From failing 6th grade to founding a billion-dollar empire: The inspiring rise of Deepinder Goyal

By Roshni TamtaFirst Published Oct 8, 2024, 12:41 PM IST
Highlights

Deepinder Goyal's journey is one of resilience and innovation. From failing the sixth grade to graduating from IIT and founding Zomato, a multi-billion dollar food delivery giant, his story is an inspiration. Learn how he revolutionized the food industry and created a global empire.

Success Story Deepinder Goyal: Deepinder Goyal, starting from humble beginnings, built the food delivery giant Zomato. Born in the small village of Muktsar in Punjab, he faced numerous challenges but never gave up. Today, he is known as a revolutionary figure in the food industry, providing employment to millions. He once failed the sixth grade but transformed himself to gain admission into the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). 

Deepinder Goyal Family Background

Deepinder Goyal comes from a family of educators. Both his parents were teachers, fostering an academic environment at home. However, Deepinder wasn't initially inclined towards studies. In his early school days, he was an average student, even failing the sixth grade.

From Failing Sixth Grade to IIT

Despite failing sixth grade, Deepinder didn't lose hope and gradually developed an interest in studies. His hard work paid off, and he completed his 12th grade from DAV College, Chandigarh. In 2001, he secured admission into the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, where he pursued a B.Tech degree in Mathematics and Computing.

Post-Graduation Job and the Life-Changing Idea

After graduating from IIT, Deepinder started working at a company in Delhi. It was here that he stumbled upon an idea that would change his life. He observed his colleagues wasting significant time searching for menus and ordering food. This problem sparked an idea in Deepinder's mind: why not create a platform where people could easily browse menus online and order food?

2008: The Birth of Food Startup Foodiebay 

In 2008, he partnered with his friend Pankaj Chaddah and launched the food startup Foodiebay. Initially, the platform provided menus from restaurants in the Delhi-NCR region. It gained immense popularity, and two years later, in 2010, Foodiebay was rebranded as Zomato.

From Menu Browsing to a Multi-Billion Dollar Company

Zomato's journey wasn't easy, but Deepinder's hard work and business acumen propelled the company to new heights. What started as a simple menu browsing platform gradually dominated the online food delivery market. Zomato expanded its reach not only within India but also internationally. Currently, Zomato operates in over 10,000 cities across 24 countries, serving millions of customers. The company's valuation exceeds ₹1.40 lakh crore.

Understanding Delivery Partner Challenges Firsthand

In the early days, the food delivery model was new, and convincing investors posed significant challenges. However, Deepinder firmly believed in his idea. He and his team understood the market's needs and introduced innovative features like live order tracking and a fast delivery system. Recently, Deepinder and his wife decided to experience a day as food delivery agents. This experience provided them with firsthand insights into the challenges faced by delivery partners. 

Deepinder Goyal Net Worth

Deepinder established the Zomato Future Foundation to support the education of delivery partners' children, donating ₹700 crore worth of stocks. Currently, his net worth exceeds ₹2200 crore. He has also invested in other startups and companies, making his mark beyond the food delivery industry.

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