Global technology firm, Zoho, having marked its 30th anniversary, is positioning its independence from external investors as a competitive advantage as venture-capital funding tightens globally, arguing the model supports longer-term expansion in emerging markets, particularly Nigeria and the wider Africa region
The enterprise software provider, which encompasses cloud business suite Zoho alongside divisions such as ManageEngine, Qntrl and TrainerCentral, says it has surpassed one million paying corporate customers and more than 150 million users globally. Revenue grew about 20 per cent in 2025, while customer numbers rose 32 per cent, reflecting sustained demand for lower-cost enterprise software amid economic uncertainty.
The company’s expansion comes amid intensifying competition from global SaaS providers pursuing artificial intelligence integration, automation and vertical-specific software offerings. Larger rivals often outspend smaller competitors on marketing and acquisitions, but privately held firms can sometimes move faster operationally because they face fewer quarterly earnings pressures.
Recent customer acquisitions highlight the geographic breadth of demand. New adopters include Rapid Response Monitoring and Synergy Home Care in the United States; Mercedes-Benz India, Force Motors, Joyalukkas and Union Bank of India in India; and organisations including Flora Food Group, Handl Tyrol and Atout France across the European Union.
Additional growth has come from emerging markets, with customers such as Al-Ahli Saudi FC and Al Qadsiah FC in the Middle East, Gonher Batteries in Latin America, and Brazilian groups Creditas and Editora Globo in Brazil.
Unlike many software-as-a-service competitors that rely on aggressive capital raising,Zoho remains entirely self-funded. Sridhar Vembu, co-founder and chief scientist, said the model allows product development to prioritise customer utility rather than investor expectations.
“Being bootstrapped, private, and built entirely in-house makes Zoho an outlier among competitors.
“But vendors don’t need our help, businesses do, which is why delivering customer value has, for 30 years, been Zoho Corporation’s North Star. Before any innovation, strategy, or guiding principle becomes a product, pivot, or policy, it must first affirm the question, ‘Will this help businesses?’ We are incredibly grateful that companies around the world have responded so positively to our customer-first approach over the past three decades, and will continue to meet the evolving needs of businesses with powerful, scalable, and affordable solutions,” said Vembu.
According to Kehinde Ogundare, the group’s Nigeria country head, regional demand is increasingly driven by small and mid-sized enterprises seeking affordable digital infrastructure rather than bespoke enterprise systems.
“Africa represents one of the most dynamic and entrepreneurial business environments in the world. Over the years, we have seen growing demand from African businesses seeking technology that is flexible, affordable and built for long-term value rather than short-term gain. Our continued investment reflects our belief in Africa’s innovation potential and our commitment to supporting local businesses with tools that help them scale sustainably,” said Ogundare.
The push showcases ongoing global software industry trends. Businesses in both advanced and emerging economies are consolidating technology spending, favouring platforms that combine customer relationship management, finance, collaboration and IT management capabilities.
