> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://newsanek.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # How a village-born engineer went from IIT Madras to Princeton and then co-founded Zoho - URL: https://newsanek.com/how-a-village-born-engineer-went-from-iit-madras-to-princeton/ - Published: 2026-11-05T19:26:55.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-05T20:20:15.000Z - Description: Sridhar Vembu was born in 1968 in a village in Thanjavur district. He studied at IIT Madras, earned a PhD from Princeton University, and worked at Qualcomm before starting a software business. He now urges Indians abroad to come home and build. - Author: Kumar Ujjwal - Tags: Startup Story, Startups, #sub-startup-stories, #sub-business-stories, #national-desk Sridhar Vembu grew up far from the world of big technology companies. He was born in 1968 in Umayalpuram, a village in Tamil Nadu's Thanjavur district. His family later moved to Chennai, where he finished school. His story is one of study, distance and, in the end, a return. Today he is known as a co-founder of Zoho Corporation. But the road to that name ran through classrooms, research labs and a job on the other side of the world. ### Key points - Born in 1968 in a village in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu. - Completed a BTech in Electrical Engineering at IIT Madras in 1989. - Earned a master's degree and a PhD from Princeton University, finishing in 1994. - Co-founded AdventNet in 1996, which later became Zoho Corporation. ## So where did it all begin? ![A small village house in Tamil Nadu at dusk, a school satchel on a wooden bench, a lamp glowing softly, seen from a distance.](https://newsanek.com/content/images/2026/11/how-a-village-born-engineer-went-from-ii-scene-1.jpg) AI illustration Vembu studied at Anjugam Higher Secondary School in West Mambalam until Class 9. He then moved to Jaigopal Garodia National Higher Secondary School in East Tambaram for his last three years of school. He finished school in 1985. From there he joined IIT Madras to study Electrical Engineering. He graduated in 1989. ![Ramp Bridge Hostels East IIT Madras Jun23 A7C 05194](https://newsanek.com/content/images/2026/11/how-a-village-born-engineer-went-from-iit-madras-t-46f15e.jpg) Representative photo: Ramp Bridge Hostels East IIT Madras Jun23 A7C 05194\. Photo: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. Feel free to / [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ARamp%5FBridge%5FHostels%5FEast%5FIIT%5FMadras%5FJun23%5FA7C%5F05194.jpg?ref=newsanek.com), CC BY-SA 4.0 That degree gave him the foundation for everything that followed. ## What was the hard part of that road? ![A quiet university library with long wooden tables and stacked engineering books, a student seen from behind bent over his notes in warm light.](https://newsanek.com/content/images/2026/11/how-a-village-born-engineer-went-from-ii-scene-2.jpg) AI illustration The hard part was the distance. A student from a village and then a city in Tamil Nadu had to find his way into advanced research in another country. That meant leaving home and building a new life far away. After IIT Madras, he went to Princeton University in New Jersey. He studied for a master's degree and then a PhD in Electrical Engineering. He completed the PhD in 1994. His research focused on information theory and communications. ## What was the turning point for him? ![An open laboratory hall with research equipment and a worker seen in silhouette by a window, late afternoon light on the floor.](https://newsanek.com/content/images/2026/11/how-a-village-born-engineer-went-from-ii-scene-3.jpg) AI illustration The turning point came with his first job. In 1994, he joined Qualcomm in San Diego, California. He worked there as a wireless communications engineer and systems design engineer. His work involved Code Division Multiple Access, a technology used in wireless communication systems. He stayed at Qualcomm until 1996. That year he and his collaborators co-founded AdventNet, which later grew into Zoho Corporation. From IIT Madras to Princeton to Zoho: key dates 1. **1968**Sridhar Vembu born in Umayalpuram, a village in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu 2. **1985**Finished school, after moving to Jaigopal Garodia school in East Tambaram 3. **1989**Graduated in Electrical Engineering from IIT Madras 4. **1994**Completed PhD at Princeton; joined Qualcomm in San Diego, California 5. **1996**Co-founded AdventNet, which later grew into Zoho Corporation Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report The engineer who had learned to build systems now began to build a company. ## Where is he today, and what does he want now? ![A modern software office in Chennai with desks and computer screens, people working at a distance, soft morning light through large windows.](https://newsanek.com/content/images/2026/11/how-a-village-born-engineer-went-from-ii-scene-4.jpg) AI illustration Vembu's own journey began abroad, with higher education and a technical job in the United States. He later returned to India to build a software business. That path now shapes his message. He is urging Indians working in the United States to come back and help build India's technological future. His appeal reflects a long-standing belief that India should build its own technology capabilities. His story shows that the skills learned abroad can be carried home and put to work there. India Today first reported this journey. Startup Story ### 3 lessons from this journey 1. Build a strong technical base before you start your own venture 2. Take a job abroad to gain real experience, then bring it back home 3. Use your skills to build tools that solve problems in India --- ### Sources - [India Today: Princeton PhD to Zoho co-founder: Sridhar Vembu's academic journey](https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/zoho-founder-sridhar-vembu-education-journey-iit-madras-princeton-degrees-first-job-at-qualcomm-3016996-2026-10-14?ref=newsanek.com)