Reference document

Anil Mathews
Fact Sheet

Entrepreneur and author. Founder of Near Intelligence and Alphabyte. This page is a neutral reference designed for editorial, research, and background use.

Last updated: January 2026

Verified coverage on Press →

Overview

Anil Mathews builds technology businesses focused on clarity, execution, and measurable outcomes. He is the founder of Near Intelligence, which he led from an early data experiment through global expansion and a public listing on Nasdaq at an approximately $1 billion valuation, and the founder and CEO of Alphabyte, a venture studio that builds and invests in focused software products.

Snapshot

Founder and former CEO of Near Intelligence, a data intelligence company
Led Near through expansion across Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America
Guided Near to a Nasdaq listing in 2023 at an approximate $1 billion valuation
Raised $235 million across equity and debt, backed by marquee investors including Sequoia Capital, JP Morgan, and Cisco
Founder and CEO of Alphabyte, a venture studio that builds and invests in focused software products
Author of The Start Switch

Career Timeline

Netkode Solutions

Co-founder & CEO · Nov 1999 – Dec 2007

Co-founded and led Netkode, an enterprise software company focused on content and media provisioning systems. Built the company from its early stages and scaled the organization to more than 100 engineers.

Imere Tech

CEO · Jan 2008 – Oct 2012

Led Imere, a technology platform that could infer the geolocation of a device without relying on GPS. Oversaw product development and market execution, enabling practical location intelligence across mobile platforms and network operators.

Near Intelligence

Founder & CEO · Nov 2012 – Oct 2023

Founded Near Intelligence and led the company from an early data experiment into a global data intelligence platform. Under Mathews’ leadership, Near expanded operations across four continents, completed strategic acquisitions including Teemo (Paris) and UM (California), and raised $235 million across equity and debt from institutional investors including Sequoia Capital, JP Morgan, and Cisco.

Near Intelligence was listed on Nasdaq in 2023 following a public-market transaction that valued the company at approximately $1 billion.

Alphabyte

Founder & CEO · Jan 2024 – Present

Founded and leads Alphabyte, a venture studio that builds and invests in focused software products. Alphabyte works with small, disciplined teams to design systems that deliver clarity, speed, and measurable progress, applying AI where it creates clear operational leverage rather than complexity.

Writing

Anil Mathews is the author of The Start Switch, a book about momentum and execution. The Start Switch explores how individuals and teams move from intent to action, focusing on starting well, sustaining focus, and continuing to build when most efforts stall.

His writing examines incentives, attention, and the mechanics of progress, shaped by two decades of experience building technology companies.

Media and Verification

Verified interviews, public appearances, and third-party coverage are available at:

anilmathews.com/press →

Notes for Reference

Dates reflect publicly listed professional timelines
Descriptions are factual and non-promotional
This document is intended as a neutral reference for editorial, research, and background use

Anil Mathews Fact Sheet