Vijay Shekhar Sharma

Pioneered India's digital payments revolution through Paytm

Vijay Shekhar Sharma (born 1981) is a visionary entrepreneur who transformed India's financial landscape through his creation of Paytm. As the founder of One97 Communications, he launched the Paytm wallet in 2010 during India's early digital adoption phase. His innovative approach enabled millions of Indians to access financial services for the first time, bypassing traditional banking infrastructure. By 2020, Paytm had processed over ₹10 lakh crore ($12 billion) in transactions, making it India's largest digital payments platform.

Sharma's leadership during demonetization in 2016 positioned Paytm as a critical solution for cashless transactions. His strategic partnerships with banks and government initiatives like Aadhaar integration helped bridge the digital divide. The company's 2023 IPO marked India's largest tech listing, valued at $25 billion. Beyond payments, Paytm expanded into e-commerce, insurance, and financial services through its 'Everything Store' vision.

Sharma's impact extends to creating 10,000+ jobs and enabling 30 million merchants to digitize their businesses. His autobiography 《The Paytm Story: A Digital Revolution in India》 details his journey overcoming regulatory challenges and scaling a billion-user platform. His work has been featured in Forbes and Bloomberg as a catalyst for India's fintech boom.