If you keep a close eye on the global business landscape, you must have at least once heard of the term ‘PayPal Mafia’. This phrase refers to a group of former PayPal executives who went on to establish and invest in several successful tech companies, including LinkedIn, Palantir Technologies, SpaceX and YouTube.
The "PayPal Mafia" played a significant role in Silicon Valley's tech boom, as their ventures and investments created a massive impact in terms of technology and innovation.
In the Indian context, Zomato is one such business that is following a similar trajectory. Several individuals deployed at the top leadership roles of Zomato have previously decided to opt out of their role and launch their own venture.
With that the question arises: Can Zomato emerge as India's equivalent of Silicon Valley's ‘PayPal Mafia’—the ‘Zomato mafia’?
Who are the PayPal Mafias?
PayPal was formed in the year 2000 through the merger of Confinity, founded by Max Levchin, Peter Thiel and Luke Nosek, and X.com, founded by Elon Musk.
PayPal quickly became a dominant online payment system, especially on eBay, and went public in 2002 at a $1.5 billion valuation before eBay acquired it for the same amount. Many key figures later left eBay to launch or invest in major tech start‑ups, forming a strong network that supported each other's ventures.
Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Max Levchin, Luke Nosek and Reid Hoffman, known as the "PayPal Mafia," played a major role in shaping the tech industry.
Musk founded Tesla, SpaceX and more, revolutionising multiple fields. Thiel co‑founded Palantir and invested in Facebook, while Levchin shaped fintech with Affirm and Yelp. Nosek launched Gigafund, backing SpaceX and Hoffman founded LinkedIn, later investing in major start‑ups.
Zomato: Indian Start‑Up Mafia
Just like PayPal, several former Zomato executives have ventured into their own entrepreneurial journey after leaving the start‑up. As per Inc42 data around 60 former Zomato employees have founded over 50 start-ups in various sectors like healthtech, aviation, lifestyle and more.
Ex‑Zomato executives like Gaurav Gupta, Surobhi Das, Akriti Chopra and Mohit Gupta are focused on building their own start‑ups, paving the way for Zomato to become the ‘Zomato mafia’.
Gaurav Gupta started off as a Business Head for Table reservations at Zomato. Within three years he was elevated to the position of chief operating officer (COO) and later served in a founding capacity at the start‑up before quitting to start his own venture Gabit.
Gabit is a healthtech start‑up, designed to offer a one‑stop solution for health and wellness. The platform provides personalised meal plans, fitness wearables, structured fitness regimes, skincare and healthcare products, all integrated in one platform to help users manage their health more holistically.
The start‑up raised approximately $9.5 million in 2022 from investors such as Norwest Venture Partners and notable figures from Zomato and beyond.
Surobhi Das joined Zomato in 2011. She played several key leadership roles including being the chief of staff to the founder/CEO; leadership team at Blinkit. Das spent 12 years in the start‑up and was elevated to the position of chief operating officer (COO) at Zomato before quitting in 2023 to focus on her parenting responsibilities.
In 2025, Das founded the LAT Aerospace along with Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal who also invested $20 million (Rs 174 crore) in the start‑up. A polar opposite of the food tech domain, Das’ new venture caters to the aviation industry. LAT is focused on developing low‑cost, short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft aimed at enhancing regional connectivity.
Mohit Gupta started working at Zomato in 2018 and contributed in several leadership roles. He played the deputy CEO role in the start‑up, before deciding to take a nine‑month career break and quitting Zomato as a co‑founder in January 2023.
Gupta co‑founded Lyskraft along with Myntra founder Mukesh Bansal in October 2023. It is an omnichannel lifestyle brand that merges digital innovation with physical retail experiences. The venture focuses on modern consumer needs in the lifestyle and consumer goods sector, aiming to create a seamless blend of online and offline shopping.
In 2024, Lyskraft raised around $26 million in a seed funding round led by Peak XV Partners.
Varun Sud and Chiranjeev Ghai were both senior Zomato executives and now they are together building their own venture called Juleo. Varun had a small stint of five‑month in the company where he served as a senior vice‑president before quitting in 2022. However, Ghai served in Zomato for four years as an engineering manager and resigned in 2023.
Founded in 2023, Juleo is a matchmaking app that differentiates itself by combining government‑ID verification, AI‑driven matchmaking and an emphasis on real‑life interactions. The platform positions itself neither as a conventional dating app nor a matrimony service, aiming instead to provide a trusted club for genuine connections.
In 2024, Juleo raised around $2.5 million in a funding round from Livspace founder Ramakant Sharma, Cred founder Kunal Shah, Acko co‑founder Ruchi Deepak and Groww founders Harsh Jain and Lalit Keshre, among others.
Albinder Dhindsa served as the head of international operations at Zomato from 2011 to 2014. Dhindsa co‑founded Grofers (renamed now to Blinkit) in 2014 along with Saurabh Kumar to offer quick grocery delivery services.
In 2022, Zomato acquired Blinkit in an all‑stock deal for approximately $568 million, paving the way for Dhindsa to make a homecoming at the firm. It is an online grocery delivery service that offers quick delivery of thousands of products. Blinkit is India's largest hyper‑local delivery company.
In February 2025, Blinkit received a ₹1,500 crore (approximately $180 million) funding boost from its parent company, Zomato, to support its aggressive expansion and address intense competition in the quick commerce sector.
Mohit Kumar joined Zomato in 2018 as a global business head, food ordering and delivery platform. Within a year Kumar was promoted to the role of chief operating officer (COO) of food delivery at the start‑up before he decided to call it quits in 2019 to start his own venture Ultrahuman.
Ultrahuman is a health‑tech start‑up that builds products related to wearable technology and metabolic monitoring. With products like continuous glucose monitors and smart rings, Ultrahuman provides users with real‑time insights into their metabolic health, empowering them to optimise their performance and overall well‑being.
Akriti Chopra, co‑founder and ex‑chief people officer at Zomato, founded EasyRewardz. It is a customer engagement and loyalty platform that helps businesses build stronger relationships with their clients through tailored rewards and personalised offers. The platform is designed to enhance customer satisfaction and retention in today’s competitive market.
These start‑ups are making significant strides across diverse sectors, from healthtech and aviation to lifestyle. Together, they are poised to shape the Indian start‑up ecosystem, becoming the ‘Zomato mafia’ of the industry.
