Stories
PhonePe to Focus on Lending and Global Expansion in Next Decade
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Moneycontrol•06-10-2026, 17:26
PhonePe to Focus on Lending and Global Expansion in Next Decade
- •PhonePe Founder and CEO Sameer Nigam outlined the company's vision for its next decade at the Moneycontrol Startup Conclave 2026.
- •The company has secured in-principle approval from the Central Bank of the UAE for two licences, marking its first international expansion.
- •Lending will be the single biggest focus area for PhonePe over the next two to three years now that its payments business is sustainable.
- •PhonePe aims to increase the reach of financial services to the Indian population by 100 times through digital distribution.
- •Nigam addressed past IPO delays, noting that the company now has a much crisper story and a focus on sustainable profit after tax growth.
Key Questions Answered
As PhonePe enters its second decade, its primary focus areas include expanding digital payments, growing international operations, driving lending over the next two to three years, and scaling financial services distribution to increase reach across India.
PhonePe previously delayed its IPO because mutual funds and investors wanted to see sustainable PAT growth or clear timelines to it, and the timing coincided with market AI hype and tariff turmoil where public markets demanded clear stories.
PhonePe has secured in-principle approval and a licence from the Central Bank of the UAE to start payment operations, marking its maiden international expansion and first foreign market foray.
