Latest update:08 January 2026 at 12:51 IST

The CEO compared his stint as Zomato’s delivery partner in Bengaluru between 2020 and 2021 to highlight the opportunities these platforms can bring.

Ryder faced serious risks but praised Zomato for its assistance and coordination with the police. (Image source: LinkedIn)

As the debate continues over delivery workers’ wages, safety and working conditions, Suraj Biswas, founder and CEO of Assessli, has shown his support for Zomato and its CEO, Deepender Goyal. Biswas compared his time as a delivery partner in Bengaluru between 2020 and 2021 to highlight the opportunities these platforms can provide. He claimed that the business covered his college fees and supported his small team while supporting himself financially.

During this period, he was earning around Rs 40,000 per month, while his colleagues were getting Rs 80,000-Rs 90,000 per month. Biswas added that many riders are using multiple platforms simultaneously. He also faced serious risks, including food snatching and life-threatening situations, but praised the food delivery company for its assistance and coordination with police. These experiences inspired him to create technology-based solutions that have a real impact on the ground through his startup.

Previous delivery partner supports Zomato

Suraj Biswas wrote to LinkedIn: “I stand with Zomato. I stand with Deepinder and I say this as someone who has lived this life. In 2020-21, before college really started and before I started Assessli, I was a Zomato delivery partner in Bengaluru. Not a story of sympathy. A story of independence, dignity and opportunity. I delivered: paying my college fees, supporting my early team, and staying financially independent. Today I run Deeptech Startup Assessli as a founder and employs over 40 technicians working from offices in Bengaluru and Kolkata.”

“I was constantly earning Rs 40 lakh per month. I personally knew riders earning Rs 80-90 lakh per month. No college checks. No background privileges. Just effort + technology + execution. I used medical insurance (Acko) provided by Zomato. I faced food snatching and life threatening moments and when things went wrong, Zomato coordinated with the police and supported me. That’s when I truly understood the power of well-built technology + systems. This is also where my obsession with building came from,” he added.

Sharing his opinion on the “current furor over 10-minute delivery.” Suraj Biswas added, “From first-hand experience: This was independent gig work, not forced labor. Most of the delivery partners are not full-time, and more than 50% of riders work on 2-3 platforms at a time (I’ve seen it, lived it)… Loyalty in gig work is based on flexibility, not contract based. Now ask yourself honestly: If Zomato makes it a fixed salary, full-time job with exclusivity, how many riders will actually stay? The uncomfortable truth is the system will collapse and then?” “Another requirement. This is not sustainability. This is a cycle.”

The Assessli founder explained that the real way to reduce unemployment is not by banning things, getting angry or expecting too much. Instead, it is about creating more opportunities through technology and platforms like Zomato, which help uneducated people improve their lives financially.

The systems Goyal created allowed students to earn money, helped migrant workers stay in cities, and gave millions the opportunity to work in flexible ways. He took issue with rules that restrict express delivery, treat freelance work like forced labor or glorify protests without knowing the real struggles of workers.

He has championed job creation through technology, flexible income options, and solutions that can help many people at once. Suraj Biswas said his life and career have been inspired by his experience in this business, which is why he stands with Zomato, Goyal and systems that create opportunities.

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