Summary

Deepinder Goyal, born on January 26, 1983, in Muktsar, Punjab, India, is a prominent entrepreneur and the driving force behind Zomato, one of the world’s leading food delivery and restaurant discovery platforms. Goyal’s entrepreneurial journey reflects his passion for technology and innovative solutions in the food tech space. He holds a degree in Mathematics and Computing from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi.

Personal Information

Key Achievements & Major Timelines

• 2008: Deepinder Goyal co-founded Zomato (initially called Foodiebay) with Pankaj Chaddah. The platform began as a restaurant menu aggregator and gradually evolved into a global food delivery and dining service.
• 2012: Zomato expanded internationally, entering markets like UAE, Sri Lanka, Qatar and beyond, establishing its footprint as a global player.
• 2015: Zomato introduced online food delivery services, a pivotal move that transformed the company into a household name in food tech.
• 2021: Under Goyal’s leadership, Zomato became one of India’s first unicorn start-ups to go public, with a successful initial public offering (IPO) that raised $1.3 billion and garnered widespread investor interest.
• 2022: Goyal announced Zomato’s foray into quick commerce by acquiring Blinkit (formerly Grofers), reflecting his vision to diversify the company’s offerings.

Challenges & Controversies

Competition: Zomato has faced stiff competition from global and domestic players like Swiggy and Uber Eats (before its acquisition by Zomato in India). Goyal’s strategic moves, including acquisitions and partnerships, helped Zomato maintain its competitive edge.

Workforce Management: The company has dealt with criticism regarding workforce layoffs and delivery partner treatment, prompting internal reforms to address concerns.

Profitability: Goyal has been candid about the challenges of achieving profitability in a competitive market while balancing growth and innovation.

Philanthropy and Personal Life

Deepinder Goyal is an advocate for food security and has initiated programmes like Feeding India by Zomato, which aims to eliminate hunger and reduce food wastage. Outside of his professional life, Goyal enjoys reading and staying connected with the start-up ecosystem.