Analysis · Enterprise Software & IT

Vembu urges skilled professionals to return to villages

By Startup Enthusiast · 8 April 2026

What they do

Zoho makes cloud-based business software for companies worldwide

Co-founder Sridhar Vembu called on skilled professionals to move back to rural areas for distributed talent and growth

Zoho is building a campus near Kumbakonam and investing in drone startup Yali Aerospace in Tanjavur

Sridhar Vembu, co-founder of Zoho, urged skilled professionals to return to rural areas.
He said this would help distribute talent and boost economic growth beyond cities.
Vembu noted that villages in Tanjavur district have lost talent over 40 years.
He pointed to abandoned houses and temples as signs of this decline.
Zoho already has an office and is building a campus near Kumbakonam to create local jobs.
Zoho is also investing in Yali Aerospace, a drone startup in Tanjavur town.
Vembu argued that decentralizing work can reduce urban pressure and enable balanced regional growth.

Vembu responded to a post by Krishnan about missing locals to care for temples in villages like Appakudathaan and Anbil.
His remarks come amid wider discussions on remote work and talent distribution in India.
The push reflects Zoho's long-standing focus on building in smaller towns rather than metros.

Zoho provides a suite of cloud-based software applications for businesses.
Its products include CRM, email, office tools, accounting, and project management.
Zoho serves millions of customers globally, from small businesses to large enterprises.
The company operates on a subscription model, charging monthly or annual fees.
Zoho is headquartered in Chennai, India, with offices in multiple countries.
It is known for bootstrapping and avoiding venture capital funding.

Zoho plans to continue building its campus near Kumbakonam to create local employment.
The company will invest in Yali Aerospace, a drone startup in Tanjavur town.