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Zoho Corporation founder and CEO Sridhar Vembu is personally scouting for new talent as his company’s flagship email platform, Zoho Mail, approaches the $100 million annual revenue mark. The Chennai-headquartered tech firm continues to expand its global footprint, with over 70 per cent of its business now coming from outside India. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Vembu revealed that he is deeply involved in the company’s technical research and development, and is seeking individuals with strong mathematical aptitude to join Zoho’s growing technical teams. ‘If you are not intimidated by equations, ping me,’ says Vembu Sharing Zoho Mail’s latest performance results, Vembu wrote, “Zoho Mail is approaching $100 million annual revenue, over 70% from outside India. Below is the objective score on our anti-spam system from the reputed global benchmark Virus Bulletin. We continue to perfect it with our R&D effort. We will make our customers happy, and by making our global customers happy, we also make our nation proud.” He added that the company is in need of strong mathematical minds. “A lot of my own tech work is devoted to figuring out the technical pathway here. We need strong mathematical talent. If you are not intimidated by equations, please ping me!” Vembu said. This call for talent has garnered significant attention, highlighting Vembu’s hands-on approach to recruitment and his continued involvement in Zoho’s R&D. Zoho Mail ranks among top global secure email providers According to the Virus Bulletin (VBSpam) certification, Zoho Mail achieved a score of 99.329, with a malware catch rate of 97.47 per cent and a phishing catch rate of 99.87 per cent, maintaining a zero per cent false positive rate. These metrics have placed Zoho Mail among the world’s top-performing secure email services. The results underscore Zoho’s consistent investment in anti-spam and security research, a key differentiator for the company’s privacy-first strategy. Privacy-first approach drives global growth Zoho Mail’s growing popularity is attributed to its ad-free, privacy-focused model, which distinguishes it from global competitors that rely on data-driven advertising. The company emphasises that it does not monetise user data, positioning itself as a trusted alternative for privacy-conscious businesses and individuals. This approach has particularly resonated with users outside India, accounting for over 70 per cent of Zoho Mail’s total revenue. Zoho’s global appeal has grown as data privacy becomes a major concern among businesses and governments worldwide. In India, too, Zoho Mail has seen adoption by high-profile users, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has reportedly switched to Zoho Mail in recent months. The move aligns with the government’s broader push to support “Made in India” technology services. Continuous innovation and R&D investment Zoho’s engineering teams have introduced several key features over the past year, including enhanced spam filtering, image annotation within emails, alias delegation, and integration with the Zoho Workplace suite. The suite includes tools for document management, collaboration, and productivity—making it a comprehensive alternative to traditional corporate email ecosystems. The company’s sustained investment in R&D has been central to its success. Vembu, known for his rural entrepreneurship initiatives and preference for decentralised office models, continues to drive innovation from remote locations in Tamil Nadu, where several Zoho engineers are based. Zoho’s global ambitions rooted in Indian innovation Despite its global reach, Zoho maintains its R&D and core engineering operations in India, with most of its product development carried out in-house. The company’s model reflects Vembu’s belief in building world-class technology from India for the world, while providing employment opportunities in smaller towns and rural areas. As Zoho Mail nears the $100 million milestone, the company’s success stands as a testament to its self-funded, sustainable approach—operating without external investors and maintaining full control over its business direction. Vembu’s direct involvement in hiring underlines Zoho’s culture of founder-led innovation and its commitment to cultivating homegrown talent capable of competing on the global stage.
