Telegram
4 known investors
Telegram is a messaging application that prioritizes simplicity, privacy, and speed, offering encrypted messaging, cross-device synchronization, and support for large group communications. The platform serves consumers globally seeking secure instant messaging with customizable features.
Also known as Telegram Messenger
Investors Β· 4
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Telegram is a cloud-based messaging application available on Android, iPhone/iPad, Windows, macOS and Linux desktops, and via web clients, with chats synchronized across multiple devices. The company positions the product around simplicity, speed, heavy encryption with self-destructing messages, no limits on media and chat size, and groups of up to 200,000 members. Telegram publishes an open API and open-source client code, supports reproducible builds so that users can verify that apps distributed through the App Store and Google Play match published source, and offers the Telegram Database Library (TDLib) for developers building custom clients. It also runs a bug bounty program inviting external audits of its services, code and protocol.
The app was developed in 2013 by Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai Durov, and Pavel Durov has served as CEO since 2013. Telegram's operations were moved from Berlin to Dubai's Media City in 2017, where the company is headquartered. Durov has stated he holds 100% of the company with no external shareholders. Telegram scaled from 500 million monthly active users in early 2021 to 900 million in 2023, and Durov said the service reached one billion users in March 2025.
Product development continues on a frequent release cadence, with 2026 updates including welcome messages for groups and channels, interactive buttons in messages, signed gifts, a rich text editor, Telegram Communities linking multiple groups, channels and bots, ephemeral messages in groups, an expanded GIF library, smartwatch apps and AI moderation tools for groups.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources β announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed β not independently audited.
Competitors Β· 1
by search overlapCompanies competing with Telegram for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Timeline Β· 13
launches, deals, and filingsRelease introducing welcome messages for new members of groups or channels, interactive buttons in messages, inline documents and signed gifts.
Release adding a rich text editor, Telegram Communities linking several groups, channels and bots, ephemeral messages in groups, and 350 million GIFs.
Russia issued an arrest warrant against Durov for "collaborating with terrorist activities".
Release adding smartwatch apps, rich text support for bots and AI moderation tools for groups.
French authorities lifted the travel ban on Durov after a year-long investigation.
Pavel Durov announced a partnership to integrate Grok, xAI's AI chatbot, into the Telegram messenger.
Durov was arrested by French police on criminal charges relating to an alleged lack of content moderation on Telegram and refusal to cooperate with police.
Telegram raised $330 million from undisclosed investors through an oversubscribed bond offering; bonds carried a 7.7% yield with maturity in 2026 or until an IPO. Durov said the terms were the most favorable in the company's history when adjusted for the Federal Reserve rate.
$330M source β
Telegram raised $275 million in an additional bond issuance reported as occurring the year before the July 2023 offering.
$275M source β
Durov launched Fragment, a cryptocurrency wallet and marketplace, built by five people in five weeks; roughly $50 million of usernames were purchased within a month of launch.
Telegram raised $1.75 billion through a bond offering in 2021, part of more than $2 billion in debt financing.
$1.8B source β
Russia banned Telegram in 2018 after Durov denied the Kremlin access to user data; the app was reinstated two years later.
Durov moved to Dubai in 2017 and relocated Telegram's operations to an office in Dubai Media City; the company had previously been based in Berlin.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
βΈResearch sources Β· 8
primary sources listed
- Telegramtelegram.org Β· web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Telegram do?
- Telegram is a cloud-based mobile and desktop messaging app focused on speed, privacy and large-scale group communication.
- Who are Telegram's investors?
- Telegram's investors include 10SQ Capital (TenSquared), Manta Ray Ventures, Oyster Ventures, Standard Crypto.