The Man Behind the First Unicorn and Future Mobile Innovation: Naveen Tewari

Naveen Tewari, whose name has become synonymous with entrepreneurial excellence, is the genius behind not just one but two multi-billion-dollar companies: InMobi and Glance. But behind every success story is a tale of struggle, which in Naveen's case started from the serene streets of Kanpur and became a world empire. 

Tewari’s path has been anything but ordinary—from launching India’s first unicorn to shaking up mobile advertising and content delivery. He has turned adversity into opportunity, using a foundation of innovation, resilience, and deep knowledge of technology’s power to change the world and build his legacy. This StartupTalky article will tell the amazing story of the man who didn’t just ride the wave of change but made it.

In this StartupTalky article, we will explore Naveen Tewari's success story, including his early life, history, childhood, personal life, education, achievements, and more.

Naveen Tewari - Biography

Naveen Tewari - Early Life
Naveen Tewari - Career
Naveen Tewari - Investments
Naveen Tewari - Controversies
Naveen Tewari - Awards and Recognitions
Naveen Tewari - Quotes

Naveen Tewari - Early Life

Naveen Tewari's life of entrepreneurial success was carved out in an environment he grew up in, one of learning and nurturing curiosity and innovation. He was born into a nurturing home and developed by a pedagogic father whose very essence, like his mother's, was the urge for intellectual exploration and ambition. Their encouragement fostered Naveen’s entrepreneurial spirit, laying a strong foundation for a future leader.

From a young age, Naveen was naturally curious about technology and problem-solving. He was raised to think for himself and follow big ideas, qualities that made his career.

Naveen began pursuing Computer Science Engineering at the illustrious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. IIT Kanpur is famous for its challenging course curriculum and competitive culture, which became the cradle in which Naveen's passion for technology and entrepreneurship began to develop. He excelled in the scholastic fraternity and participated in surreal technical and entrepreneurial ventures, leading to practical innovation and leadership experiences. Those experiences refined his technical capabilities and helped seed his advent into entrepreneurship for the future.

Naveen took an MBA at Harvard Business School to complement his technical background with a strong understanding of business. 

Naveen Tewari - Career

In 2000, Naveen started his career as an engagement manager at McKinsey & Company, where he drove the development of strategies for the top conglomerates of India. However, it was at McKinsey that he learned about how business dynamics and market strategies work.

Naveen, in 2007, along with three friends, began mKhoj, a mobile search engine, but that did not materialize. However, the group soon shifted to mobile advertising and began InMobi in 2008.

Alongside his tenure at InMobi, Naveen cofounded Glance in 2019, helping the business amass a strong reputation for quickly delivering custom content. He was also a member of the Narayana Health Board of Directors (2023–present), Anuva Board of Directors (2023–present), and Paytm Board of Directors (2015–2017). He invested in over 30 startups, including Razorpay and NestAway, and co-founded iSPIRT, which encourages entrepreneurs and product innovation in India.

In FY23, the company reported an operating revenue of INR 325 crore, total expenses of INR 1,448 crore, and a loss of INR 1,094 crore. In FY24, revenue increased to INR 614 crore, while expenses rose to INR 1,569 crore, resulting in a reduced loss of INR 929 crore.

Glance: Revolutionizing Smartphone Experiences, One Lock Screen at a Time | Startup Story | Founders | Business Model | Growth

Learn about Glance, an Indian tech company transforming lock screens with personalized content. Explore its founders, services, innovations, and role as a subsidiary of InMobi.

StartupTalkyShevaughn Pimenta

Naveen Tewari - Investments

Naveen Tewari, the founder and CEO of InMobi, is an entrepreneur and a reputed angel investor powered by strategic investments in many startups and different business lines. His investment portfolio is stunning, spanning from seed to Series A. Here's a detailed overview of his investments:

Bright Money

Fintech company Bright Money helps people manage and optimize their finances. Its goal is to use data-driven approaches to help people pay off debt and save effectively. Naveen invests in fintech startups that use technology to solve real-world problems.

Factors.AI

Factors.AI is focused on automating business operations using AI and machine learning. They propose to predict the needs and trends in real-time to make business processes more efficient. When Naveen invests in a startup, it indicates that he sees potential for AI-driven companies that can disrupt traditional.

Klub

Investments in specific sectors, such as consumer goods and wellness, can enhance quality of life. Naveen joined Klub to help SMBs access more flexible financing options.

Kaarva

Kaarva is a women’s health and wellness brand dedicated to creating personal and intimate care products. Tewari’s interest in innovative consumer goods and wellness sectors, which seek to enhance the quality of life, is evident from his investment here.

PiggyRide

PiggyRide is a ride-sharing platform connecting parents to secure and reliable rides for their children. Backed by Techstars and Tewari, it stands for family-oriented tech solutions that aim to improve everyday living for all young families.

Dextra

Dextra is a custom software development company that provides businesses with a platform for accessing scalable tech solutions. Naveen invested in this company because he believes businesses need software development to grow efficiently.

Yulu

Yulu is an electric mobility startup that provides eco-friendly and cost-effective transportation solutions in urban areas. Its products include electric bikes and scooters. Tewari’s investment signals his faith in sustainable transport solutions, which are becoming more important in cities today.

Wooplr

Wooplr is a social discovery platform where users share and discover products. It combines social media with e-commerce, creating a unique shopping experience. Naveen’s investment focused on supporting platforms that bridge the social media and commerce gap.

Springboard

Springboard is an online learning platform that offers mentoring-based courses on various subjects. Its main purpose is to help people develop their careers. Tewari supports this platform because he believes in education and skill development.

Indus OS

Indus OS is a mobile operating system that delivers regional language support and helps bridge the language gap for non-English users. Tewari backs this startup because he’s interested in technology that democratizes access to digital tools for the underserved.

InMobi | Indian Mobile Advertising Tech Company | Company Profile

InMobi was founded in 2007(as mKhoj) by Naveen Tiwari, Mohit Saxena, Amit Gupta and Abhay Singhal in Bengaluru. Know more about its company profile, etc.

StartupTalkySarika Anand

Naveen Tewari - Controversies

InMobi's Location Tracking Controversy

In 2020, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) fined InMobi for tracking user locations without consent. Google's fine, which amounted to $950,000, was much smaller, at $2.7 billion for a similar issue. However, Naveen Tewari cleared the air and said that the violation was not deliberate but a software glitch. He also stressed that InMobi took the initiative to report the problem to the FTC and has proactively rectified the mistake.

Tewari pointed out that Google’s fine resulted from longstanding issues, while InMobi’s was a one-off, unintentional oversight. InMobi’s speedy disclosure of the glitch and willingness to do so openly stood out as a reflection of the company’s integrity and proactive attitude toward privacy regulations.

Naveen Tewari - Awards and Recognitions

Naveen Tewari has received many distinguished honors and accolades for his exemplary leadership in the technology and entrepreneurship eras. As a tending entrepreneur, the Prime Minister, who honored him with India's Future Leaders Award in 2015, shook hands with Naveen. That same year, Fortune included him on the 40 Under 40 list, which described him as one of the most potent and respected businesspeople.  

Naveen was awarded the Pathbreaker of the Year award for revolutionizing the industry. He received the Forbes India Leadership Award for Best Startup earlier, further proving his entrepreneurial ability. His work within the technology field was so revolutionary that it was one of the world's 100 Most Creative People, a testimony to his global influence.

In 2013, Naveen won the 'Distinguished Alumnus' award for Entrepreneurship Excellence at IIT Kanpur. Also, in 2013, the Pathbreaker of the Year was brought to him by the Narendra Modi government, which greatly respected him. 2013 had him shipping along as the seventh most important man on Business Insider's Mobile Power List and 2012 at the second. In 2013, he was also named by The Drum's Mobile Top 50, which denotes his international eminence in mobile technologies.

Naveen Tewari - Quotes

FAQs

Who is Naveen Tewari?

Naveen Tewari is the founder and CEO of InMobi, a global mobile advertising technology company.

What is Naveen Tewari education?

Naveen Tewari is an IIT Kanpur graduate and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

What is Naveen Tewari net worth?

Naveen Tewari's net worth is $202.56 million.