How Sridhar Vembu Built Zoho Into a Global Empire From the Heart of Chennai, India

While attending LEAP24 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Sridhar Vembu, Founder and CEO of Zoho, Hyther Nizam, President ME&A of Zoho, and Rajesh Ganesan, President of ManageEngine.

We discussed Zoho’s early beginnings, its rapid expansion to Saudi Arabia, and its continued growth.

Here’s what I learned.

Humble Beginnings

It's 1996, and while the tech world's eyes were glued to Silicon Valley, halfway across the globe in Chennai, India, something remarkable was happening. 

Sridhar Vembu and his brother Kumar were planting the seeds of what would become Zoho. No Silicon Valley funding for them—just pure determination and a bold vision for the future of technology.

Fast forward to today, and Zoho stands tall with over 15,000 employees and a community of a hundred million users.

"We have been in this business for the last 28 years. We have customers in over 150 countries and we have more than 55 business applications that cater to pretty much any organizational department, from sales to marketing to finance to HR. We have more than 15,000 employees worldwide and we have a hundred million registered users. Incredible. Something we are really proud of,” Vembu said.

No shortcuts. No external funding. All bootstrapped.

Just Zoho and its commitment to making technology that genuinely makes a difference.

Saudi Arabia Expansion: Going Global, Staying Local

Zoho Corp. recently announced the opening of its first Middle East Data Centers in Saudi Arabia. It’s no surprise that Saudi Arabia is already Zoho’s fastest-growing market.

Expanding into Saudi Arabia, Zoho's strategy was clear from the get-go: blend in, stand out. 

This is what Hyther Nizam had to say about the launch.

“The move was less about charting new territories and more about nurturing them. The essence of ‘transnational localism’ that Vembu champions isn't just about spreading Zoho's tech wings globally—it's about making each landing count, culturally and technologically.”

Zoho’s launch of a data center in Saudi Arabia wasn't just logistical; it was a statement of trust, privacy, and a deep dive into local needs. The mission? To ensure that their global stride doesn't just pass through communities but enriches them. 

This is Vembu's vision of technology: not a universal solution but a tailored fit for every corner of the globe, respecting and uplifting local communities.

How Did Zoho Grow Without Silicon Valley's Venture Capital?

Simple: "We never took outside money."

Opting for the path less taken, Vembu championed sustainability, privacy, and raw innovation over the usual startup sprint for venture cash and quick exits. Zoho bootstrapped its way to success, a rare feat in an industry obsessed with funding rounds and billion-dollar IPOs.

Here’s what Rajesh Ganesan had to say about their privacy focus:

"We’ve run every application we’ve built ourselves over the last 28 years, and we are a very privacy-focused company. We've stood our ground. We could have easily placed ads across our platform, but that's not us. We're here to innovate, respect user privacy, and stay true to our R&D roots. We live by this, and we are early more in terms of all the compliance concerns."

After hearing that, everything clicked for me. 

For Vembu, it wasn't just about building a business; it was about steadfastly upholding a philosophy—a stark contrast to the usual Silicon Valley narrative.

Bridging the Gap: Technology for All

Vembu saw a bigger picture—a world where the tech divide wasn’t as vast. Imagine that. A place where technology isn’t just for Silicon Valley but for everyone, everywhere.

‍“The vast majority of the population derives no income from technology production. Our appointed role is to support GDP by consuming.” 

That’s what he aimed to shake up. For Vembu, building a company was only part of the equation. 

The real challenge? Making a tangible difference.

A Different Kind of Success

In a time when headlines are dominated by stories of extravagant funding rounds and billion-dollar exits, Vembu's story is refreshingly different. 

His focus has always been on sustainable growth, privacy, and making technology accessible to all. This approach has not only led Zoho to impressive success but has also made it a model for ethical and responsible business practices in the tech industry.

Vembu's concern for societal well-being also extends beyond his business. 

"We have to ground prosperity in contentment, and we have to ground achievement in humility," he asserts, regarding tech industry's relentless pursuit of more.

Now, that's a vision of technology—and humanity—worth rallying behind.

As Zoho continues to grow, its impact is felt not just in the products and services it offers but in the message it sends to the industry at large. Sridhar Vembu's journey from a quiet town in Chennai to a global tech leader is a reminder that success does not have to come at the cost of one's values.

He offers a compass—pointing toward a future where technology serves humanity, where prosperity is shared, and where each new line of code brings us closer to balance and equity. 

This is a legacy of not just building a successful company but inspiring a more thoughtful approach to technology and its role in our lives.

Thank you, Sridhar, for a wonderful talk!