Dr Sridhar Vembu is an Indian billionaire entrepreneur and co-founder of Zoho Corporation, one of India’s leading software product companies. He co-founded the company, originally known as AdventNet, in 1996 and served as its CEO from 2000 to 2024. In 2025, he took over as Chief Scientist to focus on research and development, particularly in artificial intelligence and deep technology.
An electrical engineering graduate of IIT Madras, Vembu earned his master’s degree and PhD from Princeton University before working at Qualcomm in the United States. Under his leadership, Zoho built a global software business without relying on external venture capital funding.
Vembu is also known for promoting rural development through technology. Zoho has established offices and research centres in villages and small towns, creating opportunities for engineers outside major cities. He received the Padma Shri in 2021 for his contributions to industry and technology.
A video by Upasana Konidela, Vice Chairperson of CSR at Apollo Hospitals, discussing her decision to freeze her eggs has ignited a national debate in India on modern motherhood, career choices, and societal expectations. The conversation intensified with comments from figures like Zoho's Sridhar Vembu, who advocated for parenthood in one's 20s. In her video, Upasana Konidela stated, 'The biggest insurance for women is to save your eggs because then you can choose when to get married when you want to have kids'. The report examines the high costs of egg freezing, with a single cycle costing between ₹1,20,000 to ₹2,50,000, and India's falling fertility rate, which has dipped below the replacement level of 2.0. It explores the dilemma women face in balancing professional ambitions with their biological clocks and societal pressures.
A special report examines the debate on women's reproductive autonomy in India, ignited by comments from Upasana Konidela of Apollo Hospitals and Zoho Founder Sridhar Vembu. The discussion navigates the conflict between personal choice and societal pressures, such as the notion of a 'demographic duty'. A panel featuring IVF expert Dr. Archana Dhawan Bajaj, Population Foundation of India's Poonam Muttreja, and authors Tara Deshpande, Rahul Easwar, and Advaita Kala explores topics like egg freezing, career pressures, and family planning. Panelists address the significant financial costs of fertility treatments, India's declining fertility rate, and the ideological divide between individual liberty and traditional values. Poonam Muttreja asserts that no leader has the authority to dictate when women should marry or have children, highlighting the core tension between external expectations and a woman's right to choose her own timeline.
Upasana Kamineni Konidela, entrepreneur and wife of actor Ram Charan, triggered a massive debate when she suggested women should "freeze eggs" to have kids later and focus on their careers.
This special report features a debate on women's reproductive autonomy, societal pressure, and the choice between career and motherhood, with author Advaita Kala, activist Rahul Eswar, and Gynaecologist Dr. Archana Dhawan Bajaj. Advaita Kala states, 'We are more than our biology. We are much more than that. And the fact that you think that our role and our contribution to nation building is limited to procreation, I find deeply offensive and objectionable'. The discussion explores the complexities of egg freezing, the concept of a biological clock, and the ideological divide between individual choice and collective demographic goals. The conversation also references comments by entrepreneur Upasana Kamineni Konidela and Zoho Chief Scientist Sridhar Vembu on the topic.
This edition of Health360 delves into the reignited controversy over a possible link between vaccines and autism, propelled by Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu's support for a non-peer-reviewed study. 'Unfortunately, people without a background of healthcare training and statistics are easily fooled by such reports,' warns the medical community, who strongly refute the claims, citing robust data from the WHO that shows immunizations have saved 154 million lives over 50 years. The program also features an India Today special report on the growing epidemic of back pain in the country, accelerated by modern lifestyles, and explores emerging treatments from robotic surgery to regenerative therapies. Plus, a conversation with celebrity dietician Richa Gangani on her viral 21-day anti-inflammatory diet that promises significant fat loss.
This episode of Health360 examines the controversy sparked by Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu's promotion of a non-peer-reviewed report linking vaccines to autism. One expert in the transcript gives a sharp rebuke, stating, 'Unfortunately, people without a background of healthcare training and statistics are easily fooled by such reports.' The show also delves into several pressing health issues in India, including back pain assuming epidemic proportions due to modern lifestyles, a concerning rise in strokes among young adults under 45, and the reasons behind Indian women experiencing early menopause. Additionally, it features a special conversation with dietician Richa Gangani on her viral anti-inflammatory diet and morning concoction.
Amit Shah and other ministers have shifted to Zoho and Arattai, moving away from foreign software.
Watch Sridhar Vembu, CEO & Co-Founder of Zoho Corp, in conversation with Udayan Mukherjee, as he talks about his tech start-up, not borrowing from VCs and his plans for his company.
