Deepinder Goyal, the invincible founder and CEO of Zomato, has become the torchbearer of innovation and disruption in the food delivery sector. But few know the story of his humble beginnings and the great journey that led him to build a global brand.
Deepinder Goyal was born in 1983 in a city called Delhi in a middle-class family, with both parents being teachers. They instilled the virtue of putting in hard work and following one’s passion in Goyal. Always a curious boy, he had a special interest in mathematics and the sciences and pursued the mathematics course at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi.
While settling into his life at IIT, Goyal fostered a lot of entrepreneurial instincts and was awakened to a thought process of many business ideas. After graduating in 2005, he went on to join Bain and Company as a consultant, working with their clients across different assignments in the food and beverage sector.
In 2008, with his friend Pankaj Chaddah, he started a small website primarily working on restaurant listings and reviews called Foodiebay. The popularity of the website kept Goyal interested in expanding the business.
In 2010, the name Foodiebay was changed to Zomato, and the service of online ordering and delivery of food was launched. Goyal wanted to create a beautiful space for foodies to connect with restaurants for a smooth ordering experience.
Zomato has since exponentially grown in services and operates in more than 10,000 cities across the globe. Recently the unit has been busy with some strategic acquisitions, including acquiring Indian operations from Uber Eats.
Deepinder Goyal is now counted among truly remarkable entrepreneurs in the startup ecosystem of India. His journey can inspire so many and demonstrate what innovation, hard work, and perseverance can contribute to the success of changing so many lives.