If your GPS signal has ever dropped in a remote area or dense cityscape, you know the uneasy feeling of being lost. But what if navigation didn’t rely on satellites at all? That’s the vision driving Skyline Nav AI, a startup founded by Kanwar Singh, which is making waves with its groundbreaking Pathfinder software, a system capable of guiding users anywhere, without GPS.
The innovative system uses computer vision and AI to interpret surroundings, from city skylines to rural landscapes, and matches them to a vast image database to determine precise locations. The result: real-time, GPS-independent navigation that works even where satellite signals fail, such as in canyons, dense forests, or combat zones.
A Mission Born from Personal Loss and National Security Concerns
For Singh, this mission is deeply personal. In 2014, he lost a friend, Hari Simran Singh Khalsa, during a hiking trip in Mexico after GPS failed in the mountains. That tragedy inspired him to find a way to make navigation more reliable, especially in areas where GPS signals are weak or jammed.
Today, Singh believes Skyline’s technology is more than a convenience, it’s a national security necessity. With GPS jamming becoming a growing threat in modern warfare, Skyline Nav AI’s tech offers a crucial backup system. It’s no surprise the startup has already attracted partnerships with the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA, and defense contractor Kearfott.
Despite operating with just eight full-time employees, Skyline is punching well above its weight. The company has remained profitable from inception, securing funding directly from customers eager to use its technology.
Pathfinder Edge: Navigation for the Future
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Singh is showcasing the company’s latest innovation — Pathfinder Edge. This compact edge computer runs a lighter version of Skyline’s core software, enabling GPS-free navigation on vehicles, drones, and aircraft without relying on Wi-Fi, cellular, or high-end GPUs.
Singh emphasizes that the technology isn’t meant to replace GPS but to complement it, much like how modern communication seamlessly switches between cellular, Wi-Fi, and satellite connections. “When you or I buy the next car, the next drone, or sit in the next aircraft, it’ll be GPS-independent thanks to Pathfinder,” Singh told TechCrunch.
Built on Faith, Persistence, and Innovation
Singh’s journey to this moment has been as remarkable as the tech he’s building. A Sikh immigrant, he came to the U.S. nearly two decades ago to pursue his master’s at Harvard. Inspired by Sen. John McCain, he sought to join the U.S. military but was repeatedly rejected because of his turban, beard, and hair, symbols of his faith. Undeterred, Singh lobbied Congress and sued the Department of Defense, eventually securing religious exemptions that allowed him and other Sikhs to serve while maintaining their articles of faith.
As an Army Captain and Signal Officer, Singh developed close ties with military research labs, including the Army Research Laboratory (ARL). It was there that the foundation of Skyline Nav AI’s technology took shape — a GPS-independent navigation system designed to resist jamming and ensure mission success even when satellites fail.
A Profitable Vision with Purpose
Today, Singh sees Skyline Nav AI not just as a business but as a calling. “We’ve always been profitable, and our customers have paid us to build the product even before it was ready,” he said proudly. With its growing defense partnerships and attention at TechCrunch Disrupt, Skyline Nav AI is poised to redefine the future of navigation — one that doesn’t depend on satellites but on the power of vision, innovation, and resilience.
