InMobi Founders Buy Back a $250 Million Stake from SoftBank; Company Valued at Around $1 Billion
InMobi, a global leader in mobile advertising technology, has undergone a significant strategic development as its founding team executed a major buyback of shares from its long-time investor, SoftBank. This move forms part of a broader plan aimed at strengthening founder ownership and restructuring the company’s capital to align with its next phase of expansion.
The deal involved the founders repurchasing between 25% and 30% of the company’s shares, representing roughly a quarter to one-third of InMobi’s equity structure. As a result of the buyback, SoftBank’s ownership dropped sharply from around 35% before the transaction to an estimated 5% to 7% afterward. According to published valuations, SoftBank is expected to receive approximately $250 million from the deal, despite having previously invested between $200 million and $220 million in the company.
In parallel with the share acquisition, InMobi secured $350 million in new financing from global investment firms including Varde Partners, Elham Credit Partners, and SeaTown Holdings. The financing package was structured into two major tranches: a $200 million loan at the operating-company level and a $150 million loan at the holding-company level. Both tranches are secured against part of the founders’ shares, reflecting investor confidence in the company’s ability to strengthen future revenue streams.
Under the leadership of founder and CEO Naveen Tewari, InMobi continues to develop an integrated suite of mobile advertising solutions. Its offerings include display advertising, native advertising, and app-install campaigns, supported by advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies designed to improve targeting accuracy and overall campaign performance.
InMobi maintains a strong international presence, operating in more than 165 countries, and has established key hubs in Singapore, where its global headquarters are located, and San Francisco, which remains a central base for its North American operations. The company supports thousands of global brands in strengthening their digital marketing strategies, improving user acquisition, and managing advertising data across multiple platforms.
Notably, InMobi previously secured a $100 million debt financing round from MARS Growth Capital, a joint venture between MUFG and Liquidity Group. This funding was directed toward expanding the company’s artificial intelligence capabilities and enhancing its technological infrastructure.
The recent buyback aligns with a pattern of similar transactions among SoftBank-backed companies. In July, Peyush Bansal, founder and CEO of Lenskart, increased his stake through a series of secondary share purchases, with SoftBank participating in those transactions as well. This trend reflects a broader shift toward founders reclaiming greater equity involvement as their companies prepare for expansion milestones such as potential public listings.
In related market news, Bareback Media announced that it has secured funding from a diverse group of investors, some of whom may be directly or indirectly associated with competing technology and media entities. However, the company emphasized that this will not affect its editorial independence and has published its investor list publicly to reinforce its commitment to transparency.
Taken together, these developments indicate a pivotal transition for InMobi. The combination of share restructuring, substantial new funding, and continued investment in AI-driven technology positions the company to strengthen its competitive stance in the global digital advertising market. These steps also pave the way for potential future milestones, including expanded services and a possible initial public offering.
