Naveen Tewari
| Naveen Tewari | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | IIT Kanpur (B.Tech) Harvard Business School (MBA) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, Business Executive |
| Known for | Founder and CEO of InMobi, Glance |
Naveen Tewari is an Indian entrepreneur and the founder of InMobi, a global mobile advertising and content platform. Widely regarded as a pioneer in India’s ad-tech ecosystem, he has led InMobi to become one of the first Indian unicorns and a significant player in the global mobile advertising landscape.[1]
Early Life and Education
Naveen Tewari earned his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. His academic excellence earned him a scholarship to pursue an MBA at Harvard Business School, where he further developed his business acumen and interest in entrepreneurship.[2]
Founding of InMobi
Tewari began his professional journey with McKinsey & Company and later worked at the venture capital firm Charles River Ventures. In 2007, he co-founded mKhoj, a mobile search startup, which eventually pivoted into mobile advertising and rebranded as InMobi.
InMobi disrupted the ad-tech space by offering performance-driven, personalized mobile advertising solutions that competed with global giants like Google and Facebook.[3]
Growth and Global Expansion
Under Tewari’s leadership, InMobi grew rapidly:
- Expanded operations to over 60 countries.
- Became India’s first unicorn in 2011 with investment from SoftBank.
- Partnered with top global brands to deliver targeted mobile advertising solutions.[4]
Other Ventures
Tewari extended his entrepreneurial vision beyond ad-tech:
- Glance: A lock-screen content platform that delivers personalized news and entertainment. Glance has gained widespread popularity in Asia.
- TruFactor: A data intelligence platform offering AI-powered insights to businesses.
Contributions to the Startup Ecosystem
Tewari actively supports India's digital ecosystem through:
- Angel investments in early-stage startups.
- Mentorship for young entrepreneurs.
- Advocacy for tech-led innovation in India.[5]
Challenges and Resilience
Navigating a competitive global ad-tech space and scaling a data-centric platform posed challenges, but Tewari’s commitment to innovation, ethics, and strategic growth helped InMobi maintain its edge in the market.
Awards and Recognition
- Featured in Fortune 40 Under 40.
- Named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
- Recognized by IIT Kanpur with the Distinguished Alumnus Award.[6]
Conclusion
Naveen Tewari is a transformative figure in India’s technology and startup landscape. From launching InMobi as India’s first unicorn to building platforms like Glance, his work embodies innovation, resilience, and a passion for impact. His vision continues to shape the digital economy both in India and globally.
References
- ↑ https://m.economictimes.com/tech/technology/softbanks-masayoshi-son-meets-inmobis-naveen-tewari-to-explore-potential-ai-consumer-tech-collabs/articleshow/115737569.cms
- ↑ https://yourstory.com/2024/09/inmobi-founder-naveen-tewari-predicts-tech-boom-in-indian-stock-market
- ↑ https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/my-software-engineers-will-go-away-inmobi-ceo-warns-of-ai-driven-job-cuts-466206-2025-02-28
- ↑ https://www.business-standard.com/companies/news/b2b-to-c-how-inmobi-is-transforming-itself-into-a-consumer-tech-company-124071601285_1.html
- ↑ https://analyticsindiamag.com/ai-features/inmobi-ceo-might-be-right-about-ai-doing-80-of-coding-jobs/
- ↑ https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/no-office-made-plan-on-floor-founder-of-indias-first-unicorn-shares-humble-startup-story-101739359099139.html