Founders and Early Days
Telegram was created by Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai Durov in 2013. The brothers, both Russian entrepreneurs and programmers, had previously founded the social network VKontakte (VK.com). However, they left VK in 2012 due to disagreements with investors and Russian authorities.
- Pavel Durov is often referred to as the 'Telegram guy' due to his significant role in creating and promoting the messaging app.
- The Durov brothers are known for their commitment to privacy and security, which became core values of Telegram.
The Launch and Growth
Telegram was officially launched on August 14, 2013. Initially, it gained popularity due to its simple and user-friendly interface, as well as its focus on speed and security.
Within the first few years, Telegram gained millions of users worldwide. Its popularity was largely driven by its unique features, such as secret chats, self-destructing messages, and file sharing.