Zepto CEO Piyush Goyal responds to Piyush Goyal's 'delivery boys' jibe: 'We employed 1.5 lakh people'
Piyush Goyal stirred controversy while addressing the Startup Mahakumbh 2025 in New Delhi. His remarks on India’s startup ecosystem, specifically his rhetorical question, «Are we going to be happy being delivery boys and girls? » drew mixed reactions from the entrepreneurial community. By comparing India’s startup landscape to China’s, Goyal ignited a broader debate about the country’s technological aspirations and economic growth.
Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha's Response
Among the many responses from the startup industry, Zepto’s co-founder and CEO, Aadit Palicha, provided a strong counterargument. Using social media platform X, Palicha defended consumer internet startups like his own, emphasizing their significant contributions to employment, economic growth, and technological advancement.
In his post, Palicha highlighted that Zepto, a quick-commerce startup that did not exist three and a half years ago, has already generated approximately 1.5 lakh jobs. Furthermore, the company contributes over ₹1,000 crore annually in taxes and has secured more than a billion dollars in foreign direct investment (FDI). He also underlined Zepto’s efforts in strengthening India's backend supply chains, particularly in the fresh produce sector. According to him, such achievements exemplify innovation and progress within India’s startup ecosystem.
As per anInc42 report, Zepto has been valued at $3 billion (Rs 24,500 crore approximately) in 2025.
The Role of Consumer Internet Companies in Technological Advancement
Palicha also
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