AI for Business Accelerator Programme

Take your AI for Business skills to the next level in a challenging team competition.

  • The initial masterclass explored how AI is transforming the way businesses operate
  • Hands-on immersive workshops introduce the power & potential of AI in business​ 
  • Use AI tools to identify business problems & develop AI-driven solutions for real-life business cases​ 
  • The winning team will present their AI solution at the European HQ of BMW Motorrad. 
  • Eligibility: The Accelerator is open to KBS and School of Computing final year under-graduates & all postgraduates.​

Expected Outcomes and Impact

✅ Foundational understanding of AI’s applications in business

✅ Confidence and skills to work with AI tools in business settings

✅ Stronger employability through innovation experience and portfolio-building

✅ Enhanced ability to critically assess and implement AI strategies for business growth

✅ Networking opportunities with industry professionals and peers

Apply for the AI Business Challenge

Enjoyed the masterclass?

Don’t forget to register for the AI Lab sessions.

Missed the masterclass? You can watch the recording here and read a blog about the event.

Closing date for registration: Tuesday 28th October 2025, 5pm 


“This is a unique and exciting opportunity for all final year undergraduates and postgraduate students from the Kent Business School and School of Computing who want to further their AI knowledge and skills. The winning team will compete through a series of lab session culminating with presenting their AI solution to BMW Motorrad at their European HQ.”

Thomas Hirschmann, lecturer in Innovation and AI at Kent Business School and CEO of CoreCortex and Behavioural Economy.

Exclusive offer for AI Masterclass attendees

30-day full access for free!

Databricks is offering students from Kent Business School and the School of Computing who attended the masterclass free 30-day access to their training tools.

Create an account using your Kent email address to receive your 30-day full access code.

Get your access code

Bring your ideas to business

At the end of the masterclass, the winning team will compete through a series of lab session culminating with presenting their AI solution to BMW Motorrad at their European HQ.

Guest speaker


Guest speaker


Guest speaker


Challenge Sponsor


IBM

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The AI Lab Sessions – 4 sessions

These sessions are open to undergraduate and postgraduate students who have completed the KBS AI Academy Masterclass and have been selected following the registration process. 

Delivery format: Series of four half-day hands-on interactive workshops using the latest digital tools and resources.

These sessions will run between 3:30-5:30pm in LT2, Sibson on the following Wednesdays:

29 October, 12 November, 19 November, 26 November.

Register for the AI Lab Sessions following completion of the Masterclass.

Apply for the AI Business Challenge

Expected Outcomes and Impact

✅ Explore business challenges and review use cases to support ideation as a tool of business innovation.

✅ Test, and trial a range of AI applications and experiment with ways to critically interact with AI to solve business challenges.

✅ Work in multi-disciplinary teams to develop solutions to business problems using AI.

✅ Assess the ethics, risks and rewards of implementing AI projects.

The Advanced AI Lab Sessions

Student teams for the Advanced Session will be selected from those who have completed the AI Lab sessions and notified by email.  

Delivery format: Series of expert-led hands on interactive workshops and curated digital repository  

  • Work in multi-disciplinary teams on actual, real-world business problems together with major industry partners, IBM and BMW Motorrad to generate industry-relevant proofs of concept.
  • Develop the ethical frameworks and risk management processes needed to implement the AI project.
  • Understand the patenting and licensing issues needed for technology transfer of products and services.

The winning team will present their solutions at BMW Motorrad's European headquarters. 

Advanced AI Lab Sessions

These sessions will run 10-4pm in LT2, Sibson building, over the following weekends, plus an internal presentation on Wednesday 25 February and client presentation on Wednesday 8th March. 

📅 Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 January

📅 Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 February

📅 Saturday 21 February and Sunday 22 February

🏢 Internal Presentation: Wednesday 25 February

👥 Client Presentation: Wednesday 8 March

Please ensure that you will be available for all stages. 

About Thomas Hirschmann

Thomas is the CEO and Founder of CoreCortex and Behavioural Economy. He is a passionate entrepreneur with a background in law, economics, and psychology, focusing on data-driven innovation. His most recent venture, CoreCortex, offers AI-powered Innovation-as-a-Service (AI-IaaS) to help businesses unlock their creativity through AI. Hirschmann is also a lecturer in Data Science at Bayswater College London, teaches Innovation & AI at Kent Business School, and has authored several academic publications in creativity and innovation.

Enquiries:  

Please contact Thomas at t.hirschmann@kent.ac.uk