Deepinder Goyal, the founder of Zomato, has strongly defended his new health wearable, Temple, against a wave of criticism from medical professionals. Goyal, who has reportedly stepped back from his CEO role at Eternal to focus on Temple, addressed concerns on X, revealing a significant personal and company investment in the device.
Goyal Invests $20 Million Personally in Temple
Goyal stated that a total of $30 million has been invested in developing the Temple wearable, with $20 million coming directly from his personal funds. He dismissed suggestions that Temple is a scam, arguing that any fraudulent claims would quickly be exposed due to the company's 14-day, no-questions-asked return policy—a policy he noted even Apple does not offer in India.
"First and foremost, a business lesson: if Temple were a scam, and any of what we said weren't true, people would know it in just a few days of using Temple," Goyal wrote.
The entrepreneur stressed that his motivation for Temple is not financial gain, but rather a pursuit of purpose, aligning his incentives with scientific accuracy rather than quick profits. He pointed out that selling only a few thousand devices would recover a mere fraction of the substantial investment already made.
Doctors Question Scientific Claims and Validation
The controversy stems from doctors, including prominent hepatologist Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips (known as The Liver Doc), who have publicly questioned Temple's scientific validity and clinical utility. The ₹85,000 wearable, which began pre-orders on November 1, is designed to monitor physiological signals related to blood flow and other health metrics.
Earlier claims by Goyal suggested Temple outperformed leading wearables like the Apple Watch Series 12 in heart-rate accuracy tests. However, critics highlighted that this study was funded and conducted by Temple itself and had not undergone peer review, raising concerns about its impartiality.
Future Validation and Unannounced Features
Goyal acknowledged the need for external validation, stating that pre-prints, a step before peer-reviewed publications, are forthcoming. He argued that many wearable technology companies introduce products to the market before publishing extensive external validation studies.
"We hold ourselves to a higher standard; pre-prints are a step prior to peer-reviewed publications, and they are coming up," he assured. Goyal expressed confidence in Temple's science and methods, predicting that independent studies will emerge once the device becomes widely available. He also hinted at undisclosed "groundbreaking features" of Temple that have yet to be revealed to the public.