Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal’s unconventional job posting for a Chief of Staff position has sparked a wave of reactions, including criticism and innovative entrepreneurial pitches. On Wednesday, Deepinder Goyal advertised the position under unique conditions: no salary for the first year and a Rs 20 lakh payment to Feeding India, Zomato’s non-profit initiative. The unusual requirements, described by some as “bizarre,” quickly went viral on social media, drawing mixed responses.
While many criticized the proposal, some entrepreneurs turned it into an opportunity to pitch their business ideas. Arjun Singh, co-founder of Gully Labs sneakers, argued that the Rs 20 lakh could be better utilized in starting a business. “Take that Rs 20 lakh and instead take a shot at starting your own biz. One year later you get more value than all the alternatives regardless,” he said.
Others like Neil Mukti, a Bengaluru-based professional, detailed how the funds could seed a direct-to-consumer fashion business. Mukti suggested sourcing natural fabrics from Indian artisan clusters and scaling the business through platforms like Shopify. “I and my tiny team will help you with branding, packaging, product strategy, and crafting a fine Meta Algo to scale to Rs 1 crore/month,” he wrote, offering his expertise for a fee and a 5% equity stake in the venture.
Investor Tanveer Sure proposed an alternative: investing Rs 20 lakh in Zomato stock. “If I believe so much in @zomato, I would rather just buy 20L worth of @zomato stock from the open market and ride it for the next decade (or two) to come. My gut says I would make so much more post-tax from this investment,” he remarked.
Amid the uproar, Deepinder Goyal clarified the intentions behind the job posting. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he denied that the company intended to charge applicants for the role. “The ‘you have to pay us 20 lacs’ was merely a filter to find people who could appreciate the opportunity of a fast-track career without getting bogged down by constraints,” he explained.
He further assured that Zomato would not entertain applications solely focused on the monetary aspect. “We are going to reject most applications who have money or even talked about the money. We are going to find genuine intent and a learning mindset from the sea of applications we have received,” Deepinder Goyal added.
The company plans to review applications over the next week and will reach out to candidates deemed the right fit. Meanwhile, the post has ignited discussions about hiring practices, entrepreneurship, and the evolving dynamics of workplace opportunities.
