FortifAI Strengthens Advisory Board with Cockroach Labs CRO Jason Forget Ahead of Nol8 AI Data Plane Launch in 2026

Jason Forget’s Proven Expertise in Scaling Data Infrastructure and AI Commercial Strategy

Jason Forget brings extensive experience in enterprise software growth and commercial execution across fast-growing technology sectors. As President and Chief Revenue Officer at Cockroach Labs, he leads revenue strategy for a cloud-native database platform designed specifically for AI applications. Cockroach Labs achieved a US$5 billion valuation in its 2022 Series F funding round, establishing it as a major player in AI database infrastructure.

Before this role, Forget successfully scaled revenues at Imperva, a cybersecurity and data management platform, from zero to US$350 million in annual recurring revenue, and at Redis, a widely used data structure platform, from zero to US$250 million. His track record highlights his ability to identify market opportunities, develop go-to-market strategies, and drive commercial growth in infrastructure-focused technology. Additionally, Forget serves as Board Chair at AG Grid and Bryntum, broadening his influence in complementary software sectors.

Nol8’s AI Data Plane and the Expanding Agentic AI Market

FortifAI’s Nol8 subsidiary has created the AI Data Plane, a platform engineered to govern and optimize data flows for AI agents at high speed. This technology fills a critical infrastructure gap in the emerging Agentic AI market, where autonomous software agents require policy-governed data streams to operate efficiently. By enforcing data policies inline, Nol8 aims to reclaim idle computing resources and enhance utilization rates for NeoClouds and their clients, complementing foundational AI model infrastructure.

The AI market is evolving beyond initial model training and inference. The first AI wave focused on model development and inference execution, while the second wave—Agentic AI—introduces autonomous agents operating continuously and requiring robust data infrastructure capable of delivering governed data at wire speed to numerous concurrent agents. Nol8’s technology is purpose-built to meet these operational demands, positioning FortifAI to capitalize on this growing workload category. The commercial release scheduled for late 2026 is a pivotal milestone for market entry.

FortifAI’s Advisory Board Composition and Strategic Focus

The Advisory Board now includes three members with expertise aligned to Nol8’s strategic goals: Jason Forget, David Walker (former CTO at Westpac Banking Corporation), and Tim Edwards (Head of Global Network and Hosting at MetLife). This diverse group reflects a strategic effort to combine financial services technology, enterprise infrastructure, and data management expertise. Further Advisory Board appointments are anticipated, supporting FortifAI’s push toward commercial launch.

These appointments coincide with FortifAI’s plans to scale the next AI Data Plane iteration. By recruiting advisors with deep enterprise relationships and infrastructure scaling experience, the company is preparing for structured commercial growth. CEO Kelly Herrell emphasized Forget’s proven ability to rapidly scale revenue for data infrastructure products as crucial for FortifAI’s upcoming commercial phase.

FortifAI’s Business Model and Technology Portfolio Overview

FortifAI Limited, listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, operates in artificial intelligence and advanced computing. Its primary focus is Nol8, which develops AI-driven infrastructure technologies addressing modern computing challenges. Alongside Nol8, FortifAI maintains a portfolio of video games, creating a dual business model spanning infrastructure technology and entertainment software. Headquartered at Level 5, 10 Shelley Street, Sydney, the company positions itself as an Australian innovator with global ambitions.

FortifAI leverages AI not only as a product but also as an operational tool to identify efficiencies and growth opportunities across its operations. While the update centers on Nol8’s commercial trajectory, the company’s diversified approach combines infrastructure innovation with entertainment software development. The addition of senior advisors with enterprise technology backgrounds signals confidence in Nol8’s near-term market potential.

Market Drivers for Data Infrastructure in Agentic AI

Agentic AI represents a transformative shift in technology infrastructure needs. Unlike traditional AI systems triggered by human requests, Agentic AI systems autonomously manage multiple concurrent tasks, relying on real-time, policy-compliant data access. This creates new demands for high-speed, governed data delivery at scale, requiring infrastructure capable of securely serving millions of agents simultaneously without compromising policy enforcement.

Beyond technical challenges, economic incentives drive Agentic AI adoption. Organizations seek to recover idle computational capacity and maximize infrastructure utilization. Nol8’s ability to reclaim unused GPU capacity and enhance effective utilization for NeoClouds and customers directly addresses these needs. As enterprise adoption grows, demand for specialized infrastructure solutions managing policy-governed data delivery at scale is expected to rise, underpinning FortifAI’s strategic positioning and advisory board expansion.

Commercial Release Timeline and Upcoming Milestones for Nol8

FortifAI plans to launch a new version of the AI Data Plane in late 2026, marking a critical near-term milestone for investors. The commercial availability of Nol8’s core product will be essential to demonstrating technology viability and customer uptake. While specific product features, customer commitments, or financial targets remain undisclosed, the appointment of a Chief Revenue Officer-level advisor with proven scaling success indicates systematic preparation for commercial expansion.

Engaging experienced commercial advisors prior to product launch aligns with best practices for B2B technology firms entering new markets. FortifAI’s consistent advisory engagement framework, as noted in its 26 June 2026 company update, supports ongoing efforts to broaden market access and strategic guidance ahead of launch.

Jason Forget’s Insights on Agentic AI and Data Infrastructure Potential

In the company update, Forget highlights the transition from foundational AI capabilities—focused on training and inference—to autonomous agent deployment, describing Agentic AI as the "body" complementing the AI "brain." He emphasizes that Agentic AI represents a distinct workload requiring specialized data infrastructure capable of delivering unique, governed data streams to millions of agents at wire speed, directly aligning with Nol8’s technology.

Forget expresses confidence that Nol8 "has the vision and technology to establish category leadership" and rapidly capture market share in what he predicts will be a substantial market. His endorsement carries weight given his credibility in data infrastructure scaling and may influence enterprise customers and investors evaluating Agentic AI infrastructure solutions.

Strategic Fit Between Advisory Expertise and Nol8’s Commercial Goals

CEO Kelly Herrell underscores the alignment between Forget’s expertise and Nol8’s commercial needs, noting his deep understanding of enterprise challenges with emerging workloads and his reputation for identifying high-growth infrastructure markets. Herrell states Forget’s proven ability to rapidly scale revenue for new data infrastructure products is "exactly what we need as we move toward our first commercial release." This strategic match suggests the advisory role is integral to FortifAI’s operational plans.

Herrell also highlights that Forget’s appointment will "accelerate our pace of adoption and drive continued growth in shareholder value," reflecting management’s confidence that his industry relationships and market insight will positively impact Nol8’s commercial trajectory. This signals the advisory role as a functional contributor to sales and partnership activities following product launch.

Investor Considerations and Forward-Looking Risks

Jason Forget’s addition to FortifAI’s Advisory Board demonstrates management’s progress in assembling specialized expertise for Nol8’s commercial phase. His history of scaling data infrastructure companies to substantial recurring revenues provides a credible precedent for Nol8’s growth ambitions. However, investors should recognize that advisory appointments do not guarantee commercial success or reduce inherent risks of launching new technology in competitive markets. The company has not disclosed customer commitments, financial forecasts, or binding partnerships validating Nol8’s market demand.

The update contains forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties. FortifAI’s commercial success with Nol8 depends on factors including product-market fit, competitive dynamics, customer acquisition economics, and broader Agentic AI adoption. Investors should watch for forthcoming product release details, customer adoption updates, and financial performance indicators. The company disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances change.