Meet man, who founded Rs 251900 crore Zomato with Deepinder Goyal, quit company after few years to build another big company…, his name is…

Chaddah’s journey from revolutionizing the food-tech industry to championing mental wellness highlights his ability to identify emerging trends and build impactful solutions.

Pankaj Chaddah, a Mechanical Engineering graduate from IIT Delhi, began his career at global management consulting firm Bain & Co. There, he met Deepinder Goyal, a fellow IIT-Delhi alumnus and analyst. The two quickly became close friends and began brainstorming business ideas that could disrupt existing markets.

Their shared vision was to simplify how people browsed restaurant menus and reviews online, a service that was then largely unavailable but highly desirable. This gap in the market clicked them to take action.

In 2008, the duo launched Foodiebay, an online platform that allowed users to explore restaurant menus and reviews with ease. By 2010, the platform was rebranded to Zomato, a name now synonymous with food-tech innovation. Interestingly, Zomato is currently in the process of being renamed to Eternal.

Chaddah’s Role in Zomato’s Rise

As co-founder, Pankaj Chaddah played a pivotal role in Zomato’s evolution. He helped diversify its offerings, including food delivery, online ordering, table reservations, and digital payments, turning Zomato into an all-encompassing food-tech platform.

Chaddah’s strategic insights into growth areas, operational efficiency, and building strong partnerships with investors and restaurants were instrumental in Zomato’s meteoric rise to a valuation of over Rs 2,09,991 crore.

Transition To Mental Wellness Launching Shyft

In 2018, Chaddah stepped away from Zomato to explore new ventures. By December 2019, he co-founded Mindhouse, a mental wellness initiative, alongside Pooja Khanna, one of Zomato’s early employees who had led its international expansion.

Initially, Mindhouse operated as a network of offline meditation studios. However, the pandemic shifted it to an online model. This transition proved to be highly effective as demand for yoga, meditation, and nutrition services surged during the lockdown.

In 2022, Mindhouse rebranded as Shyft, a comprehensive fitness and wellness platform offering personalized yoga, meditation, and nutritional counseling services.

Growth Of Shyft

Leveraging his experiences at Zomato, Chaddah successfully scaled Shyft into a rapidly growing business. By 2021, Shyft was achieving 30% month-over-month growth, with an annual recurring revenue (ARR) nearing $1 million.

As of 2022, Shyft’s market valuation was estimated at $20-50 million, according to ET BrandEquity.

Pankaj Chaddah credits his time at Zomato for shaping his entrepreneurial journey, helping him navigate challenges and avoid common pitfalls. Shyft is now recognized as a leading wellness brand, focusing on mental and physical health in an increasingly digital world.