Zepto CEO Leads the Defense: The entire matter revolves around a comment made by Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal during his participation in the Startup Maha Kumbh in New Delhi. His remarks questioning the innovative nature of Indian startups focused on delivery services sparked a sharp reaction from the startup industry, with Zepto CEO Leads the Defense being a central theme.
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What Goyal Said On Zepto CEO Leads the Defense
Piyush Goyal, while addressing the gathering, drew a comparison between the Indian and Chinese startup ecosystems. He stated that while India has excelled in creating delivery apps that provide rapid goods delivery, he questioned if “being happy by becoming a delivery boy or delivery girl” should be the ultimate aspiration.
He contrasted this with China, where he claimed significant work is underway in advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and electric vehicles. Goyal implied that Indian startups were primarily focused on logistics and convenience, potentially at the expense of deeper technological innovation. He raised the question of whether this focus on delivery services, utilizing potentially “cheap labor in the name of convenience,” truly constitutes significant innovation and if India is yet the “best in the world” in the startup space.
The Startup Industry’s Reaction
Goyal’s comments were met with considerable criticism from the Indian startup community. The most prominent and vocal response came from Adit Palicha, the co-founder and CEO of Zepto, effectively making Zepto CEO Leads the Defense a key aspect of this controversy.
Adit Palicha’s Strong Rebuttal
Adit Palicha took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to present a strong defense of Indian startups and their contributions. He highlighted the tangible impact of Zepto, a company that didn’t exist 3.5 years ago, which now:
- Employs approximately 1.5 lakh people. This directly countered the implication that these jobs were somehow less valuable.
- Pays over ₹ 1,000 crore in taxes to the government annually. This demonstrated a significant economic contribution to the nation.
Palicha questioned the very definition of innovation if the achievements of companies like Zepto don’t qualify. He emphasized that these figures represent the “energy and potential that exists in Indian youth and entrepreneurship.”
STORY | Zepto CEO, others defend India's startup proposition after Piyush Goyal's jibe stirs debate
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 4, 2025
READ: https://t.co/lc3S1XXth8 pic.twitter.com/ID8sgKMUjM
Palicha’s Further Arguments
- Attracted billions of dollars in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to India. This signifies global confidence in the Indian startup ecosystem.
- Invested hundreds of crores of rupees in organizing the country’s supply chain, particularly for essential goods like fruits and vegetables. This highlighted the infrastructural impact of these delivery-focused startups.
Jay Chavda He is the Founder and Writer of businesspulsecare.com. He is an I.T Engineer, Freelancer, Businessman. He posts Business, Stock/Share Market, Finance Related News and updates on the website. 🔗