Zomato and Blinkit CEO Deepinder Goyal is currently in the throes of controversy, as he is being severely criticized for the pressure the ’10 minute delivery’ rule puts on delivery partners for services like Blinkit and Zomato, both owned by the 42-year-old entrepreneur.Amidst the storm, a former delivery partner turned CEO Suraj Biswas, has now taken to Linkedin to support Deepinder, saying that working as a delivery partner helped him set up his business, and support him financially.
He wrote, “I stand with Zomato. I stand with Deepinder.And I say this as someone who has lived this life.In 2020–21, before college really took off and before I started Assessli ™, I was a Zomato delivery partner in Bangalore.Not a story for sympathy.A story of independence, dignity, and opportunity.I delivered to:-Pay my college fees-Support my early team-Stay financially independentToday I run a Deeptech Startup Assessli ™ as founder and employ 40+ techies operating from offices in Bengaluru and Kolkata.I earned ₹40K/month consistently.I personally knew riders earning ₹80–90K/month.No degree checks.No background privilege.Just effort + tech + execution.”He further added, “I used medical insurance (Acko) provided by Zomato.I faced food snatching and life-threatening moments.And when things went wrong, Zomato coordinated with police and supported me.That’s when I truly understood the power of well-built tech + systems.This is also where my obsession with building impactful technology came from.”Giving his two cents on the controversy, he said, “About the current outrage on 10-minute deliveryLet me say this clearly, from first-hand experience:This was independent gig work, not forced labourMost delivery partners are NOT full-timemore than 50%+ riders work on 2–3 platforms simultaneously (I’ve seen it, lived it)…Loyalty in gig work is flexibility-driven, not contract-driven.”He then added, “Now ask yourself honestly:If Zomato made it a fixed-salary, full-time job with exclusivity…how many riders would actually stay?The uncomfortable truth:The system would collapse.And then?Another protestAnother demandAnother “this is not enough”That’s not sustainability. That’s a cycle.What actually solves unemployment?Not bans.Not outrage.Not unrealistic expectations.More Zomatos.More tech-enabled gig platforms.More opportunities for people without formal education.That’s real impact.Zomato didn’t just deliver food.It delivered economic mobility at scale.Deepinder Goyal built systems that allowed:-Students to earn-Migrants to survive cities-Millions to work on their own terms.”He also made it clearn where his stand lies. He added, “I’m against:❌ Banning 10-minute delivery❌ Treating gig work like forced employment❌ Romanticising protests without understanding ground realityI’m for:✅ Tech-led job creation✅ Flexible income models✅ Scalable solutions to unemploymentI wouldn’t be who I am today without that phase of my life.So yes, unapologetically—I stand with Zomato.I stand with Deepinder.And I stand for systems that create opportunity, not entitlement.If you’ve lived this life, you’ll understand.If you haven’t, maybe listen to those who have.”What the internet thoughtMost people came out in support of the Suraj. “I relate to this deeply. I worked with Zomato, and like many others, got backed out post–COVID. That phase taught me more than any classroom ever could. Zomato wasn’t just a job or a gig work-it was exposure, resilience, and a launchpad. It showed me what scale, systems, and tech-led opportunity actually look like on the ground,” commented one user.The other one added, “This perspective really matters, especially coming from someone who has lived this experience firsthand. Gig work means different things to different people and for many, it represents flexibility, dignity, and independence. The system isn’t perfect, but it has clearly created real opportunities,” wrote another.
