"First In My Bloodline To Lose A Job Over Body Fat" — Internet Reacts to Goyal's Hiring Criteria

Social media erupted with amusement after Zomato founder and Eternal vice-chairman Deepinder Goyal revealed a unique hiring criterion for his health-tech startup, Temple. The company announced that engineering applicants must not only demonstrate professional expertise but also maintain a strict fitness benchmark, with men required to have less than 16 per cent body fat and women under 26 per cent. The announcement quickly went viral, sparking jokes, memes, and widespread discussion online.

Goyal explained that Temple aims to build products “for people who push their bodies to the edge", and the team itself must embody the same discipline. Candidates who do not meet the body fat targets immediately are still eligible to apply, provided they commit to achieving the required level within three months. However, those joining under this provision would remain on probation until they meet the physical criteria, underscoring the startup’s emphasis on fitness as a core value.

The recruitment announcement triggered a wave of humorous reactions across social media platforms. Many users joked that applicants must uninstall Zomato, Goyal’s previous venture, to meet the body fat requirements. “Fun fact—to get under 16 per cent body fat for men, they need to quit using the Zomato app,” one user tweeted, while another added, “People who order from Zomato are automatically disqualified.” Others compared the criterion to video game culture or lamented potential personal losses over body fat percentages.

Also Read: Ex-Zomato Employee’s Viral Post Shares Deepinder Goyal’s Message on Company Culture

Fitness professionals also weighed in, offering coaching services to help applicants reach the required metrics. One trainer suggested a 10-week plan to reduce body fat for prospective candidates, while others humourously imagined the challenges recruiters would face delivering rejection notices based on physical standards. These responses highlighted both the strictness and novelty of the hiring policy, drawing attention from fitness enthusiasts and tech communities alike.

In addition to the recruitment news, Goyal shared that Temple had successfully raised $54 million in funding from founder friends and early Zomato backers at a post-money valuation of about $190 million. The funding round was led by Goyal himself, with participation from Steadview Capital, Peak XV Partners, InfoEdge Ventures, Dharana Capital, and prominent angel investors including Vijay Shekhar Sharma of Paytm, Kunal Shah of CRED, and Zerodha founders Nithin and Nikhil Kamath.

Temple’s announcement marks a bold departure from conventional hiring norms in India’s tech ecosystem, emphasising lifestyle and personal discipline alongside professional expertise. By tying fitness metrics to recruitment eligibility, the startup is setting a distinctive tone for its corporate culture, generating both media attention and social media buzz. As Temple moves forward with its ambitious plans, the interplay of fitness, technology, and startup culture is likely to remain a focal point of public discussion.

Also Read: Deepinder Goyal Invites Ex-Zomato Staff to Rejoin Eternal, Says Door is Open