Sridhar Vembu has a message for young entrepreneurs

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu says young entrepreneurs should not expect quick success, sharing how it took vTitan Medical Instruments 15 years to cross Rs 1 crore in monthly revenue.Sridhar Vembu says med-tech success can take 15 years, cites vTitan (Photo: X)For young entrepreneurs, the idea of building a successful company can often come with expectations of rapid growth. Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu, however, believes that some businesses need much more time before they start showing significant results.Vembu recently shared the journey of vTitan Medical Instruments, pointing out that the company has taken 15 years to reach an important milestone. The med-tech company has crossed 1 crore in monthly revenue for the first time and is now aiming to reach 10 crore in annual revenue this year.“It has taken "only" 15 years. No VC would have continued the investment,” Vembu wrote on X. A screenshot of Sridhar Vembu giving advice on X. According to Vembu, vTitan now has 10 new products in development, while its business is beginning to accelerate. The company is also building a deeper software stack for the medical technology sector. Vembu said he shared the example to give young founders a more realistic picture of what building a company in a complex industry can involve. Developing expertise and turning that expertise into a sustainable business can take years, he suggested.“It takes many years to gain the capability and many more years to convert the capability into business,” he wrote. While some startups manage to achieve success quickly, Vembu believes such cases should not become the benchmark for everyone. Venture capital investors, he said, often search for businesses that can become those exceptional success stories.“There are times when success is quick. That is the exception than the rule. VCs tend to look for such exceptions. You cannot assume you will be the exception when you start,” Vembu said.He added that his understanding of this approach came from studying Japanese businesses and their long-term focus.Vembu's advice goes beyond patienceVembu has also been sharing advice on what founders need to learn while building their companies. In another recent post, he urged engineers, scientists and doctors moving into business to spend more time speaking directly with potential customers.“If you are an engineer or scientist or doctor turning to business, the first thing I would suggest is "Please go on a lot of sales calls, face rejection if necessary, but persist",” he wrote.According to Vembu, these interactions can improve communication skills and help technical professionals understand how difficult it can be to explain an idea to customers. They can also develop greater appreciation for sales teams and potentially become better at running a business.“There is no such thing as a business without selling something. Sometimes the most obvious thing has to be said!” he added.- EndsPublished By: Ankita GargPublished On: Aug 28, 2026 13:04 IST