Deepinder Goyal, the co-founder and CEO of Zomato, has proven that success doesn’t always follow a straight path. From struggling with academics to becoming one of India’s most recognized entrepreneurs, Goyal’s journey is a testament to resilience, hard work, and the lessons learned from failure.
In a candid conversation with comedian Kapil Sharma on The Kapil Sharma Show, Goyal shared insights into his school days, academic struggles, and the determination that eventually led him to co-found Zomato. “I was a terrible student during school, used to be at the bottom of class. I used to fail,” Goyal admitted, reflecting on his early years. Despite being an underachiever in school, he credits his journey to a pivotal moment when he realized the importance of consistent effort.
From School Struggles to IIT Delhi
As a child, Goyal was not the typical model student. He recalls a moment in his eighth grade when he was given answers to his exams by a teacher, which temporarily boosted his grades. The sudden academic success brought unexpected admiration from family and friends, which Goyal hadn’t experienced before. However, he soon realized that the success wasn’t earned. “In the second semester, I knew that the last semester was fake… so I tried to go to this printing press guy in Muktsar (the town in Punjab where he grew up) to get the question papers upfront,” he said, laughing at his earlier desperation. “But I didn’t get anything.”
This experience led him to understand that there were no shortcuts to success. “I started working hard and ended up coming fifth in the second semester. That gave me some confidence that I can do something if I want to. Life has been a treadmill ever since,” Goyal said. Despite this newfound drive, his struggles continued, especially during his 11th grade when he barely managed to pass with 39% marks. But Goyal didn’t let this defeat define him.
After moving to Chandigarh for his pre-university education, Goyal faced a new challenge—entering the highly competitive environment of IIT-JEE preparation. “I got into the same loop one more time,” he explained, describing how even the prestigious IIT Delhi seemed like an intimidating place. However, it was here that Goyal learned an essential life lesson: “If you continue to progress, you’re always going to meet people better than you, and you’re always going to work hard to stay on top of the game... That hard work is never going to stop.”
Overcoming Depression and Embracing Struggle
Goyal, who has been open about his experiences with depression, shared that it has been one of the key factors motivating him. “I have been on a sine wave all my life. It's a three-year cycle of depression to peaks and continues till date… It never stops, and I think depression cycles are actually good because they drive me further up beyond a point,” he said, highlighting the importance of perseverance through mental challenges.
His experiences during these cycles taught him the value of continuous self-improvement. “That hard work is never going to stop,” Goyal reiterated, acknowledging the role of relentless effort in pushing him towards his ultimate goal—creating Zomato, one of the most successful food tech companies in India.
From IIT to Zomato: The Journey to Success
After completing his studies, Goyal initially joined Bain & Co., a consulting firm, which he credits with giving him valuable skills in communication and strategic thinking. “Consulting teaches you how to think and talk,” he remarked, adding that he’d always be grateful for the foundational skills he gained at Bain.
It was during his time at Bain that Goyal conceived the idea for Zomato. The name, as he explained to Kapil, was a play on “tomato”—a domain name they initially wanted but couldn’t acquire. “We wanted ‘tomato dot com,’ but it was taken,” he said, laughing as he explained how they modified the name to create Zomato.
Zomato officially launched in 2010, and over the years, Goyal transformed it from a modest food delivery platform into a publicly traded unicorn with a market valuation in the billions. Today, Zomato is a staple in Indian households, known not just for its convenience but for the lighthearted, witty notifications that appear on users’ phones—some of which, Goyal jokingly admitted, are inspired by messages he’s sent to his wife, Grecia.
In the end, it was the lessons learned from years of setbacks and self-doubt that gave Goyal the fortitude to build Zomato. "That's what gave me some confidence that I can do something if I want to," he remarked, recalling his academic struggles as the foundation for his future achievements.
Today, Goyal leads a $12 billion company, but his past struggles still shape his mindset. As he continues to grow as an entrepreneur, his story stands as a reminder that setbacks don’t define us—they are merely stepping stones on the path to success.
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