Radha Vembu: Prominent Indian Businesswoman and Tech Innovator

The 2024 Hurun India Rich List, which came out on Thursday, showcased the top 10 self-made women in India. Radha Vembu, who is the co-founder of Zoho Corp., continues to hold the title of the richest self-made woman in India, boasting a net worth of Rs 47,500 crore. Following her are Falguni Nayar, associated with Naykaa, and Jayshree Ullal from Arista Networks, with net worths of Rs 32,200 crore and Rs 32,100 crore, respectively

Early Life and Background

Radha Vembu is a prominent Indian businesswoman recognized for her important role in the tech sector. Radha Vembu, born around 1972 or 1973, is a wealthy businesswoman from India who holds a majority share in Zoho Corporation, a company that specializes in software development. She co-founded Zoho Corporation, which is a top SaaS (Software as a Service) company located in Chennai, India. Zoho offers a range of online tools and applications for businesses, such as customer relationship management (CRM), project management, and accounting software.

Director Roles

She oversees two companies as a director, in addition to her role at Zoho: ‘Janaki Hi-Tech Agro Private Limited’ and ‘Highland Valley Corporation Private Limited.’ Janaki Hi-Tech Agro Private Limited was established on March 22, 2011, and focuses on agricultural initiatives as a non-government organization. On the other hand, Highland Valley Corporation Private Limited, which began on April 20, 2012, operates in the real estate sector, concentrating on building completion, and is also a non-government organization.

Radha Vembu: Personal Profile

Date of Birth: December 24, 1972
Age (as of 2024): 52 years
Birthplace: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Hometown: Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
Nationality: Indian

Education:

• School: National Higher Secondary School, Chennai (Madras), 1990
• College/University: IIT Madras
• Degree: Industrial Management, 1997

Physical Attributes:

• Weight: Approximately 60 kg (132 lbs)
• Eye Color: Black
• Hair Color: Salt & Pepper

Hobbies: Gardening

Radha Vembu enjoys creating Rangolis as well.

Family:

• Husband/Spouse: Rajendran Dandapani, Director of Engineering and Business Solutions Evangelist at Zoho
• Children: Son – Aditya Rajendran
• Parents:
  • Father: Sambamurthy Vembu, Stenographer at the Madras High Court
  • Mother: Name not known, Homemaker
• Siblings:
  • Brother: Manikandan Vembu, Businessman
  • Brother: Sekar Vembu
  • Brother: Sridhar Vembu, Businessman
  • Sister: Amudha Hari

Marital Status: Married
Marriage Date: March 19, 1998

 

Early Life and Education:

Radha Vembu was born and raised in India. She pursued her education in engineering, which laid the foundation for her career in technology.  Vembu earned his industrial management degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras.

Career:

In 1996, Radha Vembu co-founded Zoho Corporation with her brother, Sridhar Vembu. Under her leadership, Zoho has grown from a small startup into a global enterprise with a vast portfolio of software products used by millions of users worldwide. Zoho is renowned for its emphasis on innovation and customer-centric solutions, and it has gained recognition for its robust, affordable software solutions tailored to businesses of all sizes.

Zoho Corporation

The 49-year-old billionaire serves as the product manager for Zoho Mail. She holds a majority share in the tech firm that develops online business tools. Zoho, which is based in Chennai, had 12 offices in nine different countries as of 2021.

Zoho Corporation, founded in 1996 by Sridhar Vembu and Tony Thomas, is an Indian multinational technology company that specializes in computer software and web-based business tools. Initially known as AdventNet, Inc., the company initially focused on network management software. It shifted its focus to small and medium businesses (SMBs) and was rebranded as Zoho Corporation in 2009.

Zoho’s flagship product is the Zoho Office Suite, which includes various applications like Zoho CRM, Zoho Writer, and Zoho Projects. The company has expanded its offerings to include over 50 applications through Zoho One, launched in 2017. As of 2023, Zoho serves over 80 million users globally.

Headquartered in Chennai, India, Zoho also has offices in countries such as the US, China, Singapore, Japan, and Nigeria. Notably, the company operates a unique organic farm in Del Valle, Texas, for employee welfare and community support. Zoho continues to grow and innovate, with recent expansions into rural India and new offices in the US and Africa.

Vembu resides in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, where she is happily married and has one child.

 

Achievements:

Radha Vembu has played a key role in making Zoho successful. The company’s focus on staying independent and prioritizing customer needs over seeking venture capital has been a crucial part of its strategy. This has helped Zoho stay relevant in the SaaS market while keeping control over its products and overall vision. Philanthropy: In addition to her business success, Radha Vembu is active in various charitable efforts. She supports educational programs and helps foster technology and innovation growth in India. Radha Vembu’s leadership and forward-thinking approach have established her as a significant figure in the tech world, and her contributions continue to influence the software industry and more.