Zoho

Chennai, India (U.S. HQ: Pleasanton, CA) Software Private

Zoho Corporation is a privately held, fully bootstrapped global software company founded in 1996 by Sridhar Vembu and Tony Thomas (originally as AdventNet). Headquartered in Chennai, India with U.S. operations in Pleasanton, California, Zoho develops an integrated suite of more than 55 cloud-based business applications spanning CRM, sales, marketing, finance, HR, IT management, collaboration, and developer tools. The company is famous for never having taken outside venture capital or private equity funding, remaining 100% founder/employee owned throughout its history, and for its 'transnational localism' philosophy of building rural offices and training programs (Zoho Schools of Learning) rather than hiring through traditional university pipelines. Zoho serves over 100 million users worldwide and competes with Salesforce, Microsoft, Google Workspace, HubSpot and other major SaaS vendors.

Overview

Company data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.

Founded

1996

Employees

15,000–18,000

Total Funding

$90M

1 rounds

Latest Valuation

$0.41B

September 29, 2021

Funding

Total raised $90M across 1 rounds

Funding data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.

Last updated 06-25-2026

Latest Round

Type

Series A

Date

September 29, 2021

Amount

$90M

Valuation

$0.41B

Lead Investors

Sequoia Capital India

Leadership

  • Sridhar Vembu

    Co-founder and Chief Scientist

    LinkedIn
  • Mani Vembu

    Chief Executive Officer

  • Tony Thomas

    Co-founder

  • Rajendran Dandapani

    President, Technology

Competitors

Competitor list is illustrative and may be incomplete, stale, or erroneous.

  • Salesforce

    Public CRM and enterprise cloud platform; primary head-to-head competitor for Zoho CRM and Zoho One suite.

  • HubSpot

    Public CRM and marketing/sales/service platform targeting SMB and mid-market; direct competitor to Zoho's CRM and marketing apps.

  • Microsoft (Dynamics 365 / Microsoft 365)

    Competes across CRM (Dynamics 365), productivity (Microsoft 365), and collaboration (Teams) against Zoho's integrated suite.

  • Google Workspace

    Productivity and collaboration suite (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet) competing with Zoho Workplace and Zoho Mail.

  • Freshworks

    Indian-founded public SaaS company offering CRM, customer support, and IT service management — direct competitor across multiple Zoho product lines.

  • Odoo

    European open-source business application suite (ERP/CRM/accounting) competing with Zoho's all-in-one suite for SMBs.

Zoho Investment FAQ

Public status and buying access

No. Zoho is a private company and does not have a public stock ticker or trade on a public stock exchange. Its shares are generally held by founders, employees, investors, and other private shareholders. Buyers and sellers may be able to transact in Zoho shares through private secondary transactions, but any transaction depends on share availability, buyer and seller agreement, transfer restrictions, company approval rights, and any applicable right of first refusal. There is no guarantee that Zoho will complete an IPO or other liquidity event.

Yes, it is sometimes possible to buy Zoho shares pre-IPO through private secondary transactions. This depends on finding a willing seller, company approval, and satisfying any transfer restrictions or rights of first refusal.

Buyers interested in buying Zoho shares on the secondary market typically do so through SetterVC and other secondary-market platforms, subject to eligibility requirements, share availability, transfer restrictions, and issuer approval. Buyers may need to satisfy sophistication, accreditation, institutional, platform, regulatory, or other eligibility requirements before participating. Once eligible, buyers may be able to view listings, make bids, and work with a licensed broker through the transaction process. Buyers should ensure they have appropriate legal and financial advisors guiding them before completing any transaction.

The company's latest round valuation was approximately $410M as of September 29, 2021. The latest round valuation is often used as one reference point in secondary-market pricing, but secondary prices may be above or below that valuation at any given time. Secondary pricing can shift significantly based on post-round conditions, such as changes in company performance, supply-demand dynamics, share class, transaction size, transfer restrictions, or broader market shifts. Any implied valuation from a past round should be confirmed with a broker or through live market listings before relying on it.

Valuation and funding

Zoho was most recently valued at approximately $410M as of September 29, 2021. This is a private valuation and may differ from secondary pricing. Secondary shares may trade above or below this mark based on various factors. SetterVC and Setter Capital does not verify the accuracy of these valuations. Buyers and sellers should always confirm current valuations before completing any transaction.

SetterVC currently shows one valuation mark for Zoho based on funding rounds, tender offers, secondary-market indications, and other reported or collected valuation marks. Zoho's valuation was approximately $410M as of September 29, 2021. Secondary-market prices may differ from this valuation based on share class, transaction size, transfer restrictions, supply and demand, company performance, and broader market conditions. SetterVC and Setter Capital does not verify the accuracy or completeness of valuation data, and buyers and sellers should confirm current information before relying on it.

Zoho's latest disclosed funding round was a Series A round in September 29, 2021. The round raised approximately $90M at an approximately $410M valuation, with Sequoia Capital India listed as disclosed lead or major investors. Primary funding rounds are different from secondary transactions: in a primary round, capital goes to the company, while in a secondary transaction, investors buy existing shares from current shareholders. Funding-round data reflects publicly reported or collected information and may be incomplete. The latest round valuation should be confirmed before it is used as a pricing reference.

Zoho has raised approximately $90M in disclosed funding across 1 round. These figures reflect primary capital raised by the company and do not include every possible secondary transaction, undisclosed round, debt facility, or private transfer. Reported funding totals can change as new rounds are announced or older round details are corrected. Eligible users can use SetterVC to track Zoho's funding history alongside private-market activity where available.

Zoho's disclosed investors include Sequoia Capital India. Investor lists are based on public reporting, company announcements, and collected funding-round data, and may be incomplete. Participation in a prior funding round does not mean those investors are currently buying or selling shares. On SetterVC, eligible users can review Zoho's funding history, valuation history, and private-market activity alongside other venture-backed companies.

Market context

Zoho's most-cited competitors include Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft (Dynamics 365 / Microsoft 365), Google Workspace, Freshworks and Odoo. Investors often compare these companies by sector, product focus, valuation, funding raised, growth signals, investor base, and private-market activity.

Secondary-market demand for Zoho shares can be affected by company performance, revenue growth, profitability, funding history, valuation, investor interest, sector momentum, public-market conditions, expected timing of a liquidity event, and the availability of shares for sale. Demand can also be affected by transfer restrictions, company approval rights, right of first refusal processes, limited information, and the price expectations of buyers and sellers. Strong demand does not guarantee strong pricing, liquidity, or investment returns. Weak demand does not necessarily reflect the company's long-term prospects. Demand signals should not be treated as a recommendation or prediction of investment performance. Buyers and sellers should treat demand signals as informational and conduct their own diligence before transacting.

Selling and transaction mechanics

Sellers often rely on intermediaries and platforms, such as SetterVC and other secondary-market platforms, to identify potential buyers. The exact process varies by company and transaction, but sellers often begin by confirming their ownership, desired price, transferability, and any company approval or notice requirements. If the seller agrees with a buyer on acceptable price and terms, the company may need to be notified through a share transfer notice or similar process. If a right of first refusal, company approval right, or other transfer restriction applies, the seller may need to wait until that process is completed. The parties may then execute a purchase and sale agreement, complete required transfer documentation, and close if all required conditions are satisfied. Sellers should always seek proper legal and financial advice before completing the transaction.

Yes, current and former Zoho employees, early investors, and other existing shareholders may be able to sell vested shares before an IPO through a private secondary sale. This is not automatic; it depends on whether the shareholder has transferable shares, whether there is buyer demand, and whether the company's governing documents permit the transfer. Many companies require prior notice, company approval, or a right of first refusal before shares can be sold. Sellers should also seek proper legal and financial advice before proceeding.

A Zoho secondary transaction usually involves an existing shareholder selling shares to a buyer before a public listing. The buyer and seller typically agree on price, number of shares, share class, and closing conditions. The seller may then need to notify Zoho through a share transfer notice or similar process. If Zoho or existing investors have approval rights, transfer restrictions, or a right of first refusal, those steps may need to be completed before the transfer can close. The parties typically enter into a purchase and sale agreement, complete any required transfer documentation, and close only if the necessary conditions are satisfied. Timing and certainty can vary by company and transaction.

In most private secondary transactions, parties commonly use a purchase and sale agreement that outlines price, terms, and conditions. They may also use share transfer documentation, often a stock transfer notice, share transfer notice, transfer instruction, or similar document, along with any required company approval or right of first refusal materials. Proof of ownership, such as a cap table entry, share certificate, brokerage statement, issuer confirmation, or administrator confirmation, may also be important. Buyers often request recent company financials, but private companies may limit disclosure. Since every deal varies, buyers and sellers should consult legal and financial advisors to understand which documents are needed.

Risk, diligence, and investor caution

Buying Zoho shares pre-IPO is risky. Shares are illiquid, no IPO or liquidity event is guaranteed, valuations can change, transfers may require company approval, and private companies may provide limited financial disclosure. Be prepared for total loss. SetterVC and Setter Capital do not provide due diligence, legal, tax, accounting, valuation, or investment advice. Buyers must conduct their own due diligence, verify information, and seek independent legal and investment advice before proceeding.

Private secondary shares are typically illiquid. Unlike public stocks, there is no active public market, so selling them can be difficult and time-consuming. Sales depend on finding a willing buyer and often require company approval. Investors should be prepared to hold the shares for an extended period, with no guarantee of a future sale. Always assess your need for liquidity before investing.

SetterVC and Setter Capital do not provide due diligence, legal, tax, accounting, valuation, or investment advice. Buyers must conduct their own due diligence, including verifying ownership, transferability, legal structure, company approval, and assessing the company's prospects. SetterVC and Setter Capital do not provide advice on whether an investment is good, what price to pay, or what the best bid or ask is. SetterVC and Setter Capital may share documents in some circumstances, but it does not guarantee their accuracy or completeness. Due diligence is essential. Seek legal and investment advice as needed.

Before buying Zoho shares, a buyer should try to review the share class, price per share, implied valuation, transfer restrictions, ROFR process, company approval rights, seller ownership evidence, recent financing or tender-offer information, available financial information, information rights, resale restrictions, tax considerations, and expected liquidity paths. Not all information may be available for a private company. Buyers should confirm available diligence, process details, and information needs with their own legal, tax, and investment advisers.

SPVs carry risks. Examples include the need to confirm the company allows SPV-based transfers, verify that the SPV truly owns the shares or interests it claims to own, and ensure it has not sold more interests than it holds. Due diligence is essential. Seek legal and investment advice as needed.

Forward contracts carry risks. Examples include the seller refusing to transfer the shares at the future date, even if the seller owns them, the seller going bankrupt with creditors claiming the shares, or the seller committing the same shares to multiple parties. Due diligence is essential. Seek legal and investment advice as needed.

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