Story of Zoho: How Sridhar Vembu Built a Tech Empire in India
For decades, every IT engineer’s dream has been to work in American big tech companies like Google, Meta, or Microsoft, earn a high salary, and live a luxurious life. But one Indian professional, Sridhar Vembu, proved that true success doesn’t always mean going abroad—it can also be built right here in India.
The Journey of Sridhar Vembu
Born in a middle-class family in Tamil Nadu, Sridhar Vembu completed his early education in Tamil. In 1989, he graduated in Electrical Engineering from IIT Madras and later went to the United States for higher studies, where he also pursued a Ph.D. While working in America, his family expected him to settle there like many Indians do. But Vembu had a different vision—he wanted to build something of his own instead of chasing a job.
Birth of Zoho
In 1996, Sridhar Vembu, along with his brother, started a company called AdventNet, which was later rebranded as Zoho Corporation in 2009. Instead of setting up his business in a big metro city or overseas, he established Zoho’s base in Tenkasi, a small district in Tamil Nadu, with the vision to empower rural youth and create opportunities outside urban hubs.
Growth & Impact
Today, Zoho has:
130+ million users worldwide
55+ software products for businesses
18,000+ employees
Presence in 150+ countries
16 global data centers
Zoho’s clients include major companies like TATA, Deloitte, BigBasket, Blue Star, NPCI, Bosch, and many more.
Conclusion
From a small-town dreamer to the founder of a global SaaS giant, Sridhar Vembu’s story is an inspiration. Zoho is not just a company; it’s a movement that proves world-class technology can be built in India, for the world.
