Startup founder who worked as Zomato delivery partner shares gig work experience

A LinkedIn post by Suraj Biswas, founder and CEO of deep-tech startup Assessli, has attracted attention online by recounting his experience working as a delivery partner helped him pay his college tuition before starting his company."

In the post, Biswas penned that during 2020–21, based in Bengaluru, he started doing food delivery for Zomato to fund his college fees and sustain himself financially before his entrepreneurial journey began. As he said, the time was tinged with financial independence and experience in the real world. He added that most of the riders he knew were earning different levels of monthly income, he himself earned Rs 40k consistently.

He agreed that there were also some amounts of risk involved with the role. Biswas added that he used the medical insurance provided by the company, Acko, when needed and described the mechanisms of support which he would receive as and when any serious incident occurred. 

Biswas connected his personal experience with the wider debate around gig work that has emerged in recent weeks, which includes debates over quick delivery expectations including 10-minute delivery targets and the nature of platform-based work arrangements. He characterized the roles of delivery partners as independent gig work and emphasized the flexibility and opportunity for all those who participate across multiple platforms.

The LinkedIn post has prompted responses from other users sharing their own perspectives on gig work. One LinkedIn user wrote: “I became a Zomato delivery partner for one day, and it changed how I see this debate. Before apps like this, many people had no easy way to earn money. Is gig work perfect? No. But it has helped more people than most realise.” Another commented, “Your assumption that the system would collapse due to an insufficient number of delivery riders willing to work full-time is flawed. Several quick-service restaurants (QSRs), including Domino's, successfully employ delivery personnel as full-time staff.” A user observed, “Choice is the real driver here. Speed works because riders opt in and systems are built for flexibility. Take that away, and opportunity quietly disappears.”

Founders of various companies also commented, Shyam G., Founder - KuikLO (10 MIN GROCERY DELIVERY APP) wrote, “This resonated deeply. I’ve seen this ecosystem from close quarters the hunger to earn, the need for flexibility, and the dignity that comes with choosing your own hours. For many, gig work isn’t a “problem to fix,” it’s a bridge to education, stability, and self-belief.” Protap sutar, Founder, CEO Hypermitra, commented, “I relate to this deeply. I worked with Zomato, and like many others, got backed out post–COVID. That phase taught me more than any classroom ever could.”

This conversation comes at a time when the gig economy and quick delivery models are being publicly discussed in the country, with several industry figures, workers, and commentators holding varying viewpoints on how the systems operate and their repercussions on labour practices.