When people talk about Indian success stories in technology, names like Infosys, Wipro, and TCS often come up. But there’s another homegrown company that has been quietly building world-class products for decades Zoho.

While Silicon Valley often dominates the narrative, Zoho stands as proof that India can create global tech giants without leaving its soil. With over 100 million users worldwide, Zoho has become a symbol of resilience, innovation, and independence.

And now, with their new chat app “Arattai” and privacy-first browser “Ulaa”, Zoho is taking another bold step to compete with Big Tech while staying true to their “Zoho Made in India” philosophy.

The Zoho Story: A Global Giant Rooted in India

Founded in 1996 by Sridhar Vembu and Tony Thomas, Zoho started as a small software company in Chennai. Unlike most startups of that era, Zoho didn’t chase Silicon Valley investors or quick exits. Instead, they focused on profitability, long-term innovation, and independence from venture capital pressures.

Today, Zoho offers over 55+ business apps from CRM and HR tools to finance, marketing, and customer support. Companies around the globe rely on Zoho for their daily operations.

But what makes Zoho truly unique is its philosophy:

• Headquarters in rural India – proving world-class products can be built outside big cities.
• Zero reliance on external funding – Zoho is bootstrapped and profitable.
• Focus on local talent – Training and employing developers from rural India.

👉 This makes Zoho not just a software company, but a symbol of the “Zoho Made in India” vision.

Arattai: India’s Answer to WhatsApp

In 2021, Zoho introduced Arattai (Tamil for “chat”) a secure messaging app aimed at providing an Indian alternative to WhatsApp.

Key Features:

• No ads, no data selling pure privacy.
• Lightweight and fast, even on low bandwidth.
• Family & business-ready with group chats, voice, and video calls.

👉 Why it matters: Arattai reflects Zoho’s commitment to Made in India privacy-first products, serving both enterprises and families.

Ulaa: A Privacy-First Browser

In 2023, Zoho launched Ulaa, a web browser designed to respect user privacy something mainstream browsers often compromise on.

What makes Ulaa different:

• Blocks trackers & third-party cookies by default.
• Multiple browsing modes work, personal, developer.
• Built in India, competing with Chrome & Firefox.

👉 Why it matters: Ulaa strengthens the narrative of Zoho Made in India innovation, offering a true alternative to Big Tech browsers.

Why Zoho Stands Out as a “Made in India” Icon

Zoho is unlike other Indian IT success stories. Here’s why:

1. Independence – No external investors.
2. Privacy-first approach – Trust at the core of every product.
3. Rural-first hiring model – Empowering small-town talent.
4. Global presence – Serving 180+ countries.

This makes Zoho not just a SaaS giant but an Indian tech icon.

The Road Ahead

• Arattai could position itself as the secure alternative to WhatsApp.
• Ulaa may grow among privacy-conscious users worldwide.
• The Zoho ecosystem has the potential to rival Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.

With “Zoho Made in India” at its heart, the company is rewriting what Indian tech can achieve globally.

Final Thoughts

Zoho is more than a business software provider. With Arattai and Ulaa, it is proving that India can not only support the world’s software but also lead innovation in consumer tech.