Meet Radha Vembu: Zoho's low-profile co-founder and now India's richest self-made woman

Radha Vembu, co-founder and majority shareholder of the bootstrapped software-as-a-service (SaaS) major Zoho Corporation, has topped the Candere Hurun India 2025 list of first-generation wealth creators with a net worth of ₹55,300 crore. Residing in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, Vembu's achievement is highlighted in the 2025 Candere Hurun India Women Leaders List, which recognises 97 exceptional women across nine categories and five core pillars of the Indian economy.

As a co-founder of Zoho Corporation, Vembu is recognised as a first-generation woman wealth creator and philanthropist. She plays a pivotal role in Zoho’s enterprise software success, driving social impact through Zoho Schools and rural development, while effectively blending business leadership with community empowerment. The sister of business tycoon Sridhar Vembu, Chief Scientist at Zoho Corporation, Radha Vembu derives her wealth from her substantial stake in the company. An alumna of IIT Madras, she currently works as a product manager for the Zoho Email Service.

Business leaders like Radha Vembu have redefined India's business landscape. Leading in technology, Radha Vembu continues to drive the company's expansion as a global software powerhouse. This year, the 52-year-old business leader features prominently across multiple categories, including the Top 10 First-Generation Women Wealth Creators and Top 10 Philanthropists. She also secured the 9th spot in the 2025 Candere Hurun India Women Leaders Youngest Women Leaders Across Multiple Categories list.

Vembu holds approximately a 47.8% stake in the Tamil Nadu-based privately held Zoho. Despite her significant wealth and business influence, she generally prefers to stay out of the limelight and has rarely appeared in interviews.

She also features in the 8th spot among the top 10 philanthropists, according to the Hurun report, which states that Vembu has donated ₹11 crore towards women's empowerment, rural development, and education. Her contributions are focused on enhancing opportunities for women, supporting rural communities, promoting education, and driving sustainable social progress.

Vembu tops among women leaders who have appeared in the highest number of Hurun Lists, including the 2025 Candere Hurun India Women Leaders List. Alongside her, other prominent names include Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Anu Aga, Leena Gandhi Tewari, and Sara George Muthoot. The 2025 Candere Hurun India Women Leaders List acknowledges several influential women featured across multiple categories, underscoring their impact on business, leadership, and philanthropy.