Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal, emphasizing that success in today’s India is not determined by one’s surname. Modi’s tweet responded to a viral video of Goyal recounting his startup journey and the initial scepticism he faced.
At a recent event organized by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Goyal shared a personal story about Zomato’s inception. The video of his speech quickly gained traction on social media.
In the clip, Goyal reminisced about launching Zomato in 2008. His father had initially doubted the viability of a startup, asking him, “Janta hai tera baap kaun hai?” which translates to “Do you know who your father is?” This implied that with their humble background, venturing into a startup seemed implausible.
As a small-town boy from Punjab, Goyal faced the common mindset that questioned his ability to succeed in the startup world. “When I told my dad about starting Zomato, he said, ‘Janta hai tera baap kaun hai?’ which basically meant ‘You can’t do a startup’,” he recalled.
“But it was this government and its initiatives that enabled a small-town boy like me to build something like Zomato, which employs lakhs of people today!” he said.
Retweeting the clip, PM Modi said, “In today’s India, one’s surname doesn’t matter. What matters is hard work. Your journey is truly inspiring, Deepinder Goyal! It motivates countless youngsters to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. We are committed to providing the right environment for startups to flourish.”
After launching Zomato in 2008, Deepinder Goyal quickly grew the startup from a restaurant listing and review platform into a food delivery giant, expanding to over 1,000 Indian cities. An IIT Delhi graduate, Goyal recently appeared as a Shark on Shark Tank India Season 2 and has been in the news for his marriage to Grecia Munoz, a former model and entrepreneur.
