Ex-Zomato COO Partners Deepinder Goyal To Launch New Startup, Secures $20 Mn In Funding

Former Zomato COO Surobhi Das has reportedly launched an aerospace startup called LAT Aerospace. She has roped in Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal as a non-executive co-founder and investor.

Goyal has invested $20 million (around INR 174 Cr) in the startup, according to a report by Economic Times.

Surobhi Das left Zomato in November 2023, where she had been working on the Blinkit platform. At Blinkit, she was part of the leadership team focused on new markets and expanding into additional categories.

She spent over a decade at Zomato, starting in 2011, and also served as Chief of Staff to Deepinder Goyal. Before joining Zomato, Das worked as a consultant at Bain & Company, where Goyal had also worked.

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“Both Das and Goyal are founders of the startup, but Goyal’s involvement will be one of making investments and mentoring the startup in a non-executive role,” one of the persons said

“The startup is different from air-taxi firms... LAT Aerospace will be looking to build aircrafts that have a range of up to 1,500 km,” the person said.

The startup, which is operating in stealth mode, plans to develop low-cost short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft with up to 24 seats, aiming to improve regional air connectivity.

LAT Aerospace is also in talks to raise $50 million in seed funding and is looking to hire engineers in areas like aerodynamics, material sciences, and hybrid propulsion systems.

STOL aircraft are smaller and can take off and land on shorter runways. While air taxis (VTOL aircraft) are used for short intra-city transport, STOL planes are designed for longer intercity routes.

With its new aircraft, LAT Aerospace aims to compete with major companies like ATR from France-Italy and Bombardier from Canada, which supply jets used by Indian airlines like IndiGo and SpiceJet for regional flights.

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