In 2008, Pankaj Chaddah and Deepinder Goyal left their high-paying jobs at Bain & Co to start FoodieBay, an online restaurant directory. Within months, it became the largest platform of its kind in Delhi-NCR. By 2010, the company rebranded to Zomato, expanding its services and attracting investments from major firms like Info Edge India, Sequoia, and Ant Financial. A $200 million investment from Ant Financial in 2018 helped Zomato achieve unicorn status. However, Chaddah left the company that same year.
Chaddah’s Role in Zomato’s Growth
As a co-founder, Chaddah played a key role in Zomato’s expansion beyond listings. Under his leadership, the company introduced food delivery, table reservations, and digital payments. His efforts helped establish Zomato as a global food-tech leader.
Launching Shyft
In 2019, Chaddah started Mindhouse, a mental wellness startup, with Pooja Khanna, an early Zomato employee. Originally designed as a chain of meditation studios, the venture pivoted online during the pandemic. Rebranded as Shyft in 2022, the platform now offers personalized yoga, meditation, and nutrition services.
A New Path in Wellness
Shyft quickly gained traction, reporting a 30% month-over-month growth and reaching nearly $1 million in annual recurring revenue by 2021. By 2022, the company’s valuation was estimated between $20-50 million. Today, Chaddah continues to drive innovation in the wellness space, using his Zomato experience to scale his new venture.
