Startup success isn't always measured by how quickly a company grows. OYO, Paytm, Zomato and MakeMyTrip spent years building scale before reaching sustained profitability. Here's how long the journey took for each.

OYO: Nearly a Decade

OYO was founded in 2012 and reported its first full profitable financial year in FY24. Its audited FY24 results showed Rs. 229 crore in net profit. The company had initially announced a provisional profit of nearly Rs. 100 crore.

Paytm: More Than a Decade

Paytm was founded in 2010 and achieved its first full year of profit in FY26. The company reported Rs. 552 crore in FY26 PAT. Revenue reached Rs. 8,437 crore, while EBITDA turned positive at Rs. 502 crore.

Zomato: Around 15 Years to Full-Year Profit

Zomato was founded in 2008 and recorded its first quarterly net profit in Q1 FY24. It later reported its first profitable full fiscal year in FY24, with consolidated PAT of Rs. 351 crore.

MakeMyTrip: A Long, Uneven Journey

MakeMyTrip began operations in 2000, but its parent company experienced years of losses. Its financial history shows net losses through FY23 before a return to profitability in FY24, when net income reached about $216 million.

Growth Came Before Profit

These companies show how India's internet businesses often prioritized scale, customers and market share before focusing heavily on bottom-line profitability. The journey can take many years, especially in competitive markets. Profitability therefore doesn't always arrive alongside rapid growth.

The Takeaway

OYO, Paytm, Zomato and MakeMyTrip followed very different business models, yet their profitability journeys shared one theme: patience. For startups, reaching profitability can require years of investment, restructuring, cost control and market development.

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