Sridhar Vembu’s Vision: Embracing Rural India for Tech Entrepreneurship

Sridhar Vembu, the founder of Zoho Corp, firmly believes that the pathway to India’s technological and entrepreneurial triumphs is rooted in its villages. In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), he encouraged ambitious engineers and business creators with a long-term outlook to expand their horizons beyond the urban landscapes and explore the opportunities that rural India offers.

Vembu expressed that for intelligent and driven engineers or entrepreneurs contemplating a long-term vision, the countryside in India presents an excellent canvas upon which to realise their ambitions. He highlighted that unlike rural areas in more developed nations, rural India boasts a youthful population. Conversely, the cities in India depend on the influx of individuals from rural areas to maintain their workforce.

If you are a smart ambitious engineer or entrepreneur with a long term horizon, rural India is a great place to build your dream. Unlike rural areas in developed countries, rural India still has youthful demographics – in fact better demographics than major cities in India,…

— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) February 6, 2025

Reevaluating Opportunities in Rural Districts

Vembu encouraged entrepreneurs to reassess their strategies by questioning, “Why not go to the source of the talent?” He pointed out that in the average rural district in India, such as Tenkasi, approximately 20,000 children are born each year. This statistic prompts reflection on the potential that this talent pool holds. There are over 600 similar rural districts scattered across the country.

Patience and Long-term Commitment Required

Nevertheless, he underscored that achieving success in these rural settings necessitates patience and a commitment to a longer timeframe. He cautioned that if one is seeking a quick exit within three years, then rural India may not be the right option. Furthermore, Vembu advised looking beyond the English language and connecting with the talent pool in their mother tongue.

Vembu’s appeal comes shortly after his recent resignation as CEO of Zoho Corp, as he has transitioned into the role of Chief Scientist, refocusing on research and development. This recent message emphasises his continued belief in decentralisation and rural empowerment, principles that have significantly influenced Zoho’s approach to talent cultivation over the years.