MarTech Interview with Abhay Singhal, Co-Founder @ InMobi & CEO – InMobi Advertising

What will redefine the A to Z of mobile advertising as adtech and digital advertising trends change in the future? Abhay Singhal, Co-Founder at InMobi & CEO, InMobi Advertising shares his perspectives:

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Tell us about your time in tech, Abhay…

I earned my bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in 2001. I’ve been an entrepreneur since graduating; co-founding TeN in 2001 and in 2007 I joined Naveen Tewari, Piyush Shah and Mohit Saxena to co-found InMobi. We’ve grown exponentially since those early days of the first smartphones, becoming India’s first tech unicorn and now enable brands to reach over 1.3 billion people in more than 190 countries.

Today, we have two distinct offerings:

• InMobi Advertising is a leading global platform connecting advertisers and publishers with their mobile audiences. We help them drive customer growth by helping businesses understand, engage, and acquire consumers effectively. For marketers, InMobi Advertising offers data-driven media solutions, powered by advanced analytics to create impactful ad experiences. For publishers, we provide a comprehensive suite of tools for monetization, consent management, and user engagement that help fuel app business growth.
• Glance, a technology company pioneering the future of personalized shopping through AI-Enhanced Creative Commerce. Its flagship product, Glance AI, transforms style discovery by empowering users to visualize and express their unique aesthetic across mobile and TV screens. By merging creativity with commerce, Glance delivers a seamless, intuitive experience that places the individual — not the product — at the center. Glance is redefining how people discover, personalize, and purchase fashion in a connected, visual-first world.

What does a day at work look like for you as CEO at InMobi Advertising?

I like to start my day with some quiet reflections—on product, people, growth. Are we solving the right problems? Are we being bold enough?

Then I have my 1:1s with my leaders and discuss our most pressing problems. We’ve found that these conversations, thanks to their regularly and candid nature, end up being some of the most productive catch-ups. When necessary, I drop into product discussions, monetization reviews, or creative brainstorms. I enjoy building with teams. It keeps me close to the pulse of what we’re making.

I also carve out time every day to learn something new. This is non-negotiable. Especially now, with AI, the ability to dive deep into topics I once found inaccessible has changed everything. I’m learning faster, asking better questions, and it’s amazing that I don’t need to wait for an “expert” to explain things to me.

On the more relaxed days, I also try to check in with my colleagues and have fun conversations that go beyond work before checking out.

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We’d love to hear from you about some of InMobi’s latest innovations and near future plans?

Last year, we secured $100 million in funding to enhance our AI capabilities, focusing on generative AI to revolutionize advertising solutions. Our subsidiary, Glance, is integrating AI to deliver personalized content experiences and on the precipice of launching on a wider basis in North America and Europe. Our goal is to be a global leader in AI-driven advertising, offering unparalleled value to our clients and users worldwide

How is the mobile marketing and mobile monetization game changing today?

Mobile marketing and monetization are rapidly evolving with AI-driven personalization, privacy regulations, and new ad formats. AI enables hyper-targeted campaigns, maximizing engagement and ROI. However, privacy shifts—like Apple’s ATT and Google’s Privacy Sandbox—demand innovative, consent-driven strategies. Subscription models and in-app purchases are growing as ad-based revenue faces challenges. Brands must prioritize first-party data, optimize user experience, and leverage emerging platforms like AR and Web3. Connecting with consumers is no longer just about acquisition—it’s about retention, seamless experiences, and maximizing lifetime value in a privacy-first digital economy.

What should mobile marketers focus on more in 2025 to drive ROI?

Mobile marketers must prioritize first-party data, AI-driven personalization, and seamless user experiences to drive ROI. With stricter privacy regulations, leveraging owned data for predictive analytics and audience segmentation is crucial. AI-powered automation will enhance ad targeting, creative optimization, and customer journeys. Subscription models, in-app purchases, and rewarded ads will become more dominant as ad monetization shifts. Marketers should focus on retention, not just acquisition, using loyalty programs and engagement strategies. Emerging channels like AR, social commerce, and super apps will offer new monetization opportunities. Success will hinge on balancing personalization with privacy in a cookieless world.

A few thoughts on AI and the future of mobile marketing

AI is revolutionizing mobile marketing, making it more data-driven, personalized, and efficient. Predictive analytics and machine learning enable hyper-targeted campaigns, optimizing user acquisition and retention. Generative AI is reshaping content creation, automating ad copy, visuals, and chatbots for real-time engagement. As privacy regulations evolve, AI-driven contextual advertising and first-party data strategies will replace outdated tracking methods. Additionally, AI enhances automation, reducing costs while maximizing ROI. The future of mobile marketing will be AI-first, focusing on dynamic personalization, voice and visual search, and immersive experiences like AR. Marketers who embrace AI will lead in engagement, efficiency, and monetization.

A quick shout out to five top tech and marketing innovators

• Rory Sutherland – for reminding us that human behavior often defies logic, and the real magic in marketing lies in psychology, not spreadsheets.
• Brian Chesky – for showing us how product design, brand, and technology can blend seamlessly to reimagine trust and belonging at a global scale.
• Reed Hastings – for scaling storytelling through tech, data, and intuition—turning a DVD rental company into a global cultural powerhouse.
• Kirthiga Reddy – for bringing a global, human lens to technology and marketing, while breaking barriers and building communities.
• Sundar Pichai – for quietly but radically shaping the future of AI, access, and ambient computing—with humility and purpose.

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