Naveen Tewari is an Indian angel investor and two-time unicorn entrepreneur who has been instrumental in the development stage of over 30 startups, in addition to personally investing in numerous companies. Tewari is the founder of InMobi Group, which comprises multiple companies, including InMobi, Glance, and Roposo. InMobi was recognized as India’s first-ever unicorn start-up in 2011. A disruptor in the mobile marketing field, InMobi seeks to propel mobile-based marketing through algorithms that optimize consumer usage. InMobi also provides clients with real-time reporting and campaign management. 

In 2019, Tewari founded his second unicorn, Glance, an app that uses AI-powered software to create a personalized lock screen experience with news, entertainment, and sports. The app has over 250 million users worldwide and 115 million active daily users. Tewari is also a founding member and chairman of the United States-based Indian School Fund, a non-profit school fund focusing on increasing education in rural India. 

He also co-founded iSPIRIT, an organization focused on influencing government policies and advancing entrepreneurs’ accomplishments. His mission is to position India as a global focal point for cutting-edge technology. 

From March 2015 to March 2017, he served on the board of directors of Paytm, the largest e-commerce and online payment platform in India. He was also a global board member with the Mobile Marketing Association. 

Location

Originally from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, India, Tewari obtained a BTech in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in 2000. He began his career as a business analyst at McKinsey and Company in 2003. He then continued his studies and graduated with an MBA from the Harvard School of Business in 2005. While he was studying at Harvard, Tewari was awarded the Dean’s Award for his contribution to the school and for showing exceptional leadership skills. The Indian Institute of Technology awarded Naveen with a ‘Distinguished Alumnus Award’ in 2013 for his contribution to entrepreneurship. 

Significant Investments

Naveen Tewari has actively participated in investing in over 30 startups. He mostly makes investments during angel and seed investment rounds. He has invested in companies worldwide with a specific focus on the United States markets. Tewari’s investment focus is on disruptors within the information technology, mobile marketing, and e-commerce industries. 

In the past few years, Tewari has co-invested in many companies, such as $31 million in finance management software Bright Money, $700k in Flurn online teacher discovery program, and $2 million in Klub, an online marketplace for revenue-based funding. Some of Tewari’s other significant investments include NestAway, SlideRule, Mettl, Moneysights, Bombay Canteen, Zimmber, and Razorpay. 

Naveen Tewari in the News

In 2021, Forbes recognized him as one of the ‘Outstanding Start-Up Entrepreneurs’. He also received the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, a civilian award for outstanding contributions in the professional spheres of India. 

In January of 2024, Tewari was awarded the Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman award for bringing Indian start-ups into the global sector. Tewari has been featured in the media for numerous awards and honors, specifically for his contribution to the world of entrepreneurship and leadership.