Who is Sridhar Vembu?
Sridhar Vembu is an Indian billionaire entrepreneur, the founder and CEO of Zoho, Zoho Corporation, a global technology company that provides cloud software for businesses. He is known for his minimalist lifestyle and unique vision. He built Zoho without any external funding, making it one of the rare, rare billionaire companies in the world. Sridhar is a strong believer in rural development and runs most of his Zoho business from small villages in Tamil Nadu. He has been honored with a bunch of awards, including the 2021 Padma Shri for his contribution to commerce and industry.
Wiki/Overview
| Full Name | Sridhar Vembu |
| Nickname | N/A |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, Businessman |
| Date of Birth | 14th Nov 1968 |
| Place of Birth | Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Age (as of 2025) | 57 years |
| Father | N/A |
| Mother | N/A |
| Spouse | Pramila Sridhar Vembu |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree from IIT Madras, Ph.D. from Princeton University |
| Known for | Founder and CEO of Zoho Corporation |
| Residence | Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Height | 5’8” |
| Weight | 70 kgs |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Zodiac Sign | N/A |
Early Life
Sridhar Vembu was born in 1968 in a traditional Tamil Brahmin family in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, India. His father was a stenographer in the Madras High Court, and his mother was a housewife who maintained strong cultural and spiritual values. He grew up as one of eight siblings, including his brother Sekhar Vembu, who later co-founded Zoho Corporation. The family lived a lower-middle-class life where education, discipline, and simplicity were highly valued.
Career
Sridhar Vembu started his career as an engineer at Qualcomm in San Diego, California, and later moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1996, together with his brothers, he founded AdventNet, which initially developed software for network equipment providers. The company’s name was changed to Zoho Corporation in 2009, which focuses on SaaS-based business and customer relationship management tools. In 2019, Vembu moved to Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, to manage Zoho in rural India and start local recruitment. As of 2020, he held an 88% stake in the company, and in 2021, he was appointed to India’s National Security Advisory Board.
Education
Dr. Sridhar Vembu holds a Bachelor of Engineering. degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras in 1989, before earning his Ph.D in 1994 from Princeton University. He worked as a system design engineer at Qualcomm until 1996. In 1996, Dr. Seriously, Vembu, along with his friends and siblings, founded AdventNet, one of India’s oldest software product companies. Over time, AdventNet evolved, evolved into Zoho Corporation, a global leader in cloud-based business software.
Family and Affairs
Sridhar Vembu and Pramila Srinivasan, co-founders of Zoho Corporation, are currently undergoing divorce proceedings in California. In a January 2023 court, Pramila alleged that Vembu had transferred a large amount of shares in Zoho to his family members without their consent. Vembo responded publicly, saying that he had not financially abandoned his wife or their son, nor had he transferred any shares. The couple faces personal challenges, including raising a child with special needs, which Vembo cited as a factor in the marriage’s difficulties. The case is still under legal review in California courts.
Appearance
Sridhar Vembu’s height is 5’ 8 ft, and his weight is around, around 70 kg. He has brown eyes and black hair. His calm and modest appearance reflects his down-to-earth personality.
Achievements
- Awarded the Padma Shri in 2021 for his contribution to trade and industry.
- He also featured in the Forbes Billionaires List.
- Recognized globally for building a billion-dollar company without external funding.
- He is known for promoting rural education and employment in India.
- He also stepped down as Zoho CEO in early 2025 to become Chief Scientist.
- Appointed to the National Security Advisory Board in 2021.
Money Factor
| Net Worth | $6 billion |
| Salary/ Income | N/A |
Trivia and Facts
- He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2021 for his contribution to commerce and industry.
- He is on the Forbes billionaire list.
- He is known for promoting rural education and employment in India.
