Ashwin is AVOW’s Co-Founder and CRO. His focus is on building the teams and technology that drive global app growth, specifically by helping brands like Amazon, Swiggy, Tripledot Studios, Dream Games, and Funvent Studios scale through mobile OEM advertising.
Over the last eight years, Ashwin and his team have built AVOW into a global leader in the mobile ecosystem. Currently, he is focused on expanding AVOW’s footprint and scaling operations across Europe and APAC.
Prior to AVOW, Ashwin spent a decade at InMobi and Infosys, helping brands like King.com, Amazon, and Uber find their footing in new markets. Whether it’s growth hacking, monetisation, or GTM strategy, Ashwin is passionate about helping mobile companies to reach the next level of hyper-growth.
In your own words, what’s your role in the app business right now?
My role in today’s app business ecosystem is to ensure advertisers recognise mobile OEMs as an essential part of their marketing mix. I collaborate with our global sales and customer strategy teams to help every advertiser understand, test, and successfully scale within the mobile OEM ecosystem.
How did you end up working in apps?
I entered the mobile industry when the app stores were getting started, and I’ve had a front-row seat to the industry’s rapid evolution ever since. My career actually began in the early days of mobile marketing, selling SMS campaigns, which gave me a foundational understanding of the ecosystem before it transitioned into the app-centric world we have today.
What are you most excited about in apps right now?
Right now, I’m captivated by how AI is accelerating development cycles. Specifically, ‘vibe coding’ allows people to bring their app ideas to life almost instantly. This shift from technical implementation to pure creativity will lead to a massive explosion of new talent and innovation in the app space.
Is there anyone you’d like to shout out to who has influenced your journey in the app industry?
A huge shout-out to my past and present colleagues. One of the best parts about this industry is how often paths cross; it’s a remarkably small circle where you truly do ‘meet’ everyone at least twice. The app world has a beautiful way of looping back on itself. I’ve experienced this first-hand throughout my career.
Someone you mentor today might be the partner on a global deal five years later. Seeing the ‘different hats’ people wear over time has turned former managers into peers and teammates into key stakeholders. It’s taught me that every interaction is more than just a meeting; it’s a long-term investment in the future and creating a mobile village that I am proud to be part of.
What’s in your app tech stack?
My daily stack is built around our custom in-house tools, which are tailored to our team’s workflow. Beyond that, I’m a big believer in staying curious. I keep my pulse on the industry through a steady stream of tech podcasts, like the one from Lex Fridman, as well as mobile dev blogs and Reddit. It’s where the real, unvarnished conversations happen, and it keeps me grounded in what’s actually moving the needle for developers.
What do you like most about working in apps?
The best part of the job is the sheer challenge of differentiation. It’s a very crowded market, and I enjoy the constant work of navigating industry shifts to help brands stand out.
Right now, I love the noise mobile OEMs are making. Who would have known a few years ago that ‘hardware guys’ like Xiaomi and their peers would pivot into software and go head-to-head with the massive ad giants? Seeing them move that fast and disrupt the status quo is what makes this industry so addictive. It’s a crowded market, but watching these players shake things up ensures no two days are ever the same.
What one thing would you change about the app industry?
The constant fear-mongering about apps going obsolete, UA dying in its current state, and regulatory changes for apps.
The greatest opportunity for apps in the coming years will be the differentiation and the deep integration of AI across every facet of the app experience. We’re seeing a shift where niche apps are being challenged by ‘super-apps’ and general AI platforms like Gemini. For example, Google Translate has evolved from a simple dictionary into a structured language tutor.
If you weren’t working in apps what would you be doing?
I would most likely be a business owner in the manufacturing space. My passion lies in building and scaling companies, and I’ve always been intrigued by the unique challenges of the manufacturing world.
iOS or Android?
Android, always.
What apps have been most useful to you over the last year?
Gemini, YouTube, Strava, Google Maps.
What’s on your Spotify playlist?
I’m a YouTube Music person through and through. My go-to rotation is a blend of Tamil tracks by A. R. Rahman and Ani, and, since I am based in Berlin, naturally, house music.
Any TV show recommendations?
Curb Your Enthusiasm — if you haven’t seen it yet, you’re missing out on something that is, as Larry David would say, pretty, pretty good.
Is there anything else we should know about you?
I’m a frequent traveler, and I like the ‘ebbs and flows’ of navigating new cities just as much as I like the app industry. Whether I’m meeting teams in different hemispheres or exploring a new culture, I enjoy the constant change and the opportunity to see how different markets interact with technology in their own unique ways.
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