Freshworks Inc. (NASDAQ: FRSH), the cloud-based customer engagement software company headquartered in San Mateo, California, was cofounded in 2010 by Girish Mathrubootham and Shan Krishnasamy in Chennai, India. Originally launched as Freshdesk, the company grew into a comprehensive SaaS platform offering customer support (Freshdesk), IT service management (Freshservice), CRM (Freshsales), and AI-powered automation tools. Mathrubootham served as CEO from founding through May 2024, leading Freshworks through its landmark NASDAQ IPO in September 2021 — the first Indian SaaS company to list on a major U.S. exchange — at a valuation exceeding $10 billion. After transitioning to Executive Chairman, he departed Freshworks entirely in December 2025 to lead Together Fund, his early-stage venture capital firm backing the next generation of AI and SaaS startups.

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Freshworks Competitors

Freshworks operates in the highly competitive cloud-based customer engagement and IT service management market. Key competitors of Freshworks include:

• Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) – the dominant CRM and customer service platform globally
• Zendesk – leading customer support and helpdesk software provider
• ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) – enterprise IT service management and workflow automation
• HubSpot (NYSE: HUBS) – inbound marketing, sales, and customer service CRM
• Zoho Corporation – SaaS suite offering CRM, helpdesk, and business apps (Mathrubootham’s former employer)
• Intercom – AI-powered customer messaging and support platform
• Atlassian (NASDAQ: TEAM) – Jira Service Management competes with Freshservice

Girish Mathrubootham – Quick Facts

Girish Mathrubootham Net Worth 2026 – Freshworks CEO Salary

As of 2026, Girish Mathrubootham’s net worth is estimated at approximately $700 million USD, primarily derived from his ~4.3% ownership stake in Freshworks Inc. (NASDAQ: FRSH). At Freshworks’ February 2026 market capitalization of roughly $2 billion, his direct shareholding is valued at approximately $86 million. However, the bulk of his wealth was accumulated during the company’s IPO in 2021 when Freshworks was valued above $10 billion, and through subsequent share sales. In December 2024, Mathrubootham sold over 2.5 million shares worth approximately $40 million as part of a planned financial diversification strategy under SEC Rule 10b5-1.

Girish Mathrubootham Compensation Breakdown (FY2024)

Freshworks Net Worth 2026 – Is Freshworks Profitable?

Yes, Freshworks became GAAP profitable in fiscal year 2025 for the first time. Under the leadership of CEO Dennis Woodside and founder Girish Mathrubootham (as Executive Chairman through December 2025), Freshworks achieved GAAP operating income of $13.2 million in FY2025, a dramatic improvement from the $(138.6) million operating loss in FY2024. Revenue grew 16% year-over-year to $838.8 million, while the company generated $242.4 million in operating cash flow.

Freshworks Financial Summary (FY2025)

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Girish Mathrubootham Email Address | Contact Information

Below are the contact details and social media profiles for Freshworks founder Girish Mathrubootham. Note that as of December 2025, Mathrubootham is no longer affiliated with Freshworks and may not respond at his former corporate email address.

Career & Education – Company, University, & College

Girish Mathrubootham’s career spans over two decades in software product management and entrepreneurship. After nearly a decade at Zoho Corporation (formerly AdventNet Inc.), where he rose from Lead Engineer to Vice President of Product Management, Mathrubootham launched Freshworks in October 2010. Prior to Zoho, he worked as a Sr. Software Engineer at eForce Inc and as a Member of Technical Staff at HCL Cisco ODC.

The inspiration for Freshworks came from a frustrating customer support experience. Mathrubootham read about a Hacker News post criticizing Zendesk’s pricing increase and saw an opportunity to build a more affordable, intuitive helpdesk solution. He launched Freshdesk from Chennai, India, and attracted early backing from Accel Partners. The company later secured funding from Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global Management, and Google Capital (now CapitalG), and rebranded to Freshworks in 2017 as its product suite expanded beyond helpdesk software.

Mathrubootham led Freshworks through its NASDAQ IPO in September 2021, making it the first Indian-founded SaaS company to list on a U.S. exchange. He served as CEO until May 2024, when Dennis Woodside took over. After serving as Executive Chairman, Mathrubootham departed Freshworks in December 2025 to focus full-time on Together Fund, the operator-led venture firm he cofounded in 2021.

Girish Mathrubootham Career Timeline

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Education

Girish Mathrubootham Wiki – Age, Family, & More

Girish Mathrubootham (age 50, born March 29, 1975) hails from the South Indian temple town of Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) in Tamil Nadu. His full name is Rathna Girish Mathrubootham. Girish lost his mother during childhood and was raised by his father, a retired banker who remarried when Girish was ten. Despite early setbacks — he could not crack the IIT entrance exam and experienced professional failures before finding success — he channeled his determination into building one of India’s most successful SaaS companies.

Girish is married to Shobha Girish, who affectionately calls him “a Shrek.” The couple lives in Chennai’s Raja Annamalai Puram neighbourhood with their children. Girish is known for his collection of luxury cars, including a Maybach S 500, BMW, and Volvo V40.

Notable Achievements & Recognitions

• First Indian SaaS IPO on NASDAQ – Led Freshworks to a landmark U.S. IPO in September 2021, valued above $10 billion
• Together Fund Founder – Co-founded an operator-led VC firm investing $110M+ in 35+ AI and SaaS startups
• Author – Published All In: Memoirs of the Freshworks Founder (HarperCollins, 2025)
• SaaS Pioneer – Built Freshworks from a Chennai startup to a global platform serving 68,000+ customers in 120+ countries
• Investor of the Year – Named among the top 10 Indian startup investors of 2025, with Together Fund participating in 50 deals
• Zoho to Freshworks – Spent nearly a decade at Zoho Corporation before founding a company that became one of Zoho’s top competitors

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About Freshworks Inc.

Freshworks Inc. is a global SaaS company headquartered in San Mateo, California. Founded in 2010 in Chennai, India, the company provides cloud-based business software designed to be easy to use and quick to deploy. Freshworks serves over 68,000 customers worldwide, including companies like American Express, Bridgestone, Databricks, Fila, and Nucor.

Freshworks trades on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol FRSH. The company has offices in San Mateo, Chennai, London, Berlin, Sydney, and other global locations, with approximately 5,000+ employees across 13 offices worldwide. Its AI assistant Freddy AI is embedded across all products, providing automated resolution, intelligent routing, and predictive insights.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Girish Mathrubootham still the CEO of Freshworks?

No, Girish Mathrubootham is no longer the CEO of Freshworks. He stepped down as CEO in May 2024 and was succeeded by Dennis Woodside, who had been serving as President since September 2022. Mathrubootham served as Executive Chairman until December 1, 2025, when he fully departed the company to focus on Together Fund, his venture capital firm.

What is Girish Mathrubootham’s net worth in 2026?

As of 2026, Girish Mathrubootham’s net worth is estimated at approximately $700 million USD. His wealth is primarily derived from his ~4.3% ownership stake in Freshworks Inc. (NASDAQ: FRSH), accumulated through the company’s IPO and subsequent growth. In December 2024, he sold approximately $40 million in Freshworks shares as part of a planned diversification strategy.

What was Girish Mathrubootham’s salary as Freshworks CEO?

For fiscal year 2024, Girish Mathrubootham’s total compensation was approximately $18.9 million, comprising a $575,000 base salary, $326,375 annual bonus, and $17.96 million in stock awards. Over 95% of his compensation was equity-based, reflecting the company’s focus on performance-linked pay.

What is Girish Mathrubootham’s email address?

Girish Mathrubootham’s former Freshworks email address is [email protected], though he departed the company in December 2025. He can be reached on Twitter/X at @mrgirish and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/girish1.

What did Girish Mathrubootham do before founding Freshworks?

Before founding Freshworks in 2010, Girish Mathrubootham spent almost a decade at Zoho Corporation (formerly AdventNet Inc.), where he rose through the ranks from Lead Engineer to Vice President of Product Management. Prior to Zoho, he worked as a Sr. Software Engineer at eForce Inc and as a Member of Technical Staff at HCL Cisco ODC. He holds a B.E. in Electrical & Electronics from SASTRA University and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Madras.

Is Freshworks a profitable company?

Yes, Freshworks achieved GAAP profitability for the first time in fiscal year 2025, reporting GAAP operating income of $13.2 million on revenue of $838.8 million — a 16% year-over-year increase. The company also reported GAAP diluted EPS of $0.63 (compared to a loss of $0.32 the prior year) and generated $242.4 million in operating cash flow with $843.7 million in cash and marketable securities on hand.

Article last updated:February 2026March 2, 2026