Key Takeaways
- Nav Kumar has a strong background in digital transformation, starting at Oracle in 2004 and later leading new projects at Lloyds Banking Group and Nationwide.
- Kumar co-founded Natyam.co.uk (online retail) and Metaphy Labs (AI experiences) and launched Astroware AI to help businesses use AI.
- In 2024, he co-founded Ungate, a decentralized AI platform focused on Swarm Intelligence for better scalability, efficiency, and privacy.
Who Is Nav Kumar?
Nav Kumar is an entrepreneur who focuses on AI. He is the CEO and co-founder of Ungate, a decentralized AI-OS built on Swarm Intelligence. He earned his BE in Information Technology from Bharathiar University in 2004 and later took courses in Digital Product Management at General Assembly and Marketing Strategies at GrowthX.
Early Career at Oracle
Nav Kumar started his career at Oracle in June 2004 as a senior consultant, providing digital consulting to clients in various industries. He worked on full-stack development, digital design, and product management. Over time, he helped companies update their technology systems.
In November 2011, Kumar was promoted to principal consultant. His new role focused on digital changes and enterprise design. He helped create scalable digital solutions and introduced new technologies for clients around the world.
Leadership Roles in Digital Transformation
In June 2013, Kumar became a Digital Architect at Oracle, leading major technology projects for large companies. His skills in digital strategy and design made him a key leader in digital upgrades.
In February 2014, he was promoted to head of digital products, managing large digital projects. He played a major role in important programs like the People Transformation Programme at Tesco, the NewVo Transformation Programme at Vodafone, and other digital projects at Barclaycard, National Grid, and Unisys.
Transition to Banking and Fintech
In June 2018, Kumar joined Lloyds Banking Group as an innovation lead in the Transaction Banking division. In this role, he created product strategies for banking marketplaces and explored the use of blockchain technology in financial services. His focus was on using new technologies to improve banking products and services.
In October 2019, he moved to Nationwide for Business as head of product discovery. There, he focused on product strategy, market research, and developing plans for new digital solutions for business banking customers.
Entrepreneurial Ventures and E-Commerce
In November 2020, Kumar started Natyam.co.uk, an online store to bring Indian brands to the UK market. This business showed his skill in finding new market opportunities and creating digital companies focused on customers.
Product Director at LBG
At the same time, he took on a new role at Lloyds Banking Group as a product director in December 2020. In this role, he led the creation of business insights products to help companies make decisions based on data. From March 2021 to March 2022, he also worked as a product consultant at Throdle Inc., a startup in the AutoTech field. He helped define the product strategy and guided teams on Lean Startup methods.
Co-founding Metaphy Labs
In March 2022, Kumar co-founded Metaphy Labs, a business-to-business startup focused on AI and the metaverse. As Chief Product Officer, he led product development, helping businesses explore AI-powered virtual experiences until February 2024.
Launch of Astroware AI
In August 2023, Kumar started Astroware AI, a consultancy that helped businesses use AI through training and testing. He led the company until May 2024, assisting businesses to change through AI.
Advisory and Mentorship Roles
In early 2024, Kumar took on advisory and mentorship roles. He became a mentor at AI Forge and Outlier Ventures, helping early-stage AI and blockchain startups. He also joined the founding team of BananaSZN and became head of partnerships at Crypto Mondays London. In April 2024, he became a strategic advisor at FigFinder AI Limited, advising on AI business strategies.
Co-Founding Ungate
In June 2024, Kumar co-founded Ungate, a decentralized AI platform focused on changing how AI works using distributed networks and Swarm Intelligence. As CEO, he is leading the development of an AI operating system (AI-OS) that focuses on decentralization and teamwork in AI.
His work at Ungate aims to challenge traditional AI systems by offering a decentralized approach that improves scalability, efficiency, and privacy. Under his leadership, the platform is working to lead AI-powered innovation.
Blockchain and AI
In an interview on CoinGeek’s Youtube channel, Nav Kumar, co-founder of Ungate, and Richard Boase from BSV Mint talked about how blockchain and AI can work together. As presenters of the AI Forge masterclass, they shared real examples of how blockchain can make AI more secure, reliable, and efficient. They explained how these technologies can be used for automation, digital identity, and safer transactions.
Focus on Blockchain and DeFi
Kumar’s work with blockchain goes further than finance. His experience in fintech and AI has connected him with decentralized finance (DeFi) projects, where blockchain is changing how financial systems work.
At Ungate, he is working with decentralized systems to help improve DeFi. His AI solutions aim to make smart contracts more efficient and improve liquidity protocols, supporting the growth of blockchain-based financial tools.
Industry Impact and Future Plans
With experience in digital transformation, banking, AI, blockchain, and product strategy, Kumar is known for his work in technology. He has contributed to many fields, including finance, e-commerce, AI, and decentralized systems.
Looking ahead, he is focused on advancing decentralized AI, helping bring AI into connected networks. Through his role at Ungate and his advisory work, he aims to help shape the future of AI with a focus on teamwork, privacy, and growth.
Final Thoughts
Nav Kumar has built a career in digital transformation, AI, blockchain, and fintech. He has led big tech projects and started several businesses. As CEO of Ungate, he is working on decentralized AI to make it more scalable, private, and collaborative. His work is helping shape the future of AI and blockchain.
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