Navin Madhavan Profile picture
VP & GM @InMobi, Delivering growth to advertisers. Beware, I tweet a lot about sports - high on Arsenal, Federer, Cricket. Board game geek. Views personal.
May 1, 2021 4 tweets 1 min read
Ok, by the magic of Co-Win, found a slot for vaccination tomorrow in Bangalore. Now to see actual results on availability tomorrow.

Pro-Tip, please search by district: BBMP if you are looking for a slot and not by Pincode. Many slots seem to be open. The disappointment of calling so many numbers that don't pick and having to say No leads to people endlessly this last week has been somewhat offset by the fact that I now know at least 5 people who booked slots after I sent out this message to them, Small joys :).
Apr 29, 2021 4 tweets 2 min read
If you own an app that monetizes through ads, we have a suggestion: Allocate inventory to raise awareness with your audience about how they can contribute to causes.

We have made it easy for you. Here are some creatives in standard sizes to get started.
inmo.bi/3nuCD1Q If you are wondering about causes to donate, highly recommend taking users to this page by @TheProductfolks which lets them choose from all options.
donate.indiacovidresources.in

You can see how large apps have already done this here.
Dec 28, 2020 34 tweets 8 min read
One last ad-tech thread to wrap up 2020. The Google anti-trust trial notes, at 130 pages make for an interesting read. Slightly surprised at how some of the wildest speculations may have turned out to be very conservative against what was actually happening.🧵 US regulators compare an ad exchange to the stock markets & why Google has an unfair advantage. In the world of advertising, Google plays the role of the facilitator (SSP) to the seller (publishers), marketplace (exchange) and an intermediary(DSP) to the buyer (advertisers) (1/n)
Oct 1, 2020 22 tweets 6 min read
Can't believe I am doing a thread on Google and changes in the playstore "rules" almost a month after I did one on Apple! A lot has already been written and spoken about the "Google tax" by folks across media and tech, nonetheless my notes and thoughts on the topic 🧵 Google announced changes in their billing policy to enforce apps selling digital goods to only use Google Play billing services to be more specific. In that change, they also included new definitions of digital goods - Video, Music, Fitness classes, Dating in that list.(1/n)
Sep 28, 2020 15 tweets 5 min read
Important thread & read from @TheKenWeb today on why brands need to understand the implications of where their ad money goes and what it funds. While I agree with the need, a few reasons why I think this isn't happening widely (and difficult to implement) 🧵 Here is how ad planning at brands actually works (I think at least). Brand Manager decides the objective of the campaign (awareness, reach etc) and budget available. Communicates this to their media team (if one exists) or agency to formulate a media plan to deploy funds (1/n)
Sep 18, 2020 4 tweets 2 min read
Truly well done by Dream11. Once they got the title sponsorship, seemingly went out of the way to ensure that they hurt competition or maybe bring them to the same playing field. Not a fan of what has happened because obviously, there are challenges to Google's monoploy on the app store, biased policies, and their power in the app ecosystem. @nixxin's thread is a great summary.

Aug 26, 2020 24 tweets 6 min read
Apple as the big bad bully has been the theme recently for News publishers, App developers etc, but one industry that is also going to go through this, but little has been spoken about: Advertising. iOS 14 has some interesting changes to say the least. 🧵(1/n) Before I start - obviously, these are my own views, not that of my employer. I have this perspective because I earn a salary by selling ads & hence have a bone to pick in this battle. But, this is not in any way representative of an official view or a stance.(2/n)
Aug 24, 2020 10 tweets 3 min read
Ok, maybe it's time to try this cool workation thing out. Anyone around here who has tried this for a week near Bangalore - Coorg, Chikmaglur, Sakleshpur? Any recommendations? Update: Lot of the fancier resorts offering very nice packages (7 nights for 4), reliable wifi, but food inclusive packages will blow your budgets. Bungalows/Homestays cheaper, but wifi will be a pain. So yeah - not as cheap or straightforward. But, will likely give it a try :).
Aug 19, 2020 4 tweets 1 min read
The pharma delivery consolidation starts - One gets acquired by Reliance and everyone else runs for cover :). Interesting fact.
Netmeds - acquired for a valuation of roughly $150-170M. (If you are wondering, I will save you a search they raised $99M in funding)

The other consolidated entity from competitors still aspiring for a combined valuation of $1.2B says something :)
Aug 14, 2020 18 tweets 5 min read
Logged into a fascinating session on product management/thinking by @kunalb11 and @BrianNorgard today. Caveat: I am not a PM, logged in partly to just see what the session experience was going to be like. If it isn't already obvious, absolutely loved it. Some nuggets below (1/n) One of the fundamental tenets of Tinder was to change the way dating was being looked at (filling forms, rules, criteria, etc), rewire it as Entertainment and make it a Game-like experience where users enjoyed "Leveling Up" (Boosts, Super-likes) (2/n)
Aug 6, 2020 11 tweets 4 min read
Yesterday, @Arsenal announced redundancies in non-playing staff due to ongoing revenue pressures linked to Covid-19 and have been receiving a lot of flak from fans and media. Sports=Business is my favourite topic, hence, a contrarian view 🙃 (1/n)

arsenal.com/news/club-upda… Of course, this is a deviation from the #Classenal legacy that Wenger built and I am not a fan of this either, but is the backlash too much? Are there parallels we can draw to professionally run organizations in this move? I think so at least. (2/n)
Jun 20, 2020 17 tweets 4 min read
Reminded me of analogies many between sports and organizations. One that gets called out often is Managers acting as coaches and has always been very fascinating for me, maybe because it helps me keep my job interesting :), so here’s a thread nobody asked for (1/n) As a manager or a coach, you put out a plan/vision and spend time with your team to articulate it and give them the right tools to go after it (Feedback, Training, Upskilling). When they are out there on the field/market this is what determines results (2/n)
Jan 2, 2020 8 tweets 3 min read
The last decade was fun for me on many counts, going to jump on the bandwagon and talk about it here I guess :).

At the start of the decade I was one of the younger kids in a B school, enamoured by the exit options consulting jobs had to offer rather than the job itself(1/n) As luck would have it, my first job ever was in a place I dreaded-banking.Spent 3 years evaluating & selling FX options & rate swaps at an investment bank. Realising that banking wasn’t my happy place and left my bosses surprised with my choice to exit to an unheard startup (2/n)
Sep 2, 2019 23 tweets 10 min read
A thread on #BoardGames – a hobby/rabbit hole which I have been falling deeper and deeper into over the last 18 months. Always had an interest and played the introductory ones (aka gateway) like Catan, Pandemic, Splendor & Ticket to Ride. Read on for a sneak peek (1/n) Image The themes span Space, Sci-Fi, Ice Age, Ancient Roman/Incan era, Vikings,industrial revolution and of course, modern geo-politcs. You would be amazed at how each of these can come to life on a table-top with people going absolutely gaga over it. (2/n)
Aug 9, 2019 4 tweets 2 min read
After a long time a transfer window that has really left Arsenal fans excited. If you told me at the start that we will sign a center back, a left back , a replacement for Ramsey and a winger, I would have taken it with glee. We actually did better than that at the end. The names, the quality of talent and age is what really signals the change of intent to me. Knowing the problems that need to be fixed and going all out to get them plugged - really amazing. Make as much jokes as you want about the instalments and BS, we don’t really care.
Dec 29, 2018 4 tweets 1 min read
That lasted for long. Setting the tone for a cracker of a game clearly. #LIVARS Do we have a thing called a defence any more? Pathetic
Dec 21, 2018 6 tweets 2 min read
Man the Bangalore airport is such a fun place to be in now. Especially the @IndiGo6E counters. They are possibly putting up the worst show they possibly can. Service staff instructed to not fast track check in lines. Refusal to even remotely assist or try helping paying customers Move ahead in line only if your fellow passengers agree. Default answer as soon as you reach the counter “Sir, please proceed to the reservation counter, they will help you with the next flight”. The check in counters are so understaffed it’s not funny.
Dec 2, 2018 8 tweets 2 min read
The lineup leaves me slightly worried for #NLD. Surprising to see Ozil out once again, Ramsey may have been necessary to bring in some creativity. But, definitely going to be a crazy match #COYG YESSSS!!! Worry slightly eased within minutes. Now hoping we keep on to this early momentum and lock them down
Jun 27, 2018 4 tweets 1 min read
Man, Germany don’t seem to really want to get this done do they? Hardly any chances created, no urgency or creativity so far Do Germany know they are heading out of the World Cup as things stand?
Feb 10, 2018 4 tweets 2 min read
Ummm...what’s up with the fully crazy dream attacking line up from Arsenal? Definitely in full chill mode at the moment #TOTARS Desperately need some inspiration and creativity to be induced into the game. Maybe being cautious because of the terrible away record, playing a wait and watch game so far.
Oct 11, 2017 8 tweets 2 min read
Not sure what has happened with #ORR in Bangalore in the last month, but traffic has just become terrible at all times in the morning. Have tried leaving at all times between 7.45 and 9 , a distance of 5 km odd now takes me 1 hour to cover on most days, more on a few days !