InMobi Secures $100 Million Debt Funding to Develop AI-Based Consumer Apps

Adtech startup InMobi has raised $100 million in debt funding from Mars Growth Capital, a joint venture of MUFG and Liquidity Group. The fresh funding will allow InMobi to accelerate its advances in artificial intelligence (AI), both through organic growth and strategic acquisitions.

In an interview with CNBC-TV18, CEO Naveen Tewari stressed that the funds will primarily be used to improve the company’s AI-based consumer applications rather than infrastructure development.

Tewari emphasized that InMobi is focused on leveraging AI at the app level, stating, “A big part of this fundraising is to fundamentally improve our consumer app, all the consumer pieces that we need to have that are generative and AI-centric.”

Rather than engaging in an infrastructure race, InMobi intends to harness the transformative power of AI at the consumer level, delivering more personalized and intuitive experiences.

When asked about potential acquisitions that could support the company’s vision for AI, Tewari noted that the AI ​​market is still dominated by small but smart companies.

“There aren’t many big AI companies. The ones that exist are small but really smart. We don’t have any specific company in mind for acquisition right now, but we’re definitely looking for people with incredible skills,” he said.

InMobi’s strategy is to partner with startups with proven concepts and cutting-edge talent to accelerate the company’s technical growth in the coming years.

In addition to increasing its AI investments, InMobi is also gearing up for an IPO. Tewari revealed that both InMobi and Glance, its subsidiary, are being eyed for potential public listings. While InMobi’s IPO is expected soon, he mentioned that Glance is likely to go public in FY26.

In another development, GoKwik, an e-commerce solutions developer known for enhancing the shopping experience, has made a significant move by acquiring Return Prime, a global returns management app in the Shopify ecosystem.

The acquisition, valued at a multi-million dollar deal, is a mix of cash and equity to be spread over the next two years. This strategic deal will see GoKwik enter key international markets such as the UK, Europe and the US, where it aims to add over 10,000 new merchants over the next 6 to 12 months.

Chirag Taneja, Co-founder and CEO of GoKwik, highlighted the importance of addressing the growing problem of e-commerce returns. He noted, “I think returns are a very deep-rooted problem in e-commerce. It’s quite common. As e-commerce deepens, it will always be there, it will only get worse.” Taneja emphasized that the returns process plays a key role in driving customer loyalty and repeat business. By improving the post-purchase experience, GoKwik is focused on helping merchants optimize customer retention.

Return Prime serves 6,000 merchants in 50 countries and processes over $100 million in returns GMV annually. This global scale was a perfect fit for GoKwik’s mission to “democratize the shopping experience” and provide a seamless Amazon-like experience for non-Amazon retailers. “It had scale, it had a global presence, and it fit our solution set for democratizing the shopping experience,” Taneja added.

The acquisition is expected to increase the value of GoKwik by increasing both margins and profits.

Additionally, Vikas Choudhury, Founder, Playbook Partners, shared his insights on the successful first close of the firm’s maiden fund, which raised over $130 million from global investors across Europe, the US, the Middle East and India.

The fund, which has the potential to grow up to $250 million through a green shoe, is designed to support growth-stage, technology-enabled companies in expansive, high-potential markets. Playbook Partners aims to partner with companies operating in large addressable markets, providing strategic support and capital to fuel their next phase of growth.

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