According to the Zomato CEO, his father expressed doubts about his ability to start a business. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal for his entrepreneurial accomplishments in a recent post on X, formerly Twitter, highlighting the importance of hard work over family background in contemporary India. The Prime Minister’s remarks came in response to an anecdote shared by Goyal during the Vishesh Sampark event, hosted by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
Goyal recounted his journey from a modest upbringing to founding Zomato, recalling his father’s initial skepticism about his startup aspirations. Union Minister Puri shared a video of Goyal’s speech, emphasizing the role of government policies in facilitating his success. “When I started Zomato in 2008, my father used to say ‘tu jaanta hai tera baap kaun hai’ as my dad thought I could never do a startup given our humble background,” Goyal remarked at the event, as shared by Puri on X. “But it was this government and their initiatives that enabled a small town boy like me to build something like Zomato, which employs lakhs of people today!” he added.
Goyal’s narrative resonated widely on social media, particularly his recounting of his father’s doubts when he launched Zomato. Despite facing skepticism from his family and hailing from a small town in Punjab, Goyal attributed his ability to establish Zomato to the support provided by the government.
In line with Goyal’s sentiments, Prime Minister Modi tweeted, “In today’s India, one’s surname doesn’t matter. What matters is hard work. Your journey is truly inspiring, @deepigoyal! It motivates countless youngsters to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. We are committed to providing the right environment for startups to flourish.”
In today’s India, one’s surname doesn’t matter. What matters is hardwork. Your journey is truly inspiring, @deepigoyal! It motivates countless youngsters to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. We are committed to providing the right environment for the startups to flourish. https://t.co/E9ccqYyVzv
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 22, 2024
Deepinder Goyal thanked the Prime Minister through a post on X, “Thank you for your kind words, sir. This does certainly motivate us to work harder, and do better.”
Thank you for your kind words, sir. This does certainly motivate us to work harder, and do better. https://t.co/L9mQhMzymC
— Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) May 22, 2024
The Vishesh Sampark event served as a platform for leaders in the startup community to foster collaboration and idea exchange. Initially a restaurant review platform, Zomato has evolved into India’s leading food delivery service, operating across more than 1,000 cities. Goyal, an alumnus of IIT-Delhi, has played a pivotal role in its expansion.