Introspection mode: Zoho founder to take break; warns of this risk

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India, October 16, 2025 (Thursday)

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu to take a break from external engagements from next week; says: I am at risk of… – The Times of IndiaEditionININUSEnglishEnglishहिन्दीमराठीಕನ್ನಡதமிழ்বাংলাമലയാളംతెలుగుગુજરાતીWeatherSign InTOITechnologyTech NewsTech TipsMobiles & TabsAI NewsGamingWearablesSocialAudioReviewsLaptops & PcAppliancesTimes TechiesGadgetsGadgetsMobile PhonesLaptopsSmart Watches HeadphonesTelevisionsCompare Mobile PhonesCompare LaptopsCompare

Smart WatchesCompare HeadphonesCompare TelevisionsVideosToday's ePaperNewsTechnology NewsTech NewsZoho founder Sridhar Vembu to take a break from external engagements from next week; says: I am at risk of…TrendingWordle Today CluesJeff BezosJensen HuangApple Macbook Air M4Amit ShahNYT Connections HintsNYT StrandsGoogle Investment In BelgiumSundar

PichaiSam AltmanWordle Today CluesJeff BezosJensen HuangApple Macbook Air M4Amit ShahNYT Connections HintsNYT StrandsGoogle Investment In BelgiumSundar PichaiSam AltmanWordle Today CluesJeff BezosJensen HuangApple Macbook Air M4Amit ShahNYT Connections HintsNYT StrandsGoogle Investment In BelgiumSundar PichaiSam AltmanZoho founder Sridhar Vembu to take a

break from external engagements from next week; says: I am at risk of…TOI Tech Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Oct 16, 2025, 07:39 ISTShareAA+Text SizeSmallMediumLargeZoho founder Sridhar Vembu is stepping back from external commitments to focus on coding, a move

driven by his principle of practicing what he preaches. He aims to complete crucial product development, including end-to-end encryption for Zoho’s Arattai messaging app, a feature designed to enhance user data privacy by storing information solely on devices. Zoho founder

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Sridhar Vembu announced on Wednesday that he will step back from external engagements starting next week to focus on coding and product development work he had committed to but fallen behind on. The billionaire entrepreneur reported he risks contradicting his

own principle of "do not preach what you do not practise" if he continues with external appearances while neglecting hands-on technical work."I have to ship some code I had committed to ship and I have fallen behind. I will take

a break from external engagements after this week," Vembu wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "I cannot do both deep tech work (which I am preaching constantly about in my external engagements) and then only do the preaching and not practising

it myself.”Vembu dedicates 70% of time to coding as chief scientistThe announcement comes as Vembu has been increasingly focused on his role as Chief Scientist at Zoho, a position he transitioned to earlier this year after stepping down as CEO

in January. In addition, In an interview with Moneycontrol, Vembu revealed that he now spends approximately 70% of his time writing and reviewing code, and he wants to increase that proportion even further."I review code every day. In fact, I

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file a lot of patents. So that's the change in life. I enjoy the life. I'm meant to do this, I feel," Vembu reported.Sridhar Vembu could be coding the end-to-end encryption for ArattaiThe code Vembu is working to ship appears

to include end-to-end encryption for Arattai, Zoho's messaging platform. In a series of posts on X earlier this month, Vembu revealed that the feature was originally scheduled for November but has been put on an "accelerated schedule" and is currently

in testing.He explained that unlike Zoho Cliq, which stores data in the cloud for business features like search and archiving, Arattai will turn off cloud storage entirely to offer fully encrypted chat that keeps data only on user devices.Vembu emphasised

that Zoho's entire SaaS business is built on the trust that the company does not access customer data or use it for selling products, with end-to-end encryption adding an additional technical layer to that commitment.About the AuthorTOI Tech DeskThe TOI

Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India. In addition, TOI Tech Desk’s news coverage spans a wide spectrum

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