Tag: Sameer Nigam

  • How PhonePe Earns Money? | PhonePe Business Model

    PhonePe is the online payment platform that creates, hosts and manages your online transaction and also, provides various services through the Internet. Today, there are plenty of companies that provide you with the facility of online transactions. PhonePe is included among such companies. National Payments Corporation of India has evolved its technology and provided UPI to make the transactions absolutely convenient.

    Well, our minds always come across the question of how these apps (including PhonePe) earn money? Or why do they spend so much money to gather customers? These questions are obvious. To understand this, you need to get your foot stable on the Broker. PhonePe and other similar applications work as a broker app. They work through the possession by leveraging the customers and traders.

    In the era of capitalism of data, Online Payments transaction industries are the leading wave. They tend to evaluate their worth extremely high in the data-driven market. Therefore, in this article, we provided you with a basic guide on how PhonePe earns money? Stay tuned!

    About PhonePe
    PhonePe Business Model
    How PhonePe earns money?
    PhonePe Revenue Model

    How does PhonePe make money | PhonePe Business Model

    About PhonePe

    The prominently established Indian digital payment application, PhonePe was founded in the year 2015 by Sameer Nigam, Burzin Engineer and Rahul Chari. The application was based on the UPI (Unified Payments Interface) transactions. The company headquarters exists in Bangalore, India.

    PhonePe is an successful application that has 11 different Indian languages. It provides plenty of features such as mobile recharge, receiving and sending money, DTH, utility payments, tax savings funds, data cards, and more. As of March 2025, PhonePe has crossed 600 million registered users on its platform.

    The Reserve Bank of India has licensed PhonePe for the service of money transactions and payment system with an authorized name.

    PhonePe launched a special insurance plan for travellers who attended the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, held from January 13 to February 26, 2025.

    The plan, developed in collaboration with ICICI Lombard General Insurance, was offered in two variants: INR 59 for train or bus travellers and INR 99 for domestic flight passengers.


    Sameer Nigam Biography: Founder of PhonePe | Education | Net Worth
    Sameer Nigam is the founder & CEO of PhonePe. Know about Sameer Nigam’s Net worth, life story, education, family & more. Know more about Sameer Nigam, his wife, father, birthplace, age, on Sameer Nigam Wikipedia.


    PhonePe Business Model

    Besides the transactions of money from one bank to another, PhonePe has many more tremendous features such as it provides the facility of purchasing grocery, insurance, food and many more.

    PhonePe facilitates the supply of the products that are sold on this app. PhonePe is a multiple purpose application. It also provides the service of mobile recharge, electricity bills and other household bill payments.

    PhonePe charges the commission on the payments made by the customers from any online or offline merchants. However, the UPI transactions are based on IMPS that’s why it doesn’t charge any additional money from the banks.

    PhonePe POS machine
    PhonePe POS machine

    Recently, PhonePe has launched its POS machine that is available in almost every shop that allows PhonePe payment. The POS machine makes the payment extremely convenient and handy. PhonePe POS machine is powered by Bluetooth technology and is worlds lowest cost POS device in the world.


    The case of Bharat”Pe” – BharatPe Vs PhonePe case study
    BharatPe and PhonePe has been fighting in court since 2018 for the trademark rights. Lets understand the complete details of this case.


    How PhonePe earns money?

    Here are the sources through which PhonePe makes money:

    Mobile Recharge

    As you know, PhonePe provides the facility of online recharge of your mobile very conveniently. It earns from the commission that is made from the operator you recharged on.

    Bill Payment

    When a bill payment is made through PhonePe on any company, PhonePe gets the commission from the respective company.

    Apps

    There is a separate column for different apps like OYO Rooms, Dominos, Myntra, Grofers and many more, on the PhonePe app. So, when you do any payment on these mentioned apps, PhonePe gets the commission respectively.

    Gift Vouchers

    You get plenty of gift Vouchers of different apps like Oxygen wallet, Airtel Money, Freecharge and more on PhonePe. It earns the commission on every sold gift voucher.

    Digital Gold

    PhonePe also allows you to buy gold, so when you do, it charges a little extra from you than the actual pricing.

    Mutual Fund

    Recently, PhonePe added the mutual fund’s investment features to its app. So, when you invest in any mutual funds, PhonePe charges a distinct amount of commission on the respective company.

    UPI Transactions

    PhonePe usually does not make money from the UPI transactions. It only analyzes your data to create a new product.


    Walmart-Owned PhonePe Prepares for India IPO
    Walmart-owned PhonePe is preparing for its IPO in India, aiming to strengthen its market presence and expand its financial services portfolio.


    PhonePe Revenue Model

    PhonePe’s revenue has seen significant growth over the years, but expenses have also increased, resulting in continued losses. Below is a detailed breakdown.

    Particulars FY24 FY23 FY22 FY21 FY20
    Revenue INR 5,725 crore INR 3,085 crore INR 1,692.8 crore INR 725.3 crore INR 427.2 crore
    Expenses INR 7,756 crore INR 5,907 crore INR 3,705.7 crore INR 2,456.9 crore INR 2,202.9 crore
    Profit/(Loss) INR -1,996 crore INR -2,795 crore INR -2,013.8 crore INR -1,728.8 crore INR -1,771.7 crore

    PhonePe Financials
    PhonePe Financials

    In 2024, PhonePe’s operating revenue grew by 74% to INR 5,064 crore, up from INR 2,914 crore in 2023. However, total expenses also increased by 31% from INR 5,907 crore in 2023 to INR 7,756 crore in 2024. Despite this, PhonePe reduced its losses by 29%, with a loss of INR 1,996 crore in 2024 compared to INR 2,795 crore in 2023.

    PhonePe does not have its own payment bank and also, it doesn’t charge any money when you regress any of your money back to your account. In fact, it provides you with different offers and cashback of the money you paid through any transactions.

    Therefore, PhonePe works by promoting several brands on its app with different offers and vouchers. It earns the major fraction from the bill payments and recharges.

    Moreover, PhonePe earns from Yes Bank by providing the analytic database and targeting its products to the users. Flipkart also utilises the service of monitoring purchasing and catching better advertisers, deals and notification through PhonePe to the customers. It collects and saves an ample amount of money from Flipkart from preventing channeling other payments apps.

    Conclusion

    PhonePe facilitates the services and payments along with the online transactions for several products available on the PhonePe application or website or any other external merchant stores (online or offline).

    PhonePe is not an established bank or online payment bank. It is an application with a service not based on any banking services but itself. PhonePe works through a monopoly to earn its money and provides a safe and secure online transaction.

    It is very prominent and widely famous across India with its great offers and services. PhonePe earns money in an absolute conventional manner and provides the best features and offers for payment.

    FAQs

    What is PhonePe and how does it work?

    PhonePe is a mobile payment app that lets users send money, pay bills, recharge, and shop using the UPI system. It works by linking your bank account to the app, allowing secure and instant transactions directly from your phone.

    Who is CEO of PhonePe?

    Sameer Nigam is the CEO of PhonePe.

    Does Flipkart owns PhonePe?

    Yes, Flipkart acquired PhonePe in 2016.

    Does PhonePe charge for money transfer?

    PhonePe does not charge for money transfers.

    Who has founded PhonePe?

    Sameer Nigam is the founder of PhonePe company. He has founded PhonePe in 2015.

    Who are the top competitors of PhonePe?

    PhonePe’s top competitors include:

    • Mobikwik
    • Paytm
    • Google Pay
    • BharatPe
    • Juspay
    • Razorpay

    What is the difference between PhonePe and PhonePe business?

    PhonePe is for individual users to send money, pay bills, and recharge, whereas
    PhonePe Business is for merchants to accept payments, track sales, and manage transactions.

    What is the business model of PhonePe?

    PhonePe operates on a service-based business model. It earns revenue by charging merchants transaction fees, offering value-added services like recharges and bill payments, and selling financial products such as insurance, mutual funds, and digital gold. The company also provides POS devices to merchants and uses user data to cross-sell personalized financial products. While UPI transactions are free, PhonePe’s income comes mainly from these additional services.

  • Sameer Nigam: Founder & CEO of PhonePe | Biography

    Sameer Nigam is an Indian Entrepreneur who founded PhonePe, a UPI-based online payment system in 2015 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He also served as the Senior Vice President of engineering at Flipkart. In 2009, he launched his very first venture Mime360, which connects content owners to content publishers. He made a personal investment in an organization called Artifacia on 14 January 2016. He was listed in the top Indian business leaders 40 under 40 list by The Economic Times. He has a net worth of INR 17 crore.

    Let’s go through the success story of Sameer Nigam along with getting a glance at Sameer Nigam’s Net worth, Education, personal life, how he founded PhonePe & more.

    Sameer Nigam Biography

    Name Sameer Nigam
    Born 1978
    Age 47 (2025)
    Nationality Indian
    Education University of Mumbai, University of Arizona; The Wharton School
    Profession Entrepreneur
    Position Founder & CEO, PhonePe
    Net worth INR 17 crore (2017)

    Sameer Nigam – Family
    Sameer Nigam – Education
    Sameer Nigam – Professional Life
    Sameer Nigam – Founder of Mime360
    Sameer Nigam – Founder of PhonePe
    Sameer Nigam – Controversy
    Sameer Nigam – Honors & Awards

    Sameer Nigam – Family

    Sameer Nigam was born in Delhi and currently resides in Bangalore, Karnataka. His father worked in the Indian Navy and is an IIT graduate. Sameer Nigam’s mother is an entrepreneur and cleared her IAS on the first attempt at 40. Sameer’s wife is a consultant and together they have a son and a daughter.

    Nigam made his way from Noida to Mumbai and finally to Bangalore where his company PhonePe is headquartered. His venture got a tremendous boost from the demonetization policy, which the Indian government announced in the same launching year of PhonePe.

    Sameer Nigam – Education

    Sameer completed his formal education at DPS Noida. He received his Computer Engineering degree from the University of Mumbai. He further went to the University of Arizona for a Master of Science in Computer Engineering (1991-2001). Later, he studied Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (2007-2009).

    Sameer Nigam – Professional Life

    Sameer Nigam, the Phonepe owner, served as the Director of Search Product Development at Shopzilla from May 2001 to June 2007. He then launched his venture, Mime360 in 2009 which is an online social media distribution channel. The company was later acquired by Flipkart.

    He served at Flipkart from October 2011 to August 2015. While working for the eCommerce giant, he worked in several divisions including Marketing and Engineering as Vice President and Senior Vice President respectively. He further launched his digital wallet platform PhonePe in 2015, where he is positioned as the CEO.

    He did exceptionally well in his corporate career with cordial entrepreneurial experiences to his credit. He displayed his skills in product marketing, eCommerce, strategic partnerships, online marketing, digital strategy, user experience, web applications, startups, mobile marketing, digital media, special needs, business development, web development, web analytics, and many more.

    He is highly skilled in team management, digital marketing, non-medical homecare, lead generation, search engine optimization, strategy, mobile applications, mobile advertising, and online advertising.

    Sameer Nigam – Founder of Mime360

    In 2009, Sameer launched his first venture Mime360 (Mallers Incorporation), an online media distribution channel headquartered in Mumbai, India. The company offers an exchange platform connecting content owners with content publishers including Saregama, Indiatimes, and others.

    Mime’s security is aided by API Feeds that help to prevent piracy and allow a large number of publishers to sell the licensed content globally. Most importantly, Mime eliminates various infrastructure costs for partners including content management, storage, and local data center bandwidth, and authorizes content owners to even set regional pricing.

    Mime360 was acquired by Flipkart. The eCommerce giant has been looking to acquire small companies to grow the team. After the acquisition, some of Mime’s employees joined Flipkart to launch a digital music distribution service later. The strong entrepreneurial zeal, vision, and experience kept Sameer going and he soon launched another venture.


    PhonePe Success Story: India’s Leading Payments App | Revenue Model | Business Model | Valuation |
    PhonePe is an Indian digital payment and financial services company. Explore PhonePe’s business model, revenue, history, founders, funding, valuation, growth, and more.


    Sameer Nigam – Founder of PhonePe

    Sameer launched his Unified Payments Interface (UPI) based startup, PhonePe in December 2015. He is the Founder and CEO of Bangalore headquartered PhonePe. He is a member of the Board of Directors at the company and advises on Marketing and several other strategies.

    Sameer along with two of his friends, Rahul Chari and Burzin Engineer brought the idea of launching and designing an online payment app based on UPI. The PhonePe application went live in August 2016. It is available to users in over 11 Indian languages.

    PhonePe was acquired by Flipkart in 2016. However, the e-commerce giant came into the ownership of US-based Walmart Incorporation in 2018 worth $16 billion. The acquisition of PhonePe was with the aim of expanding its online shopping footprint in India.

    PhonePe’s first annual report shows a 73% revenue increase to INR 5,064 crore, with the company posting an adjusted profit of INR 197 crore after a INR 738 crore loss last year. Founders Rahul Chari and Sameer Nigam each earned INR 5 crore in FY24, with lower ESOP valuations compared to the previous year.

    PhonePe IPO

    PhonePe has officially become a public company, as confirmed by regulatory filings.

    The change was approved at an extraordinary general meeting held on April 16, 2025, and the company’s name has been updated from PhonePe Private Limited to PhonePe Limited.

    This move marks a significant step toward its much-anticipated IPO. PhonePe has been gearing up for a domestic listing, having recently shifted its headquarters from Singapore to India and appointed four investment banks to guide the IPO process. PhonePe is targeting a valuation of up to $15 billion as it prepares to strengthen its presence in India’s fast-growing fintech sector. Backed by Walmart, the company has brought on Kotak Mahindra Capital, JP Morgan, Citi, and Morgan Stanley to guide its IPO journey.


    The case of Bharat”Pe” – BharatPe Vs PhonePe case study
    BharatPe and PhonePe has been fighting in court since 2018 for the trademark rights. Lets understand the complete details of this case.


    Sameer Nigam – Controversy

    PhonePe founder and CEO Sameer Nigam issued an apology on Sunday for his comments about Karnataka’s draft job reservation Bill, clarifying that he never meant to offend the state or its people. His statement came in response to a ‘Boycott PhonePe‘ campaign initiated by Kannada groups, including the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and other pro-Kannada organizations. The campaign started on social media after Nigam’s post on X, which commented on the Karnataka Cabinet’s approval of ‘The Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024’.

    Here is the post that he made on X which caused backlash:

    Below is the apology that he shared on X:


    Sameer Nigam – Honors & Awards

    The Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania conferred him with the Wharton Venture Award in 2008. He has participated in two events. He attended the 16th NASSCOM Product Conclave 2019 on 5 November 2019, held in Bangalore, Karnataka, India, Asia. He attended Money 20/20 Asia 2019 as a Speaker on 19 March 2019 held at Central Region, Singapore, Asia.

    His venture PhonePe was conferred with a list of awards, which are as follows:-

    • PhonePe was recognized by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for attracting the largest number of merchant transactions on the UPI network. (2018)
    • Received Best Mobile Payment Product or Service Category at the IAMAI India Digital Awards 2018
    • Won the UPI Digital Innovation Award from NPCI (2018)
    • Won the SuperStartUp Asia Award (2018)
    • Won the Telecom and Technology category award from India Advertising Awards (2018)
    • Won the Best Mobile Payment Product or Service at the 9th India Digital Awards 2019 conducted by IAMAI
    • Received the Best Digital Wallet initiative at the 8th annual Indian Retail & eRetail Awards 2019 conducted by Zee Business and The Economic Times.
    • Awarded Fintech Person of the Year – India at the Global Fintech Fest 2024.

    FAQs

    What Sameer Nigam net worth?

    Sameer Nigam has a net worth of INR. 17.7 crore (as of 2017).

    What is Sameer Nigam education?

    Sameer Nigam has completed a Computer Engineering degree from the University of Mumbai, an MS from the University of Arizona, and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

    What is Sameer Nigam birth place?

    Sameer Nigam was born in Delhi.

    Who is the PhonePe Owner?

    PhonePe is owned by Flipkart.

    Who is the PhonePe founder?

    Sameer Nigam is the founder and CEO of PhonePe.

    What is Sameer Nigam age?

    Sameer Nigam is 47 years old.

  • PhonePe Success Story: How It Became India’s Leading Payments App

    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations.

    In today’s world, the emphasis is on comfort and ease, and the banking industry has seen quite a revolution in this regard. Carrying cash was rather cumbersome, which led to the birth of digital payments and mobile wallets, and PhonePe has grown up to be one of the major exponents in this sector.

    Mobile apps are the preferred method for the payment of groceries, utility bills, phone recharges, etc. Even large transactions are now done digitally rather than in cash, which has not only removed the risk factors in the physical world but also streamlined the whole banking and finance sector for good.

    PhonePe is one such payment app that has made the lives of millions of Indians simple. Founded in December 2015, PhonePe is currently hailed as the market leader in the digital payments space in India. The app allows users to maintain their bank accounts digitally, access them at their convenience, and use their funds for all the purposes that they want. They can easily link their credit and debit cards with a mobile wallet to make their digital payments. Furthermore, instant money transfers can also be done through PhonePe. These are only some instances when PhonePe appears to be indispensable and trust us, there are more!

    If you want to know more about PhonePe’s Success Story, its founders, history of PhonePe, its business model, revenue model, funding and investors, revenue, growth, competitors, and more, then stay glued.

    PhonePe – Company Highlights

    Company Name PhonePe
    Headquarters Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
    Sector Fintech
    Founder Sameer Nigam, Burzin Engineer, Rahul Chari
    Founded 2015
    Valuation $12 billion
    Website phonepe.com

    About PhonePe
    PhonePe – Industry
    PhonePe – Founders and Team
    PhonePe – Startup Story
    PhonePe – Mission and Vision
    PhonePe – Name, Tagline, and Logo
    PhonePe – Business Model
    PhonePe – Revenue Model
    PhonePe – Growth and Revenue
    PhonePe – Financials
    PhonePe – Challenges Faced
    PhonePe – Funding And Investors
    PhonePe – Shareholding
    PhonePe – IPO
    PhonePe – Acquisitions
    PhonePe – ESOPs
    PhonePe – Partnerships
    PhonePe – Advertisements and Social Media Campaigns
    PhonePe – Awards and Achievements
    PhonePe – Competitors
    PhonePe – Future Plans

    About PhonePe

    PhonePe, founded in December 2015, is a renowned digital payments company that supports over 11 languages. It is among the first payment apps built on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and holds the distinction of being the first UPI payments app to surpass the billion-transaction milestone. The app offers a wide range of services, allowing users to send and receive money, check bank balances, make POS payments, purchase gold, and perform various transactions such as phone recharges, DTH payments, and utility bill payments. It is widely recognized and approved by Indian merchants, enabling users to book rides, order food, shop online, and more.

    Obtaining regulatory approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), PhonePe operates as an account aggregator. This groundbreaking service empowers Indian consumers to grant consent and securely share their financial data, including bank statements, insurance policies, and tax filings, with regulated Financial Institutions or Financial Information Users (FIUs). Through this service, users can easily apply for loans, obtain insurance, seek investment advice, and explore other financial solutions. Importantly, users retain complete control over their data consent, with the ability to request, pause, or revoke access conveniently through aa.phonepe.com or directly within the PhonePe app.

    With its wide range of services, innovative features, and regulatory approval as an account aggregator, PhonePe continues to redefine the digital payments landscape in India, empowering users with secure and convenient financial solutions while putting them in control of their data.

    How Does PhonePe Work?

    PhonePe is a digital payment and wallet-based app that operates within the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) ecosystem. To use PhonePe, users need to download the app, link their phone numbers, and verify their bank accounts. Once set up, users can make transactions directly through the app. PhonePe acts as a mediator between users and their bank accounts, enabling seamless fund transfers, bill payments, and online shopping. The app provides a secure and convenient platform for users to manage their digital payments, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience.

    PhonePe – Industry

    UPI Market Share by Volume (July 2024)
    UPI Market Share by Volume (July 2024)

    As per the Statista reports, the Digital Payments market in India is projected to grow by 11.56% (2024-2028) resulting in a market volume of US$394.40 billion in 2028. PhonePe, along with Google Pay and Paytm, emerged as the dominant players, collectively accounting for nearly 96% of all UPI transactions by value in March. PhonePe continued to lead the market in terms of both value and volume for UPI transactions, solidifying its standing in the market.


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    PhonePe – Founders and Team

    Sameer Nigam, Burzin Engineer, and Rahul Chari are the founders of PhonePe.

    Sameer Nigam

    Sameer Nigam - Founder and CEO, PhonePe
    Sameer Nigam – Founder and CEO, PhonePe

    Sameer Nigam is the founder and CEO of PhonePe. Before PhonePe, Sameer held key positions at Flipkart, including Senior Vice President of Engineering and Vice President of Marketing. Sameer’s association with Flipkart dates back to 2011, when his earlier startup, Mime360, was acquired by the company. He has also worked as the Director of Product Management at Shopzilla, Inc. Sameer holds an MBA from the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania, a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Arizona, Tucson, and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Mumbai, India.


    Sameer Nigam Biography: Founder of PhonePe | Education
    Sameer Nigam is the founder & CEO of PhonePe. Know about Sameer Nigam’s Biography, Net worth, life story, education, family & more.


    Rahul Chari

    Rahul Chari - Founder and CTO, PhonePe
    Rahul Chari – Founder and CTO, PhonePe

    Rahul Chari is the Founder and CTO of PhonePe. He started his career as a software engineer with Andiamo Systems Inc. after completing an internship at Sun Microsystems. Chari then went on to serve in managerial positions in a couple more companies like Cisco Systems, Mime360, and Flipkart, where he served as the Senior Software Engineer, Manager, Co-founder and CTO, and Vice President of Engineering, respectively. Rahul holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Purdue University, USA, and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from Mumbai University, India.

    Burzin Engineer

    Burzin Engineer - Founder and CRO, PhonePe
    Burzin Engineer – Founder and CRO, PhonePe

    Burzin Engineer is the Founder and CRO (Chief Reliability Officer) of PhonePe. He was the Vice President of Engineering and Operations at M-GO for two years before founding PhonePe. Furthermore, he has also worked with Flipkart, mime360.com, Shopzilla.com, SoftAware Inc., MarchFirst Inc., Twin Sun Inc., and AT&T Global Information Systems (Teradata). Burzin pursued his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Mumbai and later completed a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Southern California.

    PhonePe – Startup Story

    PhonePe was founded in 2015 by Sameer Nigam, Rahul Chari, and Burzin Engineer, who were ex-Flipkart employees. With a vision of simplifying transactions and making financial services accessible to all, they founded PhonePe.

    In 2016, PhonePe took a significant leap forward when it caught the attention of Flipkart, one of India’s leading eCommerce giants. Recognizing its immense potential, Flipkart swiftly acquired PhonePe, forging a strategic partnership that would shape the future of digital payments.

    With the backing of Flipkart, PhonePe began its journey toward revolutionizing the digital transaction landscape. The founders had a groundbreaking idea to leverage the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a newly launched infrastructure by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). This decision would prove to be a turning point in PhonePe’s story.

    By integrating with UPI, PhonePe offered users a seamless and secure way to make transactions directly from their bank accounts. The app gained popularity for its user-friendly interface, fast processing times, and convenient features. It quickly became a trusted name in the digital payment space.

    As PhonePe continued to innovate and expand its offerings, it solidified its position as a leader in the fintech industry. The platform’s commitment to user empowerment, data privacy, and convenience resonated with millions of users across India.

    In December 2022, Flipkart and PhonePe announced their complete ownership separation. This move granted PhonePe the independence to chart its growth trajectory, marking a pivotal moment in its journey. Additionally, PhonePe shifted its domicile from Singapore to India in October 2022.

    Today, PhonePe continues to redefine the way Indians transact digitally. With its secure and innovative solutions, PhonePe empowers users to effortlessly manage their finances, access a wide range of financial services, and experience the convenience of digital payments.

    PhonePe – Mission and Vision

    PhonePe’s mission is to offer every Indian an equal opportunity to accelerate their progress by unlocking the flow of money and access to services.

    The vision statement of PhonePe is, “Our Vision is to build India’s largest transaction platform anchored on payments. A scalable ecosystem that creates maximum positive impact for all stakeholders”.

    PhonePe Logo
    PhonePe Logo

    The name of PhonePe sounds quite similar to its peers, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, and more because it is essentially a payments app. However, PhonePe has an interesting take on the word “pay” by using “Pe” in its name. This evokes the Hindi connotation of the term, aligning with its operation on mobile phones. The brand chose the color purple as its primary color and incorporated it into the logo. The linguistic mixing of Hindi and English in writing “Pe” helps users recall the Hindi connotation.

    PhonePe goes by the tagline “Karte Ja. Badhte Ja,” which means “Keep doing, keep growing,” written on a very positive note that hints toward the transactions on the app and the expansion of the business of PhonePe.

    PhonePe – Business Model

    PhonePe operates on a combined B2B and B2C business model in the digital payments and financial services sectors.

    • Consumer Side: On the consumer side, PhonePe offers a digital payment platform that allows users to make seamless transactions using their smartphones. Users can link their bank accounts, debit cards, and credit cards to the PhonePe app, enabling them to make payments, transfer money, recharge mobile phones, pay bills, and more. PhonePe provides a user-friendly interface and a secure platform for convenient and efficient financial transactions.
    • Merchant Side: PhonePe also caters to merchants by providing them with payment solutions and tools to accept digital payments. Merchants can use the PhonePe app or integrate PhonePe’s payment gateway into their own applications or websites. This enables them to accept payments from customers using various payment methods, including UPI, cards, and wallets. PhonePe offers features such as payment notifications, transaction history, and easy reconciliation to enhance the merchant’s payment experience.

    PhonePe has also obtained a license from the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) to provide services related to money transactions and payment systems in India. The company strives to expand its user base, generate profits, and offer additional services beyond traditional banking transactions.

    The PhonePe Services encompass a comprehensive range of offerings, including Pre-Paid Instruments, Gift cards, Payment gateways, Recharges and Bill Payments, Insurance, Mutual Funds, Gold sales, and purchases, and switch interfaces and access. These services exemplify PhonePe’s dedication to delivering a diverse and user-centric platform that caters to various financial needs.

    PhonePe – Revenue Model

    PhonePe operates on a revenue model that encompasses various streams of income which are as follows:

    • Transaction Fees: PhonePe generates revenue by charging transaction fees or commissions on each transaction made through its platform. This includes fees on UPI payments, bill payments, recharges, and other financial transactions processed through the app.
    • Merchant Services: PhonePe offers merchant services, enabling businesses to accept payments through its POS machines. PhonePe earns revenue by charging merchants a fee for using its POS machines and accepting payments from customers.
    • Insurance Brokerage: With its insurance brokerage license obtained from the IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India), PhonePe offers insurance products to its user base. The company earns revenue through commissions on insurance policy sales.
    • Affiliate Commissions: PhonePe partners with various brands and vendors to promote their products and services to its users. It earns affiliate commissions when users make purchases or engage with partner offerings through the PhonePe platform.
    • Advertising and Promotions: PhonePe generates revenue through advertising and promotional activities. Brands and businesses can leverage PhonePe’s platform to reach a large user base, and PhonePe charges fees for advertising and promotional placements on its app.
    • Data Insights: PhonePe leverages its extensive user database to gather valuable insights on payment patterns, customer behavior, and preferences. These insights can be used for targeted marketing and data-driven decision-making, potentially generating revenue through data analytics services or partnerships.

    PhonePe Business Mode | How PhonePe makes money?
    PhonePe is one of the top payment apps in India but have you ever wondered How PhonePe makes money? Here are insights into PhonePe revenue model.


    PhonePe – Growth and Revenue

    PhonePe, founded in December 2015, was acquired by Flipkart in 2016 for about $20 million. Since then, the company has experienced remarkable growth, reaching a valuation of over $12 billion in 2023.

    PhonePe became the first UPI-based app to surpass 10 million downloads in 2017 and has consistently ranked among the top finance apps in major app stores. It has emerged as a leading player in UPI transactions and achieved the milestone of 1 million app transactions in a day in 2017. With its popularity as a digital payments service provider, PhonePe recorded $2 billion in monthly transactions in October 2021. The company has reached 5 billion (5.33 billion) transactions via unified payments interface (UPI) for the first time in October 2023.

    PhonePe’s growth is evident through its innovative offerings, including the Smart Speaker, Pulse platform, Pincode App, merchant lending platform, and POS devices.

    PhonePe Smart Speaker

    PhonePe expanded its offerings with the launch of the PhonePe Smart Speaker in August 2022, aimed at enhancing the payment tracking experience at stores. Equipped with multilingual payment notifications and up to 4 days of battery life, these speakers are installed at merchants’ doorsteps for a nominal initial cost of Rs 50 and a monthly rental fee of Rs 50.

    PhonePe Pulse

    PhonePe Pulse is a leading platform in India that launched in September 2021 and provides comprehensive data and insights on digital payment trends. It offers valuable information on the country’s digital payment landscape through an interactive map showcasing transactions, enabling users to understand the adoption and usage patterns of digital payments across various regions. PhonePe Pulse is a valuable resource for government, media, industry analysts, merchants, startups, and academic institutions, offering deep insights into consumer and merchant behavior.

    PhonePe Pincode App

    PhonePe launched Pincode, a new consumer-facing application that operates within the framework of India’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), in April 2023. This allows PhonePe to strengthen its presence in the eCommerce space and directly compete with rivals like Paytm. Pincode focuses on hyperlocal commerce and offers categories such as grocery, food, pharma, electronics, home decor, and fashion. The app aims to provide a seamless shopping experience, with plans to expand to multiple cities. With this, PhonePe is the first player to have a dedicated app on the ONDC platform, supporting the government’s push for digital commerce in India.

    PhonePe Merchant Lending Platform

    In June 2023, PhonePe launched its merchant lending platform. This innovative platform aims to address the challenges faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in accessing organized credit. By leveraging its extensive base of over 35 million merchants, PhonePe enables banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) to provide credit digitally and seamlessly. Through the PhonePe for Business app, SMEs can experience a streamlined and quick loan approval process, ensuring timely access to credit for their growth and development.

    Phone.Pe Launches App Share.Market

    PhonePe, a major player in the fintech industry with strong backing from retail giant Walmart, took a significant step forward by venturing into the world of stock broking on 30 August 2023. They did so by introducing their new mobile application aptly named “Share.Market”.

    This user-friendly app is set to provide individuals with the means to partake in stock trading, invest in mutual funds, and even delve into the world of exchange-traded Funds (ETFs). This move not only marks a significant expansion of PhonePe’s services but also positions them to cater to a broader audience looking to explore the world of financial markets through a convenient and accessible platform. It’s a noteworthy development in the ever-evolving landscape of fintech, with PhonePe aiming to make stock market participation more accessible to the masses.

    “We launched lending, insurance, and payment gateway businesses recently. We started mutual fund distribution four years back and now we are entering the stock broking business under its subsidiary PhonePe Wealth,” said Sameer Nigam, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of PhonePe.

    PhonePe Point-of-Sale (POS) Device

    PhonePe has expanded its presence in the digital payment ecosystem by entering the point-of-sale (POS) device market. This strategic move positions PhonePe to compete with industry players like Pine Labs, Paytm, and Razorpay, offering reliable and efficient payment solutions for merchants accepting payments via debit cards, credit cards, and UPI. By leveraging its expertise in digital payments, PhonePe aims to provide seamless transactions for customers in both online and offline environments, catering to the diverse needs of businesses.

    PhonePe – Financials

    PhonePe’s revenue has seen significant growth over the years, but expenses have also increased, resulting in continued losses. Below is a detailed breakdown.

    Particulars FY24 FY23 FY22 FY21 FY20
    Revenue INR 5,725 crore INR 3,085 crore INR 1,692.8 crore INR 725.3 crore INR 427.2 crore
    Expenses INR 7,756 crore INR 5,907 crore INR 3,705.7 crore INR 2,456.9 crore INR 2,202.9 crore
    Profit/(Loss) INR -1,996 crore INR -2,795 crore INR -2,013.8 crore INR -1,728.8 crore INR -1,771.7 crore
    PhonePe Financials FY24
    PhonePe Financials FY24

    In 2024, PhonePe’s operating revenue grew by 74% to INR 5,064 crore, up from INR 2,914 crore in 2023. However, total expenses also increased by 31% from INR 5,907 crore in 2023 to INR 7,756 crore in 2024. Despite this, PhonePe reduced its losses by 29%, with a loss of INR 1,996 crore in 2024 compared to INR 2,795 crore in 2023.

    PhonePe also witnessed robust revenue growth, surging 77% growth to INR 2,914 crore in FY23 from INR 1,646 crore in FY22.

    The company claims that in FY23, as opposed to FY22, its EBITDA for the payment segment stood at negative INR 1,755 crore whereas in FY22 it was negative INR 1,622 crore.

    PhonePe Revenue:

    Revenue has nearly doubled from FY23 to FY24, mainly driven by growth in operations.

    Revenue Breakdown FY24 FY23
    Revenue from operations INR 5,064 crore INR 2,914 crore
    Other income INR 661 crore INR 171 crore

    PhonePe Expenses:

    Expenses have increased due to higher employee costs and amortisation expenses.

    Expense Breakdown FY24 FY23
    Employee benefit expense INR 3,603 crore INR 3,096 crore
    Amortization & Depreciation INR 1,117 crore INR 536 crore
    Other expenses INR 3,001 crore INR 2,251 crore

    PhonePe Profit/Loss:

    Despite revenue growth, losses persist, but they have slightly decreased in FY24.

    Profit/Loss Breakdown FY24 FY23
    Profit/(Loss) before tax INR -2,006 crore INR -2,802 crore
    Tax Expense INR -10 crore INR -7 crore
    Net Profit/(Loss) INR -1,996 crore INR -2,795 crore

    Quick Summary:

    • Revenue Surge: Revenue nearly doubled from INR 3,085 Cr in FY23 to INR 5,725 Cr in FY24.
    • Expense Growth: Major increase in employee expenses and amortization costs.
    • Loss Reduction: Losses decreased from INR 2,795 Cr in FY23 to INR 1,996 Cr in FY24.
    • Operational Growth: Strong increase in revenue from operations, showing business expansion.

    PhonePe – Challenges Faced

    Starting up was indeed a big challenge for PhonePe because the industry was quite new and rather unexplored. However, the PhonePe acquisition by Flipkart settled things.

    Blockage by ICICI Bank and Airtel

    PhonePe was blocked on January 14, 2017, by ICICI Bank because the PhonePe transactions did not meet the NPCI guidelines. Though the NPCI initially instructed ICICI to allow UPI transactions via PhonePe on January 19, 2017, the regulatory body confirmed a day later that the digital payments service provider had indeed violated the UPI norms. Airtel was another company that blocked PhonePe transactions on its platforms during the same period.

    This led PhonePe to close its operations on Flipkart’s website, which helped the startup align itself with the terms stated in the updated verdict from the NPCI. The digital payments app resolved all of these issues with ICICI and Airtel by February 2017.

    QR Code Burning Incident

    PhonePe faced a notable incident where its QR codes were allegedly burned by employees of Paytm. PhonePe promptly filed a police complaint at Surajpur Lakhnawali police station in Greater Noida. Upon identification of the individuals involved, including a Paytm Area Sales Manager (ASM) and a former PhonePe employee, Paytm took immediate action and suspended them. Paytm emphasized its commitment to upholding high standards of work ethics and stated that it does not tolerate any form of misconduct.

    Domicile Shift and Investor Contribution

    Another challenge PhonePe encountered was the process of shifting its domicile from Singapore to India. PhonePe’s investors contributed approximately Rs 8,000 crore in taxes to facilitate this domicile shift. This significant financial contribution from investors played a vital role in aligning PhonePe’s operations with the regulatory framework in India.

    PhonePe – Funding And Investors

    PhonePe has raised over $2.6 billion in funding across 18 rounds as of May 2023. The ongoing financing round has propelled Walmart-backed PhonePe’s valuation to $12 billion, with investments from notable investors including General Atlantic.

    Here is a detailed list of PhonePe’s funding and investors below:

    Date Amount Raised Round Lead Investors
    May 22, 2023 $100 million Private Equity General Atlantic
    April 12, 2023 $100 million Private Equity General Atlantic
    March 17, 2023 $200 million Corporate Walmart
    February 14, 2023 $100 million Private Equity
    January 19, 2023 $350 million Private Equity General Atlantic
    August 18, 2021 $350 million Corporate Walmart
    December 14, 2020 $21 million Corporate Flipkart
    December 3, 2020 $700 million Corporate Walmart
    April 27, 2020 $28 million Corporate Flipkart
    February 26, 2020 $59.6 million Corporate Flipkart
    December 10, 2019 $78.8 million Corporate Flipkart
    October 22, 2019 $54.7 million Corporate Flipkart
    July 30, 2019 $93.5 million Corporate Flipkart
    March 22, 2019 $101 million Corporate Flipkart
    August 9, 2018 $60 million Corporate Flipkart
    April 1, 2018 $42.7 million Corporate Flipkart
    March 23, 2018 $69.4 million Corporate Flipkart
    October 4, 2017 $33.4 million Corporate Flipkart

    PhonePe – Shareholding

    PhonePe shareholding pattern as of November 2023, sourced from Tracxn:

    PhonePe Shareholders Percentage
    General Atlantic 4.4%
    Three State Capital Advisors 1.0%
    Qatar Investment Authority 1.0%
    Ribbit Capital 0.4%
    Tiger Global Management 0.2%
    TVS Capital Funds 0.2%
    Walmart 71.2%
    Headstand 5.7%
    Microsoft 0.7%
    WCH Q3 2020 1 0.1%
    Jadoff SPV 5 < 0.1%
    Angel
    ESOP Pool 15.2%
    Total 100.0%
    PhonePe Shareholding

    PhonePe – IPO

    PhonePe, backed by Walmart, is preparing for an IPO. It has appointed four investment banks, JP Morgan, Kotak Mahindra Capital, Morgan Stanley, and Citi, as advisors for the listing.

    The company seeks a valuation of up to $15 billion and plans to launch its IPO soon. PhonePe aims to go public on Indian stock exchanges, marking a major milestone in its 10-year journey. The move follows strong growth in its revenue and efforts to improve its bottom line.

    In a significant step towards its public listing, PhonePe converted from a private limited company to a public limited company in April 2025. The company will now be registered as “PhonePe Limited,” aligning with regulatory requirements ahead of its anticipated IPO.

    PhonePe – Acquisitions

    PhonePe has made six acquisitions, including Indus OS, Zopper, GigIndia, Indus App Bazaar, OpenQ, and WealthDesk. Notably, it acquired OpenQ and WealthDesk in a combined deal worth $75 million in May 2022. In July 2022, PhonePe announced the acquisition of Indus’ parent company, OSLabs, after reaching an amicable settlement with Affle Global.

    Acquiree Name Date Amount
    Indus OS July 29, 2022 $60 million
    OpenQ May 18, 2022 $25 million
    WealthDesk May 17, 2022 $50 million
    GigIndia March 22, 2022
    Indus App Bazaar May 19, 2021 $60 million
    Zopper July 16, 2018

    PhonePe – ESOPs

    PhonePe offers ESOPs to its full-time employees. In November 2021, the company conducted a buyback of ESOPs worth INR 135 crores, benefiting 75% of its workforce who have completed at least one year of service. Additionally, as part of the separation from Flipkart, eligible employees will receive a one-time cash payout from a $700 million employee stock option (ESOP) buyback conducted by Flipkart. These payouts aim to compensate for the loss of PhonePe’s value in the stock options.

    PhonePe – Partnerships

    PhonePe has seen many partnerships over the years that it has been operating. Here’s a dive into some of the most important ones:

    • PhonePe partnered with Axis Bank in July 2021 on the UPI multi-bank model. It has already collaborated with Yes Bank.
    • Ola collaborated with PhonePe in July 2020 to allow Ola payments through the PhonePe app and wallet.
    • PhonePe has partnered with Flipkart to digitize cash-on-delivery payments in July 2021.
    • PhonePe became the official payments partner for KBFC in September 2021.
    • Edelweiss General Insurance tied up with PhonePe in December 2021 to offer digital motor insurance products.
    • In April 2022, PhonePe and Extreme IX entered into a strategic partnership to minimize latency in the PhonePe app during transactions.

    PhonePe – Advertisements and Social Media Campaigns

    PhonePe actively engages in advertisements and social media campaigns to promote its digital payments platform and services. The company has launched successful marketing campaigns to raise brand awareness and drive user engagement.

    One of PhonePe’s notable campaigns was launched during the IPL in 2020, featuring popular actors Aamir Khan and Alia Bhatt. This highly successful marketing campaign effectively conveyed the message of encouraging people to embrace digital payments for their convenience and security. The campaign highlighted the seamless transaction experience offered by PhonePe.

    In April 2023, PhonePe launched its new brand campaign, ‘PhonePe – Insurance your way’, focused on motor insurance. The campaign aims to convey the unique advantages of purchasing motor insurance through PhonePe, highlighting the convenience, reliability, and absence of unwanted calls or unnecessary add-ons.

    PhonePe #InsuranceYourWay Marketing Campaign

    The company also utilizes social media platforms to share informative content, customer stories, and special offers, aiming to establish a strong presence in the digital payments industry and educate users about its platform’s advantages.

    PhonePe – Awards and Achievements

    Some of the prominent awards and achievements received by PhonePe include:

    • Recognition by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for driving the largest number of merchant transactions on the UPI network in 2018.
    • Best Mobile Payment Product or Service Category at the IAMAI India Digital Awards 2019.
    • Excellence in the Insurtech category at Assocham’s Fintech and Digital Payments Awards 2021.
    • Winner at the Third ET BFSI Innovation Tribe Virtual Summit & Awards (APAC edition).
    • Winner at the 8th Annual India Retail and e-Retail Awards 2019.
    • Winner at the IAMAI 9th India Digital Awards 2019.
    • Best BFSI Brand 2023 at The Economic Times Best BFSI Brands Conclave.
    • Best Payment Solutions and Best Insurtech of the Year at the BW Festival of Fintech 2023.

    PhonePe – Competitors

    The top competitors of PhonePe include Google Pay, Amazon Pay, Whatsapp Pay, Juspay, Paytm, MobiKwik, BharatPe, and more.

    • GPay is a Google-developed digital wallet platform and online payment service. Released in 2011, GooglePay initially offered contactless payment options.
    • Amazon Pay was founded in 2007 and serves as an online payment processing service owned by Amazon, headquartered in Seattle.
    • Whatsapp Pay is a payment service provider powered by the social media giant Facebook, which owns Whatsapp, to help users send and receive money while chatting.
    • Juspay is an online platform used for mobile-based payments. Juspay was founded in 2012.
    • Paytm is a pioneer of the Indian eCommerce payment system. It is a financial technology company. Paytm was founded in 2010.
    • MobiKwik is an Indian company. It has a mobile phone-based payment system. MobiKwik was founded in 2009.
    • BharatPe is a platform, particularly for retailers and businesses. It is a QR-based payment app. The company was founded in 2018.

    PhonePe – Future Plans

    The company seeks to leverage its strong user base, innovative technologies, and strategic partnerships to drive growth and expand its market presence. With a focus on seamless payments and financial inclusion, PhonePe aims to enhance its product offerings, expand its merchant network, and provide a comprehensive ecosystem of services. Going public will provide additional investment opportunities and propel the company’s expansion plans in the competitive digital payments landscape.

    FAQs

    What is PhonePe?

    PhonePe is a popular digital payments platform in India, known for its seamless and secure transactions using UPI technology. It allows users to make payments, transfer money, recharge phones, and pay bills through their smartphones.

    Who is the founder of PhonePe?

    Sameer Nigam, Rahul Chari, and Burzin Engineer are the founders of PhonePe.

    What is PhonePe launch date?

    PhonePe was founded in 2015.

    Who is Burzin Engineer from PhonePe?

    Burzin Engineer is the Founder and CRO (Chief Reliability Officer) at PhonePe. He was previously Director of Engineering at Flipkart.

    How does PhonePe make money?

    The main revenue streams of PhonePe include Transaction fees, Merchant Services, Insurance Brokerage, Affiliate Commissions, Advertising and Promotions, and Data Insights.

    What is PhonePe Switch?

    PhonePe Switch is a feature within the PhonePe app that allows users to conveniently access a variety of apps and services, such as food delivery, transportation, and e-commerce, all in one place. It eliminates the need to download and install multiple apps individually, providing a seamless experience for users.

    What is the PhonePe Merchant Lending Platform?

    PhonePe’s Merchant Lending Platform offers digital credit solutions to SMEs through the PhonePe for Business app in partnership with NBFCs, facilitating quick access to funds for their growth.

    What is PhonePe valuation?

    PhonePe’s valuation has reached $12 billion as of June 2023, reflecting its significant growth and successful fundraising efforts.

    How many Phonepe users did the app register?

    PhonePe has 50 crore (500 Million) registered users and 3.7+ crore (37+ Million) merchants covering over 99% of the postal codes across India.

    Does PhonePe charge customers anything for transactions?

    No, transactions made through the PhonePe app are free of charge for customers. There are no additional costs associated with using PhonePe to make transactions.

    When was the PhonePe app launched?

    PhonePe was founded in 2015, and its app, based on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), went live in 2016.

    What is PhonePe tagline?

    PhonePe goes by the tagline “Karte Ja. Badhte Ja”.

    What is PhonePe business model?

    PhonePe operates on a freemium model, earning through merchant transaction fees, premium services, advertising, and financial products like insurance and mutual funds. It also profits from partnerships with banks and businesses for UPI-based payments.

    PhonePe is which country app?

    PhonePe is an Indian app. It was founded in 2015 and is owned by Walmart through Flipkart. PhonePe origin country is India.

    How would you describe PhonePe in one word?

    PhonePe can be described as Fintech in a single word.