Don't just learn AI. Build your business with it.
Most business owners know AI matters.
Very few know where to start.
Even fewer know how to apply it in a way that creates real business value.
AI Spark Lab was built for that.
This is an immersive, eight-week business accelerator where you'll work alongside experienced advisors and a carefully selected cohort of business leaders to solve one meaningful business challenge using AI.
Bring one challenge. Leave with an actionable business breakthrough using AI.
The program is grounded in a Humans-In-The-Lead philosophy: AI accelerates productivity and decision-making, while people maintain accountability, judgment, and control. Delivered in partnership by BDPA Cleveland, Tri-C Corporate College, and Tri-C Center for the Future of Work, this 8-week cohort is designed for entrepreneurs, small business owners, medium business owners, and solopreneurs ready to compete in an AI-driven economy.
Participants bring a real business challenge and work on it directly — no lectures, no hypotheticals.
This is not a class. This is where your business challenge gets worked on.AI Spark Lab is built around applying AI to a specific business outcome, moving from awareness to action.
DIY gives you information. AI Spark Lab gives you implementation.The four-consultant model creates more direct feedback, more hands-on support, and faster problem-solving during the lab.
Four consultants. One challenge. Eight weeks of guided activation.Participants start with a readiness and opportunity assessment that gives immediate results, pre-lab action steps, and focus areas.
Start with your readiness. Build around your business.Participants move from Starter capacity-building foundation work to a Sprint Business Outcome project, then to a Showcase where they present what they built.
From idea, to sprint, to showcase.Leave with an AI Roadmap, AI Spark Solution™, 90-Day AI Action Plan, prompt library, workflow templates, and the opportunity to earn the AI Productivity & Innovation Practitioner™ certificate.
Leave with a plan, a solution path, and proof of progress.Meet Your Dedicated AI Advisory Team
For eight weeks, you won’t navigate AI alone. You’ll work alongside four experienced AI and business leaders who will coach, challenge, and support you through every step of the journey. Every session is in person. Every conversation is focused on your business. Every advisor is committed to helping you build an AI solution you can put into action.
Craig Platt
AI Strategy • Transformation Leadership • Business Growth- Former CIO at GE Lighting | Certified Six Sigma Black Belt
- Founder & Principal, Platteau PMO Services — helping organizations build practical AI strategies
- President, BDPA Cleveland — connecting business, education, workforce, and funding partners to accelerate AI innovation
Tondi Allen
AI Solutions • Automation • Digital Transformation- AI Solutions Architect specializing in automation and AI-powered workflows
- Helps organizations adopt AI with practical, real-world business applications
- Passionate about making AI accessible, actionable, and immediately useful
Sandy Armani Mills
AI Marketing • Branding • Business Development- Entrepreneur and AI-enabled business growth strategist
- Helps businesses use AI to strengthen branding, marketing, and customer engagement
- Expert in workforce development, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation
Felesia McDonald
AI Strategy • Human-Centered Design • Innovation- AI Strategist helping organizations adopt AI responsibly and effectively
- UX leader with more than 20 years of experience designing AI-powered customer experiences
- Expert in human-centered AI, innovation, and business transformation
8-Week Program Schedule
Sessions are held Tuesday and Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Participants attend all four. Each week builds a different capability area, and each session produces assets that feed the MVP phase.
Build foundational AI fluency and practical usage patterns to improve day-to-day execution, communication, and decision support.
Apply AI to revenue workflows—lead handling, follow-ups, proposals, messaging, and repeatable sales motions.
Create high-value content assets that support growth—marketing, education, and monetized digital products.
Design and configure a purpose-built assistant aligned to a defined internal or customer-facing use case.
Participants select one real business or industry problem and sprint toward an MVP using Agile methods and PMO governance.
Participants may present their MVP, outcomes, and next-step implementation plan in a structured showcase environment.
Every applicant begins with the AI Spark Scorecard.
AI Spark Lab is intentionally limited to 25 business leaders.
Before registration, every applicant completes a short AI Spark Scorecard to help identify where AI can create the greatest impact in their business.
Your results help us:
- Understand your business goals
- Evaluate your readiness
- Build a balanced cohort
- Match you with the right opportunities
This isn't about passing a test. It's about making sure AI Spark Lab is the right fit for you and for the business cohort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about AI Spark Lab. Tap a section to explore the questions.