Harshit Mulchandani, who famously took on Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal's highly scrutinized Chief of Staff opportunity, has revealed his reasons for departing the venture, LAT Aerospace, after just 16 months. Mulchandani, whose journey from taking over his late father's textile business at 13 to studying at the University of Toronto, was instrumental in securing the role, explained his decision in a detailed social media post.
The Unconventional Opportunity
The position, first advertised by Goyal in November 2024, garnered significant attention and criticism for its unique requirements: candidates were expected to forgo a salary for the first year and contribute ₹20 lakh for the experience. Despite the controversy, Mulchandani saw it as an unparalleled chance. He met Goyal on December 25, 2024, expecting a traditional interview, but instead received an offer to build a company that was, at the time, unnamed and without a clear business plan. Two minutes after leaving Goyal's farmhouse, Mulchandani resigned from his job in Toronto.
Building LAT Aerospace from Scratch
Mulchandani joined what would become LAT Aerospace, a company that began with only five individuals and eventually grew to nearly 55. He recalled the early days lacked a predefined roadmap, with the team spending months engaging with engineers, pilots, and manufacturers to shape the company's vision. Goyal encouraged a culture of rapid experimentation, urging the team to "stop overthinking, behave more like a toy company and get something flying."
The Drive to Build His Own
Despite the transformative learning experience at LAT Aerospace, Mulchandani's ambition to create something entirely his own intensified. He articulated his departure with the powerful statement: "If learning becomes the prerequisite for beginning, the beginning can be postponed indefinitely." For Mulchandani, staying at LAT, while a safer option, would have meant delaying his ultimate entrepreneurial goal.
Impact of Deepinder Goyal's Chief of Staff Program
Goyal's Chief of Staff initiative, though unconventional, has once again sparked discussions about alternative career paths and the value of experiential learning for aspiring entrepreneurs. Mulchandani's candid account offers a rare glimpse into the intense, high-stakes world of startup incubation under a prominent tech leader, and the personal sacrifices and motivations that drive such career choices.