Explained: The high-risk ideas behind Deepinder Goyal’s exit as Eternal CEO
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Deepinder Goyal has stepped down as Group CEO of Eternal, saying he wants the freedom to pursue “significantly higher-risk” ideas that no longer fit within the strategic scope of a listed company. In a post on X addressed to shareholders, Goyal said he would remain on the board as vice chairman, subject to shareholder approval, while Albinder Dhindsa takes over as the new Group CEO.
“Of late, I have found myself drawn to a set of new ideas that involve significantly higher-risk exploration and experimentation,” Goyal wrote. “These are the kinds of ideas that are better pursued outside a public company like Eternal .”
The announcement marks a turning point for Goyal, who has been closely associated with the company’s rise. His exit from operational leadership and towards personal pursuits that, by his own admission, do not align with the responsibilities of running a publicly listed firm.
New research directions
What Goyal did not spell out in detail is what those “new ideas” are. But over the past year, he has publicly hinted at these interests: human longevity.
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On social media he emphasised that his gravity-aging theory and related projects were shared “as part of our common quest for scientific progress on human longevity.” Goyal has become increasingly involved in longevity research through Continue Research, an open-source initiative he has personally funded with $25 million. The venture focuses on studying the biological mechanisms of ageing and extending healthy human lifespans.
In November 2025, Goyal drew attention after writing on X and LinkedIn: “I am saying gravity shortens lifespan.” He outlined what he calls the “Gravity Aging Hypothesis,” which suggests that gravity’s long-term effects on blood circulation to the brain may contribute to age-related cognitive and physical decline. “It’s open-source, backed by science, and shared with you as part of our common quest for scientific progress on human longevity,” he said in the post. Although many experts have debunked the theory on the internet.
Continue Research is structured as a research initiative rather than a conventional startup, with all findings meant to be shared publicly. Goyal has said his aim is to identify “upstream” biological factors that affect ageing, rather than focusing only on symptoms that emerge later in life.
As part of this work, Goyal has also been testing an experimental wearable device called Temple, which continuously monitors cerebral blood flow. He has worn the device publicly, prompting buzz and online discussion about its purpose and the feasibility of his hypothesis. “Been using it for a year, and I’ve been feeling that this could shape into an important wearable the world needs,” said the former CEO of Eternal.
In earlier posts, Goyal has argued that short lifespans encourage short-term thinking, which can shape how individuals and societies make decisions. A longer healthy life, he believes, could change how people approach responsibility and long-term planning.
These interests, however, sit far outside Eternal’s core business as a listed consumer internet company.
“If these ideas belonged inside Eternal’s strategic scope, I would have pursued them within the company. They do not,” he said, adding that the company “deserves to remain focused, and disciplined, while exploring new areas of growth that are relevant to its current line of business.”
Goyal's exit as CEO signals a clearer separation between the company’s operational priorities and his personal research ambitions.