The Delhi-based CEO and founder shared that the backlash and criticism against Deepinder Goyal’s wearable device Temple did not bother until he said it was not made for Indians
After Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal said that his wearable device Temple is “not made for India, it’s made for the world", a Delhi-based founder and CEO shared that he was planning to order the device but changed his mind after reading his Diwali post.
Ankit Aggarwal, founder and CEO of talent engagement platform Unstop, said he was reconsidering purchasing the device after Goyal’s post on X, where he wrote, “Please do not support us because we are an Indian startup. We want to compete globally. We don’t need/want nationalist support."
“The Price And Backlash Didn’t Bother Me"
In his LinkedIn post, Aggarwal said, “I was about to order Temple. The price & backlash didn’t bother me. But I didn’t after reading Deepinder’s Diwali post: ‘Temple isn’t made for India; it’s made for the world.’ He doesn’t expect >1% of sales from India. To be clear, this is my decision, not anyone else’s. I am not telling anyone what to buy."
He said he assumed Temple was a good device but wanted to wait for real users and data to establish how it performed. Aggarwal also acknowledged that Goyal had described it as a fitness device without medical claims, despite criticism from doctors over its scientific claims.
He Said Global Brands Want Indian Customers
However, he questioned why a product developed by an Indian founder and backed by Indian investors appeared to be positioning India as a marginal market. “Global brands want the Indian customer. Apple sells the Watch Ultra here, and Whoop launched officially in India in 2024. Over 3 years of use, an Apple Watch Ultra and a Whoop with its subscription come to about what Temple costs. Those companies don’t tell Indian buyers the product isn’t for them," he said.
Aggarwal added, “Temple, built by an Indian founder and backed by Indian founders and investors, says India will be 1% of sales. People here already pay this kind of money for premium trackers, and plenty would have paid it for Temple."
He also pointed to Temple’s India pre-orders, the involvement of Indian creators and athletes, and the investors associated with the venture. “So if Temple is not made for India, I will take him at his word. I won’t buy it, and I won’t endorse it. If science convinces you, buy it. Just know who owns a piece of the story," Aggarwal wrote.
What Deepinder Goyal Said
The post came after Goyal on Sunday, November 8, shared a post, clarifying that Temple is primarily designed for international markets, with India accounting for just a fraction of its expected sales. Addressing the criticism surrounding the device once again, he said the company wanted to compete globally rather than seek support in India.
“Temple is not made for India. It’s made for the world. Please check pricing. We don’t expect any more than 1% of Temples being sold in India," he wrote. “If you are upset that the pricing is too high, I am sorry. There’s a lot of work that went into Temple, and we priced it at what we think it’s worth."
Disclaimer: This article is based on user-generated content. The claims made in the original post have not been independently verified by News18.
