Shankar Narayanan

Shankar Narayanan is a serial entrepreneur, AI fintech pioneer, and growth leader based in Singapore, with over two decades of experience in building technology-first businesses. LinkedIn+2MMA / Marketing + Media Alliance+2

He is best known as a Co-Founder and former COO of Active Intelligence Pte Ltd (Active.ai), a conversational-AI fintech platform that enables banks and financial institutions to engage customers through messaging, voice, and chat by combining natural language processing, machine learning, and predictive analytics. Wikipedia+2StartupTalky+2 Active.ai was co-founded in 2016 and has built proprietary AI engines — notably Triniti and Morfeus — for scalable, multichannel customer engagement. StartupTalky

Prior to Active.ai, Shankar founded or co-founded several other technology companies, including Cazh, a payments company, and Fastacash, a peer-to-peer value transfer platform via social networks. YourStory.com+1 His entrepreneurial journey spans payments, mobile, and AI, building business models that scale across markets and leverage emerging technologies.

He currently holds a senior leadership role at Gupshup Inc (Head of APAC), following the acquisition of Active.ai by Gupshup. MMA / Marketing + Media Alliance In this capacity, Shankar oversees growth across the Asia-Pacific region, driving the adoption of conversational and AI-first engagement solutions in financial services.

Shankar’s background is diverse: he began his professional life in 3D computer animation in India, before pivoting into entrepreneurship and fintech in Singapore, demonstrating an ability to bridge creative, technical, and business domains. MMA / Marketing + Media Alliance

He holds a credible track record as an angel investor, supporting early-stage companies across fintech, edtech, and retail. Tracxn His investments reflect his deep conviction in technology-driven transformation and customer-centric digital solutions.

Shankar is also a recognized industry voice: he speaks frequently on AI in marketing and fintech, and is featured in forums like the Marketing + Media Alliance. MMA / Marketing + Media Alliance His strategic vision, technical acumen, and operational leadership make him a powerful force in shaping the future of conversational finance and customer engagement in Asia.