When NDTV named Sridhar Vembu as the Disruptor of the Year at the Indian of the Year 2025 awards, it was not for chasing valuations or headlines. The recognition came for quietly rewriting the rules of how a global technology company can be built from India, rooted in local talent, sustainable growth, and long-term thinking.
Who Is Sridhar Vembu
Sridhar Vembu is the co-founder and Chief Scientist of Zoho Corporation, one of the world’s most respected enterprise software firms. A trained engineer with global exposure, Vembu chose to return to India and build products for the world while keeping control, culture, and ownership firmly Indian. His leadership style stands apart in an ecosystem dominated by venture funding and hyper-growth narratives.
Why NDTV Chose Him as Disruptor of the Year
NDTV’s decision reflects disruption in its truest sense—changing the system itself. Vembu disrupted the startup playbook by proving that a company can scale globally without venture capital, stay profitable, and still compete with Silicon Valley giants. Zoho’s growth showed that patience, product depth, and customer trust can outperform aggressive funding cycles.
The Rural-First Technology Model
One of Vembu’s most radical ideas was shifting core software development to small towns and villages. Instead of concentrating talent in expensive metros, Zoho built engineering teams in rural India. This move not only reduced costs but also unlocked a vast, overlooked talent pool. The model challenged the belief that world-class software can only be built in big cities.
Skill Over Degree: Rethinking Talent
Vembu has consistently questioned the obsession with formal degrees. Through initiatives like Zoho’s internal learning programs, the company trains young people straight out of school, focusing on skills, discipline, and curiosity. This approach has created high-quality engineers without the burden of expensive education, redefining how India can prepare its workforce for the future.
His Message on AI and the Future of Work
At the NDTV stage, Vembu spoke about artificial intelligence not as a threat, but as a responsibility. He emphasised that AI must increase productivity without displacing human dignity. For him, technology should strengthen societies, not hollow them out. His views stand in contrast to hype-driven AI narratives and focus on long-term societal balance.
What This Award Means for Indian Startups
The Disruptor of the Year honour sends a strong signal to India’s startup ecosystem. It validates alternative paths—bootstrapped growth, decentralised hiring, and product-led innovation. It suggests that success is no longer measured only by funding rounds, but by resilience, impact, and independence.
Criticism and Ongoing Debate
Vembu’s ideas have also sparked debate. Critics argue that rural scaling may not work for every company and that global exposure still matters for talent growth. Vembu himself acknowledges that his model is not universal, but insists it proves what is possible when companies think beyond convention.
Why Sridhar Vembu’s Disruption Matters
Sridhar Vembu’s disruption is not loud or flashy. It is structural. By building a profitable global tech company from India’s heartland, he has expanded the definition of innovation. NDTV’s recognition captures this deeper shift—where technology serves people, talent is found everywhere, and growth is measured in decades, not quarters.
Conclusion
The NDTV Disruptor of the Year award recognises more than an individual. It recognises an idea—that India can lead the global tech world on its own terms. Sridhar Vembu’s journey stands as proof that disruption does not always arrive with noise. Sometimes, it arrives quietly and changes everything.
