma explain Paytm’s plans for the future

Vijay Shekhar Sharma Photographer: Anindito Mukherjee/Bloomberg

By Team DealStreetAsia

December 26, 2020

India’s most valued startup Paytm faced mounting competition in its mainstay digital payments business this year. Even as it is locked in a fierce battle with the likes of Google Pay, and Walmart-owned PhonePe, Facebook’s WhatsApp, with its huge user base, has entered the fray.

Founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma, though, seems nonchalant: “Anything that grows the payment ecosystem and increases the customer base is good for our business,” he said at the Asia PE-VC summit organised by DealStreetAsia recently.

Paytm is working on expanding its offerings in lending, wealth management, and insurance with an aim to become a one-stop solution in the financial services space.

The challenges don’t end there. Amid India’s border tiff with China, Paytm is trying to fend off allegations of being a Chinese company as it counts Alibaba and Ant Financial as its major investors.

Watch Sharma explain Paytm’s plans for the future, including preparation for an IPO, at a fireside chat at the summit titled ‘Can Financial Services Help India’s Largest Payments Company Hit Escape Velocity.’

 

Related Stories

Asia PE-VC Summit 2020

Paytm’s Vijay Shekhar Sharma on Alibaba, Google, Reliance Jio and more

Sharma talks about his clash with Google and accusations of Paytm being controlled by Chinese investors.

Asia PE-VC Summit 2020

Any competition that grows the payments ecosystem is good for Paytm: Vijay Shekhar Sharma

Paytm is on the path of achieving profitability in typically 12-18 months.

Singapore Reporter/s

In Singapore, we are looking to double our reporting team by this year-end to comprehensively cover the fast-moving world of funded startups and VC, PE & M&A deals. We want reporters who can tell our readers what is really happening in these sectors and why it matters to markets, companies and consumers. The ability to write precisely and urgently is crucial for these roles. Ideal candidates must have to ability to work in a collaborative, dynamic, and fast-changing environment. We want our new hires to be digitally savvy and ready to experiment with new forms of storytelling. Most importantly, we are looking for hard-hitting reporters who work well in a team. Collaboration and collegiality are a must.

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).   

  • A reporter to track companies/startups that have raised private capital, and have the potential to become unicorns. SEA currently has over 40 companies with a valuation of over $100 million and under $1 billion.
  • A reporter who can get behind the scenes and reveal how funding rounds are put together, or why they’ve failed to materialise. She/he in this role will largely focus on long-format stories. 
  • A journalist to track special situations funds, distressed debt and private credit (from the PE angle) across Asia.
APPLY NOW

Singapore Reporter/s

In Singapore, we are looking to double our reporting team by this year-end to comprehensively cover the fast-moving world of funded startups and VC, PE & M&A deals. We want reporters who can tell our readers what is really happening in these sectors and why it matters to markets, companies and consumers. The ability to write precisely and urgently is crucial for these roles. Ideal candidates must have to ability to work in a collaborative, dynamic, and fast-changing environment. We want our new hires to be digitally savvy and ready to experiment with new forms of storytelling. Most importantly, we are looking for hard-hitting reporters who work well in a team. Collaboration and collegiality are a must.

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).   

  • A reporter to track companies/startups that have raised private capital, and have the potential to become unicorns. SEA currently has over 40 companies with a valuation of over $100 million and under $1 billion.
  • A reporter who can get behind the scenes and reveal how funding rounds are put together, or why they’ve failed to materialise. She/he in this role will largely focus on long-format stories. 
  • A journalist to track special situations funds, distressed debt and private credit (from the PE angle) across Asia.
APPLY NOW