Why a startup founder is backing Deepinder Goyal in India’s gig work debate

At a time when India’s gig economy is once again under the scanner—over 10-minute deliveries, worker safety, and the ethics of rapid commerce—a quiet but powerful voice has cut through the noise. It doesn’t come from a policy paper or a corporate statement, but from lived experience.

A startup founder who once navigated Bengaluru’s streets as a food delivery partner has stepped forward to share why the gig economy didn’t break him—but instead helped build his future.

In a LinkedIn post that has sparked wide discussion online, Suraj Biswas, founder and CEO of deeptech startup Assessli, publicly backed Deepinder Goyal and Zomato, arguing that much of the current debate around gig work misses a crucial dimension: choice, dignity, and opportunity.

A chapter before the startup story

Biswas’ story goes back to 2020–21, a period marked by uncertainty, lockdowns, and paused college schedules. Before formally starting college and long before Assessli took shape, he took up work as a Zomato delivery partner in Bengaluru.

It wasn’t a stopgap, he wrote—it was a conscious decision.

That delivery job helped him pay his college fees, support his early startup team, and, most importantly, remain financially independent. Far from feeling exploited, Biswas described those months as a time of dignity and self-reliance.

Today, the same individual runs a deeptech company employing more than 40 technology professionals across offices in Bengaluru and Kolkata—a trajectory he says would not have been possible without that early gig work experience.

What the numbers really looked like on the ground

In his post, Biswas shared concrete earning figures—details that often get lost in abstract policy arguments. As a delivery partner, he earned around ₹40,000 per month consistently. He also pointed out that several fellow riders earned between ₹80,000 and ₹90,000 a month, depending on hours and demand.

The job wasn’t without risks. Biswas acknowledged facing dangerous situations, including food snatching incidents and moments that put his life at risk. He also revealed that he had availed medical insurance provided by Zomato when required.

More importantly, when serious incidents occurred, the company coordinated with local authorities and extended support. For Biswas, this wasn’t just corporate protocol—it was an early lesson in how technology-led systems, when designed well, can scale support and accountability.

That experience, he said, directly influenced his interest in building scalable and impactful technology.

Gig work, but not forced work

As criticism mounts around 10-minute delivery promises and the broader gig economy model, Biswas’ post draws a clear distinction between exploitation and independence.

According to him, delivery roles are fundamentally independent gig work—not forced labour. He argued that many delivery partners operate across multiple platforms simultaneously, exercising choice over where and when they work. In such a system, loyalty is driven by flexibility and opportunity, not contractual obligation.

Biswas was critical of reactionary responses like blanket bans or outrage-driven narratives, calling them unsustainable. Instead, he advocated for more technology-led platforms that expand economic opportunity—especially for individuals without formal education or access to traditional jobs.

The bigger picture: economic mobility at scale

Beyond personal experience, Biswas credited Zomato and Deepinder Goyal for building systems that have enabled economic mobility at scale. In his view, the platform has allowed students to earn while studying, migrants to survive in expensive cities, and millions of people to work on their own terms.

That, he argued, is the real story often missing from the gig economy debate.

A conversation that struck a chord

The LinkedIn post quickly gathered momentum, with many users sharing their own experiences in the comments. Several recalled working with Zomato during and after the Covid-19 period, describing how it gave them exposure, resilience, and real-world learning that classrooms never could.

Others offered more balanced takes, acknowledging flaws in the gig system while still emphasising the flexibility, dignity, and independence it provided. Across responses, one theme stood out clearly: for many, gig work was not a trap—it was a ladder.

As India continues to debate the future of gig labour, voices like Biswas’ add nuance to a conversation often dominated by extremes. His journey—from delivery partner to deeptech founder—serves as a reminder that behind every platform, algorithm, and controversy are real people, making real choices, and building real futures.