Deepinder Goyal: From IIT Classroom to India’s Food Tech Giant

Early Life and Education

Born in 1983 in Punjab, Deepinder Goyal came from a humble, academically inclined family. His parents were teachers, and education was always a top priority. After completing his schooling, Goyal made his way to IIT Delhi, where he pursued a degree in Mathematics and Computing. Like many IITians, he had big dreams—but not all of them involved coding. He was always drawn to problem-solving and building real-world solutions.

The Beginning of an Idea

While working as a management consultant at Bain & Company, Goyal noticed a simple but frustrating problem—employees spent too much time hunting for restaurant menus. That spark of frustration became the seed for a big idea. In 2008, he and his colleague Pankaj Chaddah launched Foodiebay, an online platform to access scanned menus of restaurants in Delhi NCR.This humble menu aggregator would soon evolve into Zomato, a name that’s now recognized across the globe.

Building Zomato: Growth, Struggles, and Grit

Zomato’s journey wasn’t always smooth. The startup faced many challenges—from monetization issues and global expansion hurdles to intense competition and funding crunches. But Goyal’s vision and obsession with user experience helped Zomato rise.Under his leadership, Zomato expanded to international markets, diversified into food delivery, restaurant reviews, and even grocery delivery during the pandemic.But the road wasn’t without bumps. Layoffs, losses, and public criticism tested Goyal’s resilience. Yet, he stayed hands-on and unapologetically transparent, often tweeting honest reflections about the business.

Zomato’s IPO and Deepinder’s Rise

In July 2021, Zomato became one of India’s first major tech startups to go public. The IPO was oversubscribed and marked a turning point in India’s startup ecosystem. Deepinder Goyal, once just a problem-solving IIT grad, was now a face of India’s tech revolution.What makes him stand out is his humility and adaptability. Unlike many CEOs who step away, Goyal remains deeply involved in product decisions and keeps evolving as the market changes.

Present Day and Impact

Today, Deepinder Goyal is not just a tech founder—he’s a symbol of India’s new-age entrepreneurship. He sits on the board of various companies, has invested in startups, and recently launched “Zomato Instant” and “Zomato Everyday”—ideas aimed at making food delivery faster and more affordable.Beyond tech, he’s also become known for his views on mental health, work culture, and long-term thinking in business.

Conclusion: The Power of Solving Real Problems

Deepinder Goyal’s story reminds us that you don’t always need a flashy idea—you just need to solve a real problem better than anyone else. From scanned menus in an office hallway to leading a billion-dollar public company, his journey is as inspiring as it is practical.In a country bursting with young minds and entrepreneurial energy, Goyal’s path lights the way: stay curious, stay gritty, and don’t stop evolving.