Shivaas Gulati Launches New AI Venture for Sports and Live Events Industry
Seattle entrepreneur Shivaas Gulati is embarking on an exciting new chapter in his career with the launch of Arkero AI, a startup focused on helping sports organizations and the live events industry harness the power of artificial intelligence. After co-founding the digital remittance company Remitly, which has grown into a publicly traded corporation with a market value of $3.3 billion, Gulati is ready to build his next “big company” in the city he loves. Though keeping many details confidential for now, he shared with GeekWire that Arkero AI aims to address a fundamental question many business owners struggle with: “How do I use AI to unlock value in my business?” Gulati believes his team has discovered novel ways to answer this question, particularly for organizations in the sports and live events sector. “We understand how they operate,” he explained, suggesting that his insider knowledge will give Arkero a competitive edge in this specialized market.
Gulati’s journey to founding Arkero has been shaped by his diverse experiences since leaving Remitly in 2022. For the past year, he has immersed himself in the sports industry as part of the ownership group of Southend United, a club competing in the fifth tier of English football. This hands-on experience provided valuable insights into the operational challenges and opportunities within sports organizations. Additionally, Gulati has spent the last six months serving as a technical advisor to Seattle Sounders FC, helping the Major League Soccer club develop its AI and technology strategy. These experiences have been instrumental in connecting the dots for his latest venture, allowing him to identify specific areas where AI can create substantial business value for sports and live events organizations. Arkero represents the culmination of this learning journey, combining Gulati’s entrepreneurial expertise with his newly acquired knowledge of the sports industry.
As Gulati builds Arkero AI, he’s focused on assembling a talented team and attracting strategic investors. He hinted at bringing on board “smart folks” he has previously worked with, leveraging his professional network developed over years as an entrepreneur and investor. Seattle’s rich talent pool is central to his vision for the company. “Seattle is an amazing, talent-dense place for us,” Gulati emphasized. “It’s a great place to build a company, and we’re going to double down on that and build another big company here.” His commitment to the local ecosystem is further demonstrated by his involvement with Foundations, an organization supporting startup founders, where he serves as a board member. This connection to the broader entrepreneurial community provides Arkero with a strong foundation as it begins its journey.
The talent Arkero seeks is specialized – what Gulati describes as “AI native product builders.” This emerging category of professionals combines deep technical knowledge of artificial intelligence tools with product development expertise. “It’s this new breed of builders that we’re seeing in the market who are really in the weeds with all the AI tools and using AI to create leverage for them,” Gulati explained. This focus on AI-native talent aligns with Arkero’s mission to develop innovative solutions that help organizations effectively implement and benefit from artificial intelligence technologies. While specific product details remain under wraps, the emphasis on specialized AI talent suggests that Arkero aims to develop sophisticated, cutting-edge solutions tailored to the unique needs of sports and live events businesses.
On the investment front, Gulati is assembling an impressive roster of backers that includes “big hitters and some team owners around the nation.” While not yet ready to disclose names, he acknowledged his fortunate position of having investors eager to back his next venture following the success of Remitly. This investor confidence speaks to Gulati’s track record and reputation in the entrepreneurial community. Beyond financial backing, Arkero has already secured three initial design partners in the United States and England. These early partnerships will likely provide valuable feedback and real-world testing opportunities as the company develops its solutions, ensuring that the technology addresses genuine industry needs and creates tangible value for clients in the sports and live events sector.
At his core, Gulati remains driven by the entrepreneurial spirit that has defined his career. “I’m an entrepreneur at heart,” he reflected. “Whether it’s Southend or Remitly or my past ventures, I’m always building, lots of irons in the fire in different places. This is very energizing for me.” For Gulati, Arkero represents more than just another business venture – it’s an opportunity to tackle significant challenges in an exciting industry and create innovative solutions through artificial intelligence. His enthusiasm for building companies in Seattle, combined with his experience in both technology and sports, positions Arkero AI as a promising addition to the region’s vibrant startup ecosystem. As the company takes shape in the coming months, the sports and live events industry will be watching closely to see how Gulati’s vision for AI-powered innovation unfolds.
