Deepinder Goyal, the former CEO of Zomato, is back in the tech world. His new startup, Temple, has been making quite the splash. He’s done it previously too, with $54 million in a Series C funding round focused on creating high-performance wearables designed for professional athletes. This investment is not just Temple’s biggest step in that direction — it’s a historic leap. We’re mission driven to create innovative technology that revolutionizes performance potential like never before.
Since leading the funding round in December, Goyal has won new investors’ backing from Steadview Capital, among others. This latest round of funding highlights the trend towards increased interest in wearable technology, especially in the sports arena. Temple’s objective is clear: to provide athletes with tools that enhance their training and performance through cutting-edge technology.
At the center of Temple’s innovation is a proprietary, game-changing wearable that mimics the appearance and comfort of a temple sitting on the ear. This sensor, which works continuously to detect real-time changes in cerebral blood flow, helps athletes better understand their physiological state while training and competing. Here, Goyal describes how this appliance could work and the positive impact it will have. He thinks that the whole field of wearable technology for elite athletes is primed for exciting technological disruption.
Goyal’s dedication to enhancing human performance doesn’t end in Temple. In the process, he has committed—personally, from his own fortune—$25 million. This investment backs Continue Research, an experimental venture dedicated to seeking out paths toward being able to live indefinitely. That’s the dual, integrative promise of Goyal’s vision—a promise not just to increase peak athletic performance, but human performance and longevity.
In 2008, Goyal along with Pankaj Chaddah co-founded Zomato. Yet, over the course of under two decades, he built the company into one of India’s largest food delivery behemoths. Under his leadership, Zomato grew exponentially and eventually led him to resign as CEO in January this year. He recently handed over the reins to Albinder Dhindsa, who currently heads the group’s quick-commerce unit Blinkit.
As Goyal embarks on this new journey with Temple, he is adopting a strategy focused on “higher-risk exploration and experimentation.” He believes that the intersection of technology and athletics will yield significant advancements that can improve performance levels for athletes across various disciplines.
His personal network played a significant role in supporting Temple’s recently closed Series C funding round. This angel network consists of buddies from his entrepreneurial journey and initial investors in Zomato. This small friends-and-family round is a testament to the trust and confidence that investors have in Goyal’s vision and leadership capabilities.
With a post-money valuation of about $190 million Temple is well set up to play a big role in the growing wearable technology space. Goyal benefitted from a tremendous accumulation of experience from scaling Zomato. This unique background gives him an understanding of the challenges of successfully bringing new technology to market.
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