In a tribute to Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that in today’s India, one’s surname does not carry any weight. The Prime Minister’s statement was made in reference to a viral video featuring Goyal, where he discussed his journey in establishing a startup and the initial doubts he encountered.
During a recent gathering hosted by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Deepinder Goyal shared a personal story about the beginnings of Zomato. The video of his speech quickly gained popularity on social media.
In the footage, Goyal reflected on the launch of Zomato 16 years ago, in 2008. Initially, his father expressed skepticism and worry. Goyal’s father had questioned him, “Janta hai tera baap kaun hai?” which translates to “Do you know who your father is?”, suggesting that their modest background made entering the startup world seem unlikely.
Coming from a small town in Punjab, Goyal encountered the prevailing attitude that doubted his potential for success in the startup industry. His father’s words continued to resonate with him. “When I informed my father about starting Zomato, he remarked, ‘Janta hai tera baap kaun hai?’ which essentially meant ‘You can’t establish a startup’,” he recounted.
PM Modi retweeted the video, emphasizing that success is not limited by family names and Deepinder Goyal’s accomplishments are an inspiration to many budding entrepreneurs.
“In today’s India, one’s surname is irrelevant. What truly matters is dedication and hard work. Your journey is truly motivating, Deepinder Goyal! It encourages numerous young individuals to chase their entrepreneurial aspirations. We are dedicated to creating a conducive environment for startups to thrive,” PM Modi expressed.
Since its inception in 2008, Deepinder Goyal has rapidly expanded Zomato from a mere restaurant review platform to a prominent food delivery service, operating in more than 1000 cities across India.
A graduate from IIT Delhi, Goyal recently participated as a Shark on Shark Tank India Season 2. His marriage to Grecia Munoz, a former model and entrepreneur, has also garnered attention in the media.