About Nirav Desai
Nirav S. Desai is an entrepreneur, investor, and strategist who aims to fundamentally change how organizations source and implement innovative enterprise technology. Through his company, consulting, and support to several startups he brings efficiency to how organizations source, sell, implement, and invest in innovation.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Desai has advised corporations and agencies in the technology, health, manufacturing/logistics, and government sectors in how best to benefit from their own and others R&D investments. He led an initiative in a major consulting firm to establish a strategy to invest in and source technology from innovation economies across the nation. This resulted in a North American innovation index, founding of a 100+ person immersive technology practice(virtual reality, augmented reality, etc.) and numerous channel partnerships leading to win-wins between corporations, government, and start-ups.
He brings this experience to Moonbeam, Inc., which is disrupting corporate innovation and corporate venture capital using data science, artificial intelligence, and immersive technology. Additionally, he advises start-ups and consults with corporate clients working with innovation labs, government research centres, universities, and incubators and accelerators, to identify and embrace edge technologies.
He keeps on the cutting edge of enterprise technology through contributions to civil society. He mentors startups through TechStars Seattle, the TechStars/Amazon Alexa startup accelerators, and the University of Washington’s CoMotion Labs. He serves as an Innovation Co-Chair for the Pacific Northwest Economic Region with a focus on helping states, provinces, and municipalities embrace disruption and position for the future economy. And he helps connect the PNW immersive technology ecosystem through being in leadership in the Seattle Immersive Technology Association, Washington Technology Industry Association VR Council, and an active participant in XR Access.
Mr. Desai maintains connection with academia serving the University of Washington as an Affiliate Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and as a Civic Council member for the Jackson School of International Studies. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Computer Science and a B.A. in Mathematics and Philosophy.
Why I mentor
I am looking to build connections with the Portuguese innovation economy and help foster connections for companies to the U.S..