Vembu to diversify product range

Vembu Technologies, the start-up founded by entrepreneur Sekar Vembu over two years ago, is planning a product foray beyond its growing market for online storage and back-up solutions.

Over the next two years, the company will foray into online remote back-up software, storage resource management for enterprises, archiving services and developing data mirroring and replication technologies.

Vembu Technologies expects to have products in these areas up and running within the next three years, Vembu CEO Sekar Vembu, said.

"Projects are under implementation on these fronts, and we expect to file for patents by next year," he said, adding that storage hardware majors like EMC and Veritas could be potential partners on the road to product diversification.

He expected the company's turnover to touch $10-15 million over the next five years by targeting key market segments like telecom, finance and manufacturing for its storage services offerings.

Vembu has recently turned cash flow positive, and will be filing for patents over the next few years. The company will file a maximum of two patents in the next two years, Sekar said.

The company currently makes its storage back-up software available to 135 value-added resellers and customers worldwide. With 30 people currently on its rolls, Vembu is in the process of beefing up its marketing and R&D resources. It expects to see its R&D group growing to 75 people and overall strength crossing 100 by the end of 2007.