Priya M. Nair: From corporate leadership to deep-tech entrepreneurship

Priya M. Nair's transition from corporate leadership to deep-tech entrepreneurship was spurred by a health scare and personal reflection during the COVID-19 pandemic. After years in the UAE Air Force, strategy and growth roles at an American engineering company, Priya faced a health challenge that led her to reconsider her life's purpose.

This introspection prompted her to seek a way to make a significant impact, ultimately guiding her toward entrepreneurship where her skills in leadership, strategy, communication, and creativity could be applied.

Throughout her journey, fundraising emerged as the primary challenge, particularly in convincing investors and the market that a female, non-technical founder leading a deep-tech company is not a disadvantage. Her perseverance paid off when ZWAG AI recently closed a pre-seed round, with networking and referrals playing a crucial role in overcoming initial skepticism.

In addressing linguistic bias in artificial intelligence, ZWAG AI's Mātṛ model stands out. Co-founded by Priya and Nipuna Abeykoon, Mātṛ focuses on mitigating bias in AI models that predominantly train on English and a few widely used languages. Unlike conventional approaches, Mātṛ identifies where languages diverge and adjusts AI interpretations in real-time without needing to retrain existing models.

This innovation proves particularly beneficial in languages with rich cultural nuances, such as Japanese, legal documents in Turkish or Malayalam, and witnesses' cautious language in Malayalam. By preserving these linguistic details, Mātṛ ensures AI systems interpret and respond accurately, maintaining the original tone and intent.

The UAE, known for its linguistic diversity, holds a unique position in fostering responsible and inclusive AI development. With so many languages and cultures under one roof, the UAE can serve as a hub for a Centre of Excellence for linguistic sovereignty. Such a center would involve native speakers and translators from various languages working together on AI data and decision-making, acknowledging that linguistic accuracy cannot be solely reliant on English assumptions.

This initiative would not only empower digital inclusion for local communities but also contribute to democratizing AI worldwide, aligning with the UAE's name. Through strategic clarity, disciplined execution, and continuous learning, Priya emphasizes that aspiring women entrepreneurs must prepare thoroughly, question conventional wisdom, and envision global impacts from the start.

Her journey of three failures before success underscores the importance of resilience, strong team dynamics, and meaningful partnerships. Combining commercial ambition with social responsibility, Priya envisions a future where businesses are both competitive and consequential.