Founded in 2013 by Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai, Telegram has soared in popularity thanks to its strong focus on user privacy, the ability to host massive groups, and seamless syncing across devices. Despite boasting nearly 1 billion users and a $30 billion valuation, Telegram operates with a shockingly lean team — just 30 employees — and no HR department.
Pavel Durov, now 39, personally manages the company as its “only product manager,” even handling recruitment by running contests to attract top engineers. Prominent Indian businessman Harsh Goenka recently spotlighted this in a post on X (formerly Twitter), calling attention to Telegram’s ultra-efficient structure and minimalistic leadership.
Durov’s journey is equally compelling: after co-founding VKontakte (Russia’s top social network), he fled Russia under government pressure and now holds citizenship in France, the UAE, and Russia. His privacy-first philosophy has set Telegram apart from rivals like WhatsApp.
However, Durov recently faced legal troubles — arrested in August 2024 at Le Bourget airport near Paris, he was charged over allegations that Telegram allowed criminal activity on its platform, sparking international debate about the limits of free communication and moderation.