Basic Details:
| Legal Name | Mountain Trail Foods Private Limited |
| Sector | Food and Beverage (QSR) |
| Year of Founding | 2015, Patna (Bihar) |
| Founder’s Education | IIT Kharagpur (Integrated MS, Economics) |
| Valuation | ₹100 Cr. |
| Employees | 300+ |
| Headquarter | Gurugram, Haryana |
PERSONAL STORY
Early Life
Vijay was born in 1978 in Aligarh, a small town in Uttar Pradesh, India. His father was a schoolteacher, and his mother was a homemaker. The family lived simply, focusing on education and discipline. Even from a young age, Vijay had a curious mind. He was a self-learner who would tinker with radios, read beyond his grade level, and challenge traditional thinking.
He studied at a Hindi-medium government school, which later became a major roadblock in his journey—but also a defining part of it.
Education
At just 15, Vijay entered Delhi College of Engineering (now DTU). But here, he hit a wall: classes were in English, and he barely understood the language. While his peers adjusted quickly, Vijay spent countless hours decoding textbooks with a dictionary in hand. He began listening to English music, reading English newspapers—basically, teaching himself from scratch.
Despite the language barrier, he was obsessed with technology. In college, he dreamt of creating something that would matter—a tech product that could touch millions. He built his first website while still a student, inspired by the idea of solving problems using the internet.
FOUNDING STORY
The Birth of Paytm
Vijay started his entrepreneurial journey with One97 Communications in the early 2000s. Initially, the company offered content services—ringtones, cricket scores, and astrology via SMS. But in 2010, Vijay noticed a shift. Smartphones were becoming affordable, internet access was spreading fast, and India’s payment infrastructure was still largely cash-based.
That’s when the idea hit him: why not allow people to Pay Through Mobile? That idea became Paytm. He wanted to simplify payments for the common person—recharges, bills, transfers—with a tap of the phone.
He scribbled a bold note on his office wall:
“Paytm will be a $1 billion company.”
Early Struggles & Lessons
Not many people believed in digital payments back then. Vijay had to mortgage his home and borrow money just to keep the company afloat. Investors were skeptical. Users didn’t trust digital wallets. And competition was slowly creeping in.
Still, Vijay stayed committed. He focused on building trust—step by step, transaction by transaction. He believed that people didn’t need another app; they needed a solution they could rely on.
Major Breakthroughs:
- 2014: Paytm Wallet was launched, allowing seamless mobile transactions.
- 2016: India’s demonetization drive suddenly made Paytm a household name. Millions turned to it overnight.
- 2017–2021: Strategic investments from Alibaba and SoftBank gave it global backing.
- 2021: Paytm launched India’s biggest tech IPO.
Each of these milestones marked a shift—from a bold idea to a full-blown movement.
COMPANY PROFILE
Business Model:
Paytm started as a digital wallet, but today, it’s a super-app. You can book movie tickets, pay electricity bills, open a savings account, take a loan, invest in stocks, and even buy insurance—all within the Paytm ecosystem.
The company earns revenue from:
- Merchant transaction fees
- Advertising and featured listings
- Commissions on financial services
- Banking services via Paytm Payments Bank
- Lending through NBFC partners
Revenue Streams:
- Payments: UPI, Wallet, QR Code POS systems
- Financial Services: Loans, insurance, mutual funds
- E-commerce: Mini-app marketplace
- Banking: Paytm Payments Bank
- WealthTech: Stock trading via Paytm Money
Market Landscape:
Paytm competes with major players like PhonePe, Google Pay, and Amazon Pay. But its broad offering and first-mover advantage have kept it relevant. Instead of focusing on just one service, Paytm built an entire financial ecosystem.
Unique Selling Proposition:
What sets Paytm apart is its ecosystem play—a full-stack platform that meets multiple user needs. From payments to wealth management, it’s all connected. And it’s built for Bharat, not just urban India.
Growth Highlights:
- Over 300 million registered users
- 25+ million merchant partners
- Leading digital bank in India
- IPO valuation peaked at over $16 billion
Team & Culture:
Vijay built a team that reflects his values—gritty, innovative, and mission-driven. Many early employees are still with Paytm. The company promotes a flat structure and encourages fast decision-making.
Customer Impact:
From small shopkeepers in tier-3 towns to urban millennials investing via Paytm Money, the platform has empowered millions to go digital. It’s not just a product—it’s a movement.
Social Impact:
Through the Paytm Foundation, the company invests in education, disaster relief, and rural empowerment. Vijay’s mission isn’t just financial inclusion—it’s nation-building.
FOUNDER GUIDE
Lessons from the Journey:
- Solve real problems. If you’re not solving something meaningful, you’ll never last.
- Trust takes time. Build it slowly, protect it fiercely.
- Ignore the noise. Focus on what matters to your users, not your competitors.
- Failures are tuition fees. Learn fast, pivot faster.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs:
- Don’t wait to be perfect. Start now. Learn as you go.
- Focus on Tier-2 and Tier-3 India. That’s where the next billion users are.
- Culture beats strategy. Build a team that believes in the mission.
- Believe in yourself—even if no one else does. The world will catch up.
Conclusion:
Vijay Shekhar Sharma didn’t set out to build a fintech empire. He just wanted to solve a problem. But through persistence, passion, and a refusal to quit, he created Paytm—a platform that changed how India pays, saves, and grows.
It’s more than just a startup story—it’s a blueprint for the new India.
