In the second episode of Innovators Playground by NPCI, Dilip Asbe speaks with Rahul Chari, Co-founder & CTO of PhonePe, for a deep dive into what it truly takes to build and scale trusted technology for a billion-plus India.

From the early chaos of Flipkart’s Big Billion Day to leading a fintech giant at the forefront of India’s digital revolution, Rahul shares candid reflections on building for scale, designing resilient systems, and staying ahead of the innovation curve.

Tune in to hear:

• How a foundational gap in India’s early digital infrastructure sparked the birth of PhonePe
• The architectural and cultural principles behind building resilient, high-concurrency platforms for a billion-plus user base

• Extensibility of the UPI specs
• Why AI is not just augmenting developers but redefining the role of software engineers
• Rahul Chari’s perspective on nurturing engineering talent, decentralising learning, and building outside legacy institutions

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this channel by the host and guests are for informational and entertainment purposes only, and do not constitute professional advice. The content provided does not claim to be exhaustive and does not cover all aspects of the topic discussed. Host and Guests do not necessarily subscribe the opinions expressed. Viewers are advised to conduct their own research and seek professional guidance for any specific concerns or questions.

Innovators Playground is a podcast by NPCI that brings together sharp minds building the future of India’s digital economy. Each episode features conversations with founders, engineers, product leaders and technologists who are shaping how we live, work and pay in a tech-first world. This is not just a podcast about technology. It is about how innovation actually happens and what it takes to stay ahead.

In this episode, Harshil Mathur, Co-founder and CEO of Razorpay, joins Dilip Asbe to discuss the future of tech talent, the role of AI across functions, and how open-source culture is influencing the way companies hire and build.

Key discussion points
• Why AI is not a function but a shift in mindset
• The rise of ‘Human + AI’ across every role and domain
• How GitHub is emerging as a filter for top tech talent
• Open-source contributions as a differentiator for early-career professionals
• What companies are really looking for in the next generation of engineers

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individual host and guest and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of NPCI or any of its affiliate or group companies. The content provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as professional, legal, or financial advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek appropriate professional counsel before making decisions based on the content presented. Neither the host nor the podcast producers shall be liable for any damages or losses arising from reliance on the information provided.