Girish Mathrubootham Steps Down as Executive Chairman of Freshworks: End of an Era, New Beginning Together with Fund
In the business world, some decisions are important not just for a company but for the entire ecosystem. A big moment has come when the official announcement of Girish Mathrubootham steps down as executive chairman of Freshworks was made. This decision is not just a leadership change, but an emotional goodbye to a founder who built a billion-dollar SaaS empire starting from a small apartment in Chennai.
Freshworks Founder to Step Down as Executive Chairman in December
On December 1, 2025, Girish Mathrubootham will officially retire from his roles as executive chairman and board chairman. The exit will mark the end of his 15-year journey with Nasdaq-listed software company Freshworks. The company confirmed in a U.S. Freshworks confirmed in its official filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that Girish Mathrubootham had informed the board of his decision to retire on September 3.
After him, the responsibility of the company will be given to Roxanne Austin, who has been part of the board since 2021 and is recognized as a seasoned leader in the industry. Roxanne will become the new chairperson of Freshworks from December. This clearly shows that Freshworks is transitioning from its founding leadership to an AI-driven future.
Girish Mathrubootham’s Legacy: From Chennai Apartment to Nasdaq Listing
When Girish Mathrubootham started Freshworks in 2010, his dream was simple – a few employees and a million dollar annual revenue. But he turned this dream into a global SaaS success story. Freshworks’ Nasdaq listing in 2021 was a historic moment, where an Indian founder-led startup made its name in the world’s biggest tech market.
For him, Freshworks’ real legacy was not just billion-dollar valuation or IPO, but a company culture that will always remain alive in the hearts of employees. Girish himself says, “We created a company with an amazing culture, more than anything else. Many people told me Freshworks was the best time of their lives.”
Why Girish Mathrubootham Steps Down as Executive Chairman of Freshworks
This question was in the mind of every insider and outsider that why is a founder, who has taken his own empire to this level, exiting? When he stepped down from the position of CEO in 2024 and gave responsibility to Dennis Woodside, even then he talked about focusing on AI and long-term strategy.
Now in 2025, he decided that now the time has come to invest all his time and energy in Together Fund. This is a venture capital firm that he co-founded in 2021. The main vision of this fund is to bring India’s next-gen SaaS and AI startups to the global stage.
Together Fund: The Next Chapter
After exiting Freshworks, Girish Mathrubootham’s journey does not end, but it is like the beginning of a new startup. He considers Together Fund as his “new startup”. This fund is already supporting AI and SaaS founders, and he believes that the next global product will come out of India.
In his words, “Together Fund is my startup.” This clearly shows that his entrepreneurial spirit is still as strong as it was in the early days of Freshworks.
Freshworks After Girish: AI Growth and Global Ambitions
Freshworks is not going to stop even after the founder’s exit. The company is growing steadily under the leadership of Dennis Woodside. In the June quarter, Freshworks reported revenue of $204.7 million, which was 18% year-on-year growth. The biggest driver of Freshworks’ recent growth has been its AI tools – Freddy AI Copilot and Freddy AI Agent. Together, these two products have already generated annual recurring revenue of $20 million for the company, which is a strong signal that the market is seriously adopting these solutions.
Following this success, the company has also revised its 2025 revenue forecast upward. Now Freshworks is expecting annual revenue of $822.9 million to $828.9 million. This clearly shows that the company is preparing to take on global giants like Salesforce with full confidence in the new era of AI and automation.
The End of an Era
When we say “Girish Mathrubootham steps down as executive chairman of Freshworks”, it is not just a leadership change. It is an emotional milestone – a founder’s journey that started from a small apartment in Chennai and reached Nasdaq.
His exit opens a new chapter for Freshworks, where there will be AI and global competition, but the foundation he built will keep the company’s culture and spirit alive. Also, his Together Fund will continue to give new wings to India’s startup ecosystem.
Leaders come and go in the business world, but founders like Girish Mathrubootham leave their permanent mark. The story of Freshworks is the story of their hard work, vision and a strong belief – that Indian products can stand at the top of the world.
Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only. The details given in it are based on publicly available reports and company disclosures. Do your independent research before taking any investment or financial decision.
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