Telegram Stock: Not Investable Today, IPO Possible

Explore the Telegram stock ownership structure and the potential for individual investors to acquire private shares before the Telegram IPO.

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Notable Telegram News

12/23/2024: Pavel Durov says Telegram is now profitable
11/25/2024: Telegram propped up by crypto as founder fights charges
08/24/2024:  Pavel Durov reportedly arrested at French airport
03/11/2024: Telegram hits 900mn users and considers IPO

About Telegram

Telegram is a social media and messaging platform known for its speed, privacy, and user-friendly interface. Pavel Durov founded the company in 2013. He previously co-founded VKontakte (VK), a popular social network in Russia, which he abandoned under pressure to conform to government demands over its data.

The platform allows users to send SMS messages, photos, videos, and other files while supporting features like group chats, broadcasting channels, and encrypted secret chats.

Telegram emphasizes privacy, offering end-to-end encryption for secret chats and a strong commitment to user data security. The company is headquartered in Dubai, and Duval has dual citizenship in the United Arab Emirates and France.

The platform is popular in Russia, India, Iran, Europe, and parts of the Middle East, South Asia, and Latin America.

The app is particularly favored by activists, journalists, and communities seeking privacy or alternatives to government-monitored communication platforms.

Pavel Durov owns Telegraph, maintaining control over its strategic direction. He has avoided traditional venture capital in favor of debt financing. Telegram has an ad-free business model, relying on voluntary donations and investor support.

Ownership

Pavel Durov owns 100% of Telegram, according to a March 2024 interview with the Financial Times. Other sources indicate there may be additional small owners, including his brother. But these reports are ambiguous at best. 

Valuation

The Telegram valuation is estimated at $15 to $30 billion.

IPO Potential

The Telegram IPO date is currently unknown. 

Founder and CEO Durov told the Financial Times in March 2024:

Generally speaking, we see value in [an IPO] as a means to democratize access to Telegram’s value.

The company would consider an IPO once it becomes profitable. Telegram only recently started monetizing its nearly one billion user base.

The Financial Times article continues:

In an IPO, Durov said Telegram would consider selling an allocation of stock to loyal users, following Reddit which recently announced that it would allocate a portion of its shares to retail investors ahead of a New York listing as early as March.

The article also says insiders indicated the company would most likely IPO in the United States instead of Europe or the Middle East. 

However, French authorities arrested Durov in August 2024 for suspected fraudulent activity within Telegram. This will surely delay IPO ambitions until settled. 

Bookmark this page for the latest Telegram stock and IPO news.

How to Invest in Telegram Stock

Pavel Durov owns Telegram. Therefore, individual investors cannot access pre-IPO shares at this time. 

If Durov sells private shares to liquidate his stake or raise funds, chances of ownership may slightly increase.

But there’s little evidence of employee or other private ownership.

The only likely option is to wait for the Telegram IPO. Durov has suggested he may provide IPO access to loyal users to democratize ownership in the pro-free-speech platform with like-minded investors. 

According to the Financial Times, an IPO would also enable debt investors to convert bonds to equity at a slight discount.

1. Participate in the Telegram IPO

IPO investors may find opportunities to invest during an eventual initial public offering, acquiring shares at the IPO price before the stock begins trading.

Loyal Telegram customers who are eligible to invest (by nationality) are the most likely candidates to get access. 

Formerly exclusive to Wall Street’s best customers, IPO access is now more attainable to retail investors.

Online brokers, including the ones listed below, give customers free access to IPOs, even with low account balances. 

• TradeStation 
• Robinhood 

TradeStation has a more established track record of accessing more than 400 IPOs and secondary offerings via its partnership with Click Markets.

Robinhood has the advantage of Silicon Valley networks and a history of getting allocations for high-profile IPOs, making it a good candidate for the Epic Games IPO. 

Check out this list of best brokers for IPO investing to learn more about IPO access for retail investors.

2. Buy the Stock after the IPO

Since acquiring IPO shares is almost always challenging for individual investors, the most likely way to ever own Telegram stock is to wait for the IPO or SPAC to complete. 

However, because an IPO or SPAC is unlikely, acquiring Telegram shares will be nearly impossible for ordinary investors. 

Telegram is not yet a profitable company. But once it achieves profitability, the founder may consider issuing shares on public U.S. markets. 

However, due to Durov’s 2024 troubles with French authorities, an IPO is likely not a consideration in the next few years. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Telegram stock publicly traded?

No. Telegram is a private company. It is not investable. 

What is the Telegram stock price?

Since Telegram is not publicly traded on a stock exchange, it has no public stock price yet.

Furthermore, due to ownership concentration, we cannot estimate the value of one share of Telegram stock. 

What is the Telegram stock symbol?

Telegram’s public ambitions rest solely on Durov. If he decides to take the company public, only after a filing with this SEC is made public will the stock symbol be announced. 

Until then, we can only speculate on what the Telegram ticker symbol would be. 

Here are three possible stock symbols that appear to be available in the U.S. and London:

• TELE
• TGRM
• TLGM

Can you Invest in Telegram Stock Now?

No.

There are no direct or indirect investment options at this time.

Where can I find the Telegram S-1 Filing?

A Telegram S-1 filing will not be available until the company decides to list shares in the U.S., which is far from certain at this stage. 

You can find a real-time SEC feed of the latest IPO filings from other companies on the recent S-1 filings page.

Conclusion

Telegram is a modern social media company straddling the line between free speech, privacy, and transparency, similar to Web3 social media companies like Bluesky. 

Its rise, driven by a commitment to user security and an anti-establishment ethos, makes it a beacon for those seeking alternatives to mainstream corporate platforms with dubious privacy controls. 

Its path to having a sustainable business model worthy of public market investment is complex.

Pavel Durov’s control over Telegram and the platform’s reliance on donations and emerging revenue streams suggests Wall Street would question its viability despite the attraction to a massive user base. 

Telegram’s strategy to date raises questions about scalability in the face of fierce competition and the substantial costs of maintaining a business with established users.

The recent legal troubles in France further complicate Telegram’s prospects, adding a substantial layer of uncertainty to its vague IPO timeline. 

The company has undeniable market potential, with nearly a billion users and a valuation in the tens of billions.

However, profitability remains a distant goal, and the likelihood of public investment hinges on overcoming legal and operational hurdles.

Telegram’s unique positioning as a privacy-first platform and Durov’s stated intention to democratize access to its equity suggest a path forward, albeit one fraught with challenges.

Ultimately, Telegram’s journey encapsulates the tensions of the digital age: the demand for privacy versus the need for transparency, the allure of independence versus the realities of scale. 

Aspiring Telegram stock investors must look elsewhere until a valid business model enables profitability and its eccentric founder abandons the status quo.