Who is founder of Zoho? The answer is Sridhar Vembu, born in 1968 into a middle-class Tamil Brahmin family in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. His father worked as a stenographer at Madras High Court, while his mother was a homemaker. Despite humble beginnings, Vembu’s academic brilliance led him to IIT Madras, where he earned a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering in 1989.
His educational journey continued at Princeton University, where he completed his PhD in 1994, specializing in electrical engineering. This prestigious education laid the foundation for understanding who is founder of Zoho and his exceptional capabilities.
Professional Journey and Entrepreneurial Vision
After Princeton, Vembu joined Qualcomm in San Diego, California, as a Systems Design Engineer, focusing on wireless technology and CDMA for satellite communications . However, the question of who is founder of Zoho becomes more interesting with his unconventional decision to return to India and establish a global tech company from rural areas.
In 1996, Vembu, along with his brothers Kumar and Tony Thomas, founded AdventNet in Pleasanton, California. The company initially focused on network management software before evolving into cloud-based business solutions.
Building Zoho Corporation
Understanding who is founder of Zoho requires appreciating Vembu’s unique approach to business growth. Unlike typical startups, he chose complete bootstrapping, rejecting external funding to maintain independence and focus on long-term impact rather than short-term returns. In 2009, AdventNet was renamed Zoho Corporation, reflecting its cloud-focused direction.
Social Innovation and Rural Development
Who is founder of Zoho becomes even more remarkable when considering Vembu’s social initiatives. In 2005, he established Zoho University (now Zoho Schools of Learning), training rural students in software development as an alternative to formal university education. Currently, 15-20% of Zoho’s engineers are graduates from these schools, proving that world-class technology can emerge from villages.
Current Success and Recognition
Today, when people ask who is founder of Zoho? they’re referring to a billionaire entrepreneur worth $5.85 billion as per Forbes 2024. Zoho serves over 100 million users globally across 180+ countries with 50+ cloud products. Vembu’s recent creation, Arattai messaging app, has seen explosive growth with 100x surge in sign-ups, positioning itself as a WhatsApp alternative.
His achievements include Padma Shri (2021), CNN-News18 Indian of the Year (2022), and appointment to India’s National Security Advisory Board.
Disclaimer: Information compiled from multiple verified sources about Sridhar Vembu and Zoho Corporation’s journey.
Also Read: Can Zoho Replace Microsoft? India’s Homegrown Alternative
