Business Remedies | Rajshree Upadhyaya | In the story of India’s tech startups, there are a few names that have not only made a mark in the domestic market but also gained recognition at the international level. Among these select entrepreneurs is Naveen Tewari, Founder and CEO of InMobi. He has raised India’s flag high in the field of mobile advertising technology and built a platform that has transformed the global advertising industry.
Early Life and Education
Naveen Tewari was born in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. From childhood, he had an interest in technology, mathematics, and problem-solving. After completing his schooling, he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. He then went on to Harvard Business School, where he earned his MBA. During his time at IIT, he worked on several technical projects, but it was during his studies at Harvard that his real business mindset took shape. Here, he got the opportunity to deeply understand global markets, business models, and the importance of entrepreneurship.
Early Career
After his MBA, Naveen worked at McKinsey & Company, where he gained practical experience in strategic planning and business expansion. He later worked with Microsoft and Silicon Valley startups, learning the intricacies of tech entrepreneurship.
Founding of InMobi
In 2007, Naveen Tewari, along with three friends—Amit Gupta, Abhay Singhal, and Mohit Saxena—launched a mobile-based search platform named mKhoj. Although the initial model was not very successful, the team studied market needs and in 2009, rebranded it as InMobi, focusing on the mobile advertising network. The main goal of InMobi was to deliver relevant and engaging advertising experiences to users on mobile devices, benefiting both brands and publishers.
Global Expansion and Achievements
InMobi started in India but soon expanded to the USA, Europe, China, and Southeast Asia. By using artificial intelligence and big data analytics, the company made ad targeting more accurate and effective. In 2011, Japanese giant SoftBank invested $200 million in InMobi. In 2016, Fast Company included InMobi among the world’s 50 most innovative companies. The company also launched the platform Glance, which became a global leader in lock-screen content delivery and later received investment from Google. Today, InMobi reaches over a billion mobile users and is among the top advertising networks in the world.
Challenges and Struggles
The journey of InMobi was not easy. In the early days, the team faced difficulties convincing investors, as at that time, there was no major example of an Indian company succeeding in the global ad-tech space. Moreover, giants like Google and Facebook were already dominating the mobile advertising industry, making competition tough. But Naveen and his team carved out their identity through continuous innovation, a strong data infrastructure, and deep understanding of local markets.
Leadership Style and Philosophy
Naveen Tewari’s leadership is based on innovation, transparency, and a long-term vision. He believes that entrepreneurship is not just a means of making money but also a way to solve problems and bring change to society. He inspires his team to think independently and take risks. According to him, one should not fear failure but learn from it and move forward.
Future Vision
Naveen’s goal is to transform InMobi from just an advertising technology company into a global content and marketing ecosystem. Through products like Glance and Roposo, he has already entered the new markets of digital content and social commerce. His vision is to give Indian tech startups the same global recognition that Silicon Valley startups enjoy.
Inspiration and Lessons
Naveen Tewari’s story offers several inspiring lessons:
1. Flexibility and adaptability – Changing the business model according to market needs is the path to success.
2. Global perspective – Even if you start locally, the thinking should always be global.
3. Teamwork and trust – Partnering with the right people is the greatest strength of any business.
4. Investment in innovation – Without technological advancement, it is difficult to sustain for long.
Naveen Tewari has proven that an Indian startup can also make a mark on the global stage, provided it has vision, innovation, and determination. The success of InMobi is not just the story of one company but a symbol of India’s growing technological strength and entrepreneurial spirit.
Written & Edited By:
Rajshree Upadhyaya
