Tell Us About Yourself And Singulr AI
My name is Shiv Agarwal, and I’m the Co-Founder and CEO of Singulr AI. I’ve spent ~25 years working in cloud, networking, and security, focusing on how large enterprises operate and scale infrastructure.
Earlier in my career, I co-founded Arkin, a data centre security and operations platform, which was later acquired by VMware, where I led part of the network security business.
One consistent pattern I’ve seen is that every major technology shift moves faster than an organisation’s ability to understand and control it.
We are seeing that same pattern now with AI, just at a much faster pace. That’s what led me to start Singulr AI in 2023.
At Singulr AI, we enable companies to achieve transformation with AI by turning intent into control, giving them the power to move fast without losing grip on how their AI behaves. Agent behaviour quickly drifts from its original intent, creating a massive gap between governance intent and runtime reality.
Today’s runtime security layer in enterprises is fragmented and not able to keep pace with the agentic speed. This exposes enterprises to serious business risks as agent adoption skyrockets. Singulr bridges this gap with its unified control plane, helping enterprises ensure AI is operating as intended. In short, we help enterprises take control of their AI.
What Interests You Most About The AI Industry In 2026?
What interests me most is how quickly AI has become part of core business operations. It’s no longer experimental; it’s being embedded directly into how companies operate day to day.
What makes this time interesting is the gap between how fast AI is being adopted and how well it is understood. Many organisations still don’t have a clear picture of what forms of AI are running or how it is interacting with their data and systems.
That gap creates both opportunity and risk. The companies that figure out how to operate AI with clarity and control, without slowing innovation, will define the next phase of this industry.
What Do You Hope To See From AI45 Entrants In 2026?
I would like to see entrants focus not just on innovation, but on how their solutions can be deployed in real-world environments where reliability and trust actually matter. AI is being adopted very quickly, and with that comes new risks that many organisations are still learning how to manage.
The most compelling companies will be those that think about security, governance, and trust from the beginning, not as afterthoughts. It’s not just about building technological solutions that work, but building something that organisations can rely on and scale safely.
What Advice Would You Give To Companies Entering AI45 This Year?
My advice would be to stay grounded in the problem you are solving and focus on delivering real value.
There’s a lot of noise in AI right now, and it’s easy to get pulled into trends instead of staying focused on real problems.
I would also emphasise the importance of staying close to your customers and being willing to adapt as you learn. The companies that succeed are those that keep learning from real-world use and adjust quickly.
What Do You Think Entrants Can Do To Stand Out From The Competition?
I think it comes down to clarity and execution. Many companies can describe a vision, but fewer can clearly show what their product does and the value it delivers in practice.
If you can clearly show how your product works, the problem it solves, and the outcomes it drives, you’re already ahead of most. In a crowded space, credibility and consistency matter more than bold claims.
What Is Your Number One Piece Of Advice To Aspiring Entrepreneurs?
Stay close to your customers. Meet them where they are. Solve an immediate problem for them. Be a partner to them. That will help build trust. Business and contracts will follow.
