Manish Kumar
Manish Kumar is the Chairperson of Mu Gamma Consultants, comprising a team of experts deeply interested in the sustainable social and economic development of India. He provides strategic guidance and technical support on environment, skill development, education and application of AI to these thematic areas across India, UAE and North America.
He has a Master in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School, a PhD in Institutional and Regulatory Economics of Public Private Partnerships from The George Washington University, and an Engineering degree from IIT(ISM) Dhanbad, India.
Dr. Kumar was a consultant to The World Bank Group from 2022 to mid-2025. Prior to that, he was the Managing Director and CEO of the National Skill Development Corporation, where he led the implementation of various skill development initiatives and programs in India, in collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including the government, the private sector, and the civil society.
He earlier worked as a Senior Institution Development Economist at The World Bank for over four years, where he contributed to the design and evaluation of institutional and regulatory frameworks for public-private partnerships in various sectors, such as water, energy, transport, and urban development.
January 31, 2026 Startup Bazaar Abu Dhabi 2026
PANEL | Owning the opportunity: How UAE startups can lead in the age of AI
As the global AI market accelerates toward trillions in value, UAE startups stand at the crossroads of innovation, capital, and strategic vision. The panel will explore how founders can leverage the nation’s forward-thinking policies, infrastructure, and global investor interest to capture a meaningful share of the AI economy.
Discussion points:
- Positioning UAE-based startups in the global AI value chain
- Turning government vision (UAE AI Strategy 2031) into entrepreneurial advantage
- Building local data and compute capabilities to scale AI innovation
- Partnering with U.S. and Indian investors for cross-market growth
- The role of talent, IP, and regional collaborations in creating AI leadership
MODERATOR:
- Mouli Narayanan, Zeblok Computational
PANELISTS:
- Ria Chakraborty, Veristyle, New York
- Manish Kumar, Mu Gamma Consultants
- Rajiv Shah, Indian Business and Professional Group (IBPG)
February 2, 2026 Startup Bazaar Dubai
PANEL | Crossing borders: Accessing the U.S. market for startups from the UAE and the region
Breaking into the U.S. market remains the ultimate milestone for many startups — but it’s also one of the hardest to achieve. This panel brings together investors, legal experts, and founders who have successfully navigated the journey from idea to international scale. The discussion will focus on how startups from the UAE, MENA, and India can expand into the U.S. while building globally competitive AI-driven businesses.
- Pathways for UAE, MENA and Indian startups to enter and scale in the U.S.
- Understanding U.S. investor expectations and compliance frameworks
- Building cross-border teams and partnerships
- Leveraging U.S. accelerators, VCs, and university ecosystems
- Structuring global entities and intellectual property for cross-market growth
MODERATOR:
- Judhi Prasetyo, Middlesex University, Dubai
PANELISTS
- Manish Kumar, MU Gamma Consultants, Dubai/New Delhi
- Chetna Chadha, SilverFern Digital, Dubai
- Mouli Narayanan, Zeblok Computational