Key Points
- Deepinder Goyal, born on January 26, 1983, in Muktsar, Punjab, is the co-founder and CEO of Zomato, a leading food delivery platform.
- He graduated from IIT Delhi in 2005 with a degree in Mathematics and Computing and worked at Bain & Company before starting Zomato in 2008.
- His success story includes growing Zomato from a restaurant discovery platform to a global food delivery giant, with key acquisitions like Blinkit in 2022.
- Goyal comes from a middle-class family, with his father a botany teacher and mother an English teacher; he has an elder brother.
- He has been married twice: first to Kanchan Joshi in 2007, with whom he has a daughter, Siara (born 2013), and second to Grecia Munoz in February 2024.
- Zomato’s market cap is around $29.94 billion as of April 2025, with recent revenue of INR 5,405 crore in Q3 FY25, though profit declined by 57% YoY.
- There have been controversies, such as a public clash with Zepto’s CEO in March 2025 over quick commerce losses and a unique Chief of Staff job offer in November 2024.
Biography
Deepinder Goyal was born on January 26, 1983, in Muktsar, Punjab, into a middle-class family. His father, Harbans Lal Goyal, was a botany teacher, and his mother was an English teacher, fostering an educational environment. He has an elder brother. Goyal graduated from IIT Delhi in 2005 with a B.Tech in Mathematics and Computing, where he was active in entrepreneurial activities. After graduating, he joined Bain & Company as a Senior Associate Consultant in January 2006, but left in November 2009 to focus on his entrepreneurial venture.
Family and Personal Life
Goyal grew up in a humble setting and faced challenges like stuttering in childhood, which he occasionally still encounters. He resides in Gurgaon, Haryana, and is fluent in English, Hindi, and Punjabi. He married Kanchan Joshi, a mathematics professor at Delhi University, in 2007, and they have a daughter, Siara, born in 2013. The couple later separated, and in February 2024, Goyal married Grecia Munoz, a Mexican model, marking his second marriage.
Business and Success Story
Goyal co-founded Zomato in 2008 with Pankaj Chaddah, initially naming it FoodieBay, which was renamed Zomato in 2010 to avoid conflicts with eBay. Starting as a restaurant discovery platform, it expanded into food delivery in 2015 and grew globally, reaching over 20 countries by 2021, though it later focused on India and the UAE. Key milestones include launching Zomato Gold in 2017, acquiring Urbanspoon in 2015, and a significant $560 million acquisition of Blinkit (formerly Grofers) in 2022. He has also invested in 22 startups, with recent investments like LAT Aerospace ($20 million, March 2025). As of April 2025, Zomato’s market cap is $29.94 billion, with Q3 FY25 revenue at INR 5,405 crore (up 64.4% YoY) but profit down 57% YoY to INR 59 crore.
Controversies
Goyal has faced public scrutiny, including a March 2025 clash with Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha over quick commerce losses, estimated at INR 5,000 crore quarterly, with Zepto blamed for over half. Another controversy arose in November 2024 with a Chief of Staff job offer requiring an INR 20 lakh fee but no initial salary, attracting over 18,000 applications by November 21, 2024, though the fee was not charged.
Detailed Survey Note: Deepinder Goyal’s Comprehensive Profile
Deepinder Goyal, born on January 26, 1983, in Muktsar, Punjab, India, is a prominent Indian entrepreneur best known as the co-founder, CEO, and Managing Director of Zomato, a global food delivery and restaurant discovery platform. This note provides an exhaustive overview of his biography, family, business ventures, success story, and personal life, drawing from multiple reliable sources to ensure accuracy and depth.
Biography and Early Life
Goyal was raised in a middle-class family, with his father, Harbans Lal Goyal, serving as a botany teacher, and his mother, whose name is not widely publicized, working as an English teacher. This educational background likely influenced his academic pursuits. He has an elder brother, though further details about his siblings are limited. Goyal’s childhood was marked by a stuttering issue, which he still occasionally faces, adding a personal dimension to his public persona. He completed his schooling at DAV College, Chandigarh, before enrolling at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, in 2001. Graduating in 2005 with a B.Tech in Mathematics and Computing, Goyal was actively involved in the college’s entrepreneurial cell and participated in business competitions, laying the groundwork for his future ventures.
After graduation, Goyal joined Bain & Company in January 2006 as a Senior Associate Consultant, working in Gurgaon, Haryana. Initially planning to stay for about a year, he remained for approximately three years, gaining valuable management consulting experience. However, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to leave in November 2009 to focus on his startup, Zomato.
Family and Personal Life
Goyal’s family background reflects a strong emphasis on education, with both parents being teachers. He grew up in a humble environment, which shaped his work ethic and resilience. Residing in Gurgaon, he is fluent in English, Hindi, and Punjabi, reflecting his cultural roots. His personal life has seen significant milestones, including two marriages. He first married Kanchan Joshi in 2007, his batchmate from IIT Delhi, who later became a mathematics professor at Delhi University. They have a daughter, Siara, born in 2013. The couple eventually separated, and in February 2024, Goyal married Grecia Munoz, a Mexican model and entrepreneur, marking a new chapter in his personal life. This second marriage has been widely covered in media, highlighting his global connections.
Goyal’s early life challenges, such as stuttering, add a humanizing element to his story, showing his ability to overcome personal obstacles while building a global business.
Business Ventures and Success Story
Goyal’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2008 when he co-founded Zomato with Pankaj Chaddah, initially naming it FoodieBay. The platform started as a restaurant discovery service, providing menus, reviews, and recommendations, and was incorporated as DC Foodiebay Online Services Private Limited on January 18, 2010, after being renamed Zomato in November 2010 to avoid legal issues with eBay. The mobile app was launched in December 2010, marking the beginning of its digital expansion.
Zomato’s growth trajectory under Goyal’s leadership has been remarkable. In 2011, it expanded to major Indian cities like Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad. International expansion began in 2012, reaching the UAE, Sri Lanka, Qatar, and the UK, and continued in 2013 to New Zealand, Turkey, Brazil, and Indonesia, with localized websites in Turkish, Portuguese, Indonesian, and English. Further expansions in 2014 included Chile and Portugal, and in 2015, Canada, Lebanon, and Ireland were added.
Key business milestones include:
- Acquisitions: Acquired Gastronauci (Poland, 2014), Cibando (Italy, 2014), Urbanspoon (2015, entering the US and Australia, though closed in June 2015), and a significant $560 million all-stock deal for Blinkit (formerly Grofers) in 2022. In January 2020, Zomato acquired Uber Eats India for USD 206 million, gaining a 9.99% stake for Uber.
- Service Innovations: Entered food delivery in India in March 2015, partnering with Delhivery, Grab, and Runnr (acquired in 2017). Launched table reservation in January 2016 and Zomato Gold membership in February 2017, enhancing user engagement.
- Market Adjustments: Sold the UAE business to Talabat in March 2019 and ceased operations in all countries except India and the UAE by November 2021, liquidating over 10 overseas subsidiaries by early 2024. Launched Zomato Market for groceries in April-June 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown, covering over 80 Indian cities, and started alcohol delivery in West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha in May 2020, exiting in April 2021 due to poor economics.
- Recent Initiatives: Launched a 10-minute delivery pilot, Zomato Instant, in April 2022, shut down within a year, and relaunched as Zomato Quick in January 2025. Introduced inter-city delivery service Legends in August 2022, which was discontinued in August 2024. Acquired Feeding India in July 2019, serving over 200,000 meals daily by May 2022 under the Daily Feeding Program.
Goyal has also been active in investing, with 22 total investments, including recent ones like LAT Aerospace ($20 million, March 12, 2025), Lyskraft ($27 million, April 24, 2024), and Ultrahuman ($25 million, March 20, 2024). On March 20, 2025, Zomato’s parent company was renamed Eternal Limited, reflecting its broader business scope.
Financially, Zomato’s market capitalization stood at $29.94 billion in April 2025, ranking 817th globally. For FY23, revenue was INR 7,079 crores, with Q3 FY25 revenue at INR 5,405 crore, a 64.4% year-on-year increase, though profit declined by 57% year-on-year to INR 59 crore, indicating ongoing challenges in profitability.
Awards and Recognitions
Goyal’s contributions have been recognized with several awards, including:
- Economic Times Startup of the Year (2011)
- Business Today Young Business Leader (2012)
- Distinguished Alumni Award from IIT Delhi (2018)
- GQ Men of the Year (2019)
- Fortune India 40 Under 40 (2020)
- Finalist for EY Entrepreneur of the Year (2023)
Additionally, he served as a judge on Shark Tank India Season 3, investing in scalable firms, but was removed from Season 4 due to a sponsorship conflict with Swiggy, as announced at the ET Startup Awards 2024 on October 5, 2024.
Controversies and Challenges
Goyal’s journey has not been without controversy. In March 2025, he publicly clashed with Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha over quick commerce losses, estimated at INR 5,000 crore quarterly, with Zepto blamed for over half the losses, highlighting tensions in the competitive food delivery and quick commerce sector. Another notable controversy arose in November 2024 with a Chief of Staff job offer that required an INR 20 lakh fee but offered no initial salary, attracting over 18,000 applications by November 21, 2024. Despite the fee, it was not charged, and the move was seen as innovative yet controversial.
Security breaches have also affected Zomato, with hacks in June 2015 affecting 62.5 million users and in May 2017, where 17 million user records were stolen, though no payment information was compromised, underscoring the challenges of cybersecurity in tech startups.
Personal Net Worth and Lifestyle
As of April 2025, Goyal’s net worth is estimated at $1.3 billion, down from $1.7 billion in October 2024, reflecting fluctuations in Zomato’s valuation. His lifestyle has been in the limelight, especially after his marriage to Grecia Munoz, with media coverage of his luxurious living and recent property purchases, such as land in Delhi’s Mehrauli for ₹50 crore in February 2024.
Conclusion
Deepinder Goyal’s journey from a middle-class background to leading Zomato, now valued at nearly $30 billion, exemplifies entrepreneurial resilience and innovation. His story is one of overcoming personal and professional challenges, expanding globally, and navigating controversies, all while maintaining a significant impact on India’s food tech landscape. This detailed profile, current as of July 2, 2025, provides a holistic view of his life, family, and business, ensuring a comprehensive understanding for readers.