8,000 emails in a week Deepinder Goyal’s open call sparks flood of ex-staff reapplying

Deepinder Goyal did not expect the response.

Within a week of inviting former employees to return, the Eternal (formerly Zomato) founder and Vice Chairman found his inbox flooded with more than 8,000 emails — nearly half of them from people who had once been part of the company’s journey.

Sharing the update in a now-viral post on X, Goyal admitted he was overwhelmed by the scale and sentiment behind the messages.

“Over the last week, we received over 8,000 emails. About 4,000 from people who have been part of the Eternal journey at some point. Rest from people who haven’t worked here but want to. Thank you so much for this. I didn’t expect this at all,” he wrote.

According to Goyal, most emails were not routine job applications but deeply personal notes layered with history, context and emotion. Several messages referenced experiences from five, ten, even fifteen years ago — reflecting the long arc of relationships built during the company’s early and formative years.

“Most of these emails are stories, and are full of emotions and honesty. There’s a lot of context and history in them,” he said.

The scale of the response, however, created a new challenge. Goyal acknowledged that many of the narratives require personal recall — something current team members may not have the context to fully understand.

“The only person who can truly read these emails and know who to respond to is me. And it is not humanly possible for me to read through 8,000 emails, and pick and choose the right ones to respond to, quickly,” he noted, adding that the company is still reviewing every message and that the process will take time.

In a move that further fueled online conversation, Goyal offered a direct and unusually personal route for those awaiting a response.

“But if you worked with me directly, and you wrote in, and you are waiting for a reply, here is what will work quickly: find my number and WhatsApp me. Looking forward to reconnect.”

The post triggered widespread discussion around workplace culture, founder-led organizations and the endurance of professional bonds. Many users interpreted the volume and tone of responses as a reflection of the culture built during Zomato’s early years.

“The fact that 4,000 former team members wrote back says a lot about the culture you’ve built. That kind of recall doesn’t happen by accident,” one user commented.

Another summed it up more sharply: “8,000 messages isn’t volume, it’s legacy.”

The surge followed an open message posted on February 3, in which Goyal reached out to former employees, saying Eternal had evolved, learned from past experiences and was ready to welcome back those who once helped shape its journey.

What began as an invitation has now turned into a public moment of corporate introspection — and a reminder that in founder-driven companies, relationships often outlast designations.