Understanding the fintech (digital payments/ super app) market: strategies for Paytm to be profitable in the long term

Abstract

Leading financial technology company Paytm was founded by Vijay Shekhar Sharma in 2010. Since its inception as a platform for DTH and mobile recharges, it has expanded into a full-service provider of digital payments and financial services. With its headquarters in Noida, the company has garnered significant investments from global giants like Alibaba Group and SoftBank. By 2021, Paytm made headlines with its record-breaking initial public offering, marking a pivotal moment in its journey. However, its path hasn't been without challenges, facing controversies related to data privacy and app store disputes. This case study delves into Paytm's evolution, its strategic collaborations, and the hurdles it encountered along the way. Furthermore, we aim to dissect its business strategy and critically analyse its profitability in the competitive fintech landscape.

Paytm is at a pivotal point in its life where the company is facing increasing competition, regulation and stakeholder pressures to perform well. With growing concerns about increased competition in the UPI market and profitability after years of burning cash and IPO, Paytm must make decisions quickly on what will be the next turning point for the business.