Rajshree Upadhyaya | Business Remedies | April 04,2025 | Girish Mathrubootham, the visionary behind Freshworks, has now set his sights on a new frontier with the launch of Together AI Studio, a venture-building initiative under Together Fund. As announced through his LinkedIn, the program is designed to support AI-first founders in turning their ideas into scalable businesses. With a 12-week structure beginning on April 15, 2025, it will run for 11 weeks in Bengaluru before concluding with a week-long immersion in the United States. Emphasizing his commitment to fostering bold innovation, Mathrubootham highlighted the immense potential of AI in reshaping industries.
Through Together AI Studio, founders will have access to funding of up to $1 million, mentorship from AI entrepreneurs, and cloud credits worth $600,000 from OpenAI, AWS, Azure, and GCP. A dedicated co-working space in Bengaluru will further facilitate collaboration. The initiative actively seeks AI builders in B2B AI applications, healthcare, security, automation, and other transformative sectors. Companies like Chaotix, Composio, Thesys, and Presentations AI have already joined the Together AI Studio portfolio, setting the stage for a thriving ecosystem. Additionally, Together Fund is on track to close its $ 150 million Fund-II by June, signaling strong investor confidence.
Alongside this venture, Mathrubootham has also announced the release of his autobiography, All In, co-authored with journalist Pankaj Mishra. Speaking at SaaSBoomi 2025, he described the book as an unfiltered account of his journey, from his early days as an engineering student to leading Freshworks to Nasdaq. Unlike a conventional business manual, the book captures defining moments, including his decision to accept a lower-paying job in software rather than a higher-paying one elsewhere, simply because he believed in the industry’s future. Mathrubootham also shares insights into key influences, including his mentor, Kumar Vembu from Zoho, and his admiration for superstar Rajinikanth, which is reflected in a chapter titled Thalaivar-The Hero Who Shaped My Dreams. While eager to share his experiences, he humorously refrained from revealing too much, promising readers a deeper look into his journey without spoilers.
His story is of perseverance, bold decisions, and a relentless pursuit of innovation. Born in Tamil Nadu on March 29, 1975, he grew up in Trichy, where his parents’ separation at a young age shaped his independent mindset. Despite being an average student, he developed a unique learning style, breaking down complex subjects into logical stories. After completing his engineering degree, he pursued an MBA in marketing, financing his education with a loan secured by his father. His career began with roles at HCL Technologies and later AdventNet, which was rebranded as Zoho Corporation. Over a decade at Zoho, he honed his expertise in product strategy and customer service software.
The idea for Freshworks stemmed from his frustration with poor customer service when dealing with a household goods company. His complaints were ignored until he took to Twitter, which finally got their attention. Around the same time, Zendesk raised its pricing, creating an opportunity for a more accessible alternative. Partnering with former Zoho colleague Shan Krishnasamy, he co-founded Freshdesk, later rebranded as Freshworks, in a small warehouse in Chennai. The startup quickly gained traction, securing early customers and attracting investment from Accel Partners, Sequoia Capital, and Tiger Global. By 2021, Freshworks had gone public on Nasdaq, raising $1.03 billion at a valuation of $10.1 billion.
Mathrubootham’s leadership is defined by empathy, transparency, and a deep belief in people. Beyond Freshworks, he actively mentors startups and has invested in over 60 companies. His investment philosophy is straightforward, he backs founders and products he truly believes in. Whether it was Unacademy, Fyle, or Turms, many of his investments began as customer experiences that left a strong impression. Even his first investment in ShieldSquare was a result of seeing potential at a Microsoft BizSpark pitch event. While his angel investment cheques are small, his mentorship adds significant value to startups. Despite his busy schedule, he continues to find time to engage with new ideas and founders. Whether it’s through Together AI Studio, his investments, or his autobiography, Mathrubootham remains deeply committed to shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs. His journey, from a frustrated customer to leading a billion-dollar SaaS company, stands as an inspiration for those who dare to challenge the status quo.
Written & Edited By:
Rajshree Upadhyaya
