In a uncommon new interview, Telegram founder Pavel Durov revealed that his firm is nearing profitability, and will even enter the general public market.
It is the reclusive founder’s first public interview since 2017, in line with the outlet. Durov, who was compelled to flee Russia in 2014, at the moment operates the corporate out of Dubai.
Listed below are six key takeaways Durov divulged about his Dubai-based social media app.
Durov is contemplating taking Telegram public
The 39-year-old billionaire who has full possession of Telegram, advised the Monetary Occasions that he is exploring choices to file an preliminary public providing (IPO) for Telegram.
“Typically talking, we see worth in [an IPO] as a method to democratize entry to Telegram’s worth,” Durov advised the outlet.
Durov added that he would take into account allocating a proportion of inventory for loyal customers, an uncommon transfer that fellow social media app Reddit introduced it could do forward of its personal anticipated March IPO submitting.
Durov didn’t say when or the place he would possibly file the IPO, in line with the Occasions.
Telegram’s person base has dramatically elevated
Durov advised the Monetary Occasions the messaging app now has 900 million month-to-month lively customers.
That is practically double the five hundred million he mentioned in a Telegram publish it had originally of 2021.
Telegram might quickly grow to be worthwhile
Since making a paid subscription choice and introducing promoting on the app two years in the past, Durov advised the Occasions that Telegram has made “tons of of tens of millions of {dollars}” in income.
And that would quickly repay for the corporate within the subsequent 12 months or so.
“We hope to grow to be worthwhile subsequent 12 months, if not this 12 months,” Durov advised the Monetary Occasions.
Durov shouldn’t be able to promote, regardless of provides
Though wannabe buyers, together with “international late-stage tech funds” have supplied “$30 billion-plus valuations” for Telegram, Durov advised the Occasions he will not be promoting his platform, at the very least whereas he considers all his IPO choices.
“The primary purpose why we began to monetize is as a result of we wished to stay unbiased,” Durov advised the outlet.
Telegram might develop an AI chatbot
Durov mentioned his firm might take into account elevating funds to pay for its synthetic intelligence ambitions and has even explored the opportunity of creating an AI-powered chatbot.
Telegram may very well be the subsequent technique to meet that particular somebody
Durov mentioned beginning this month, Telegram will start sharing its advertising income with creators who run the platform’s channels.
And, customers will quickly have the ability to create enterprise accounts on the app, he advised the Occasions.
Telegram can be including a “social discovery” characteristic to the app that may assist customers join with, and even date, individuals of their space, Durov advised the Occasions.
