The joy of doing something new is on another level!
Tony Thomas, Co-founder, Zoho
India’s IT industry takes great pride in the brand ZOHO. However, not many people are aware that Mr. Tony Thomas, a Malayali, is the co-founder of Zoho. Founder of Channeliam.com Nisha Krishnan interacts with him.
A bootstrapped startup, a self-funded route to a unicorn… is never simple. What spurred the journey?
The journey has been 25 years long. Proceeded with great patience. It was something I was passionate about. We believed we could create the necessary technology. We built the technology. We were really passionate about it. You can build anything if you believe you can. That is what made this journey possible.
A web-based business tool is offered by Zoho. How much market potential does Zoho perceive here?
The economy is still expanding. Digital growth in developing countries is only getting started. We adopt a strategy that aims to provide value. In the long run, value is really important. We sought to lower prices for our clients. In a market like this, we have attempted to lower costs while increasing value. The market is changing, though, and that is also true. Technologies and software requirements have changed over time. The expansion of what individuals do with software may be seen if you look at the current generation of essential business apps.
Even when their business is losing money, some founders don’t let that stop them from being enthusiastic. People are happy when they receive funding. Their lifestyle changes. In that one context, both Sridhar Vembu and you, lead a very simple life!
When we originally started, we had no idea what to anticipate. Everyone aspires to launch a business, expand, and achieve financial success. Yet going forward, we felt confident in our course of action. We enjoyed ourselves doing this. Working with people who were doing something good was enjoyable. Realized that doing this was the right course of action. We didn’t look for venture funding or anything similar.
Several times, venture capital or a buyout were offered to us, but we quickly understood that this is what we wanted. We don’t believe there is a better approach to accomplish what we do, which includes creating businesses, employment, delivering value, and positively influencing the world. Spending money to travel to an island and experience its extravagant delight only lasts a short while. The satisfaction of coming up with something fresh is beyond compare.
What lies ahead for technology? What field should the emphasis of our startups be? What will the newest technologies bring?
The first thing to learn is to not follow the crowd, to adopt practices that everyone else is using. You are likely to have a hard time. All you have to do is look for opportunities that many people haven’t considered. When seeking for opportunities, what you know is important. Start there with businesses or technology you are familiar with. There are opportunities when you delve deeply into anything. There isn’t a set recipe for success. Everyone would be successful if there were such a recipe. You go after what you love. Only your efforts will ultimately lead you to success. Be prepared to adjust to your market and pay attention to your customers. It is unquestionably crucial. Construction technology presents a wonderful opportunity. Consumer services-oriented technology will be developed, bringing with it finance and more business options. There is frequently no tolerance. But your chances of success increases if you construct your technology slowly.
Both simplicity and frugality are essential aspects of existence. Even though Zoho is a unicorn, both of you, be it Sridhar Vembu or Tony Thomas, both of you see life as simple. How does one practice it?
We certainly feel that we are immediately attracted to material things. We’ll quickly come to the conclusion that none of this will ultimately make us happy in life. Most people aspire to achieve greatness and want to be a part of a big enterprise. Some people desire to contribute to this environment and do something worthwhile. Consumers may find a customer-oriented approach highly attractive but ultimately it will not please. People are incredibly unsatisfied with the consumer-oriented society, according to numerous surveys. Just consumption doesn’t provide satisfaction. The only way to find fulfilment is to create something worthwhile, donate it to society, and therefore improve the world.
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