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Nirav Desai
CEO of Moonbeam and Affiliate Assistant Professor
Nirav S. Desai is the CEO and Co-Founder of Moonbeam, a company that focuses on enhancing corporate innovation through the use of metaverse, AI, and data science technologies.13 With offices in Seattle, Lisbon, and Christchurch, Moonbeam aims to streamline how corporations source, sell, implement, and invest in innovation.13
Professional Background
Desai has extensive experience in corporate innovation, corporate venture capital (CVC), and emerging technology initiatives across various sectors, including technology, health, manufacturing/logistics, and government.1 He has played a significant role in developing immersive technology practices, having helped a major consulting firm build a 100+ person team focused on virtual and augmented reality technologies.1
Education and Academic Involvement
Desai graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Computer Science and a B.A. in Mathematics and Philosophy.1 He maintains strong ties to academia, serving as an Affiliate Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington and as a Civic Council member for the Jackson School of International Studies.12
Entrepreneurial and Advisory Roles
As an entrepreneur, investor, and strategist, Desai is committed to addressing barriers in spatial and immersive computing.2 He actively mentors startups through programs such as TechStars Seattle, TechStars/Amazon Alexa, and Congregate startup accelerators, as well as the University of Washington's CoMotion Labs.1
Civic Engagement
Desai contributes to civil society by serving as an Innovation Co-Chair for the Pacific Northwest Economic Region, focusing on helping states, provinces, and municipalities embrace disruption and prepare for the future economy.1 He is also deeply involved in the XR Access community, working to ensure accessibility in the metaverse is prioritized.1
Through his work at Moonbeam and various other roles, Nirav S. Desai continues to be at the forefront of innovation, leveraging emerging technologies to drive efficiency and growth in corporate environments.
