AI for Business Accelerator Programme

Turn your ideas into AI solutions and build skills that set you apart

The AI for Business Accelerator is back for its second year!  

Last year winning teams presented their AI solutions at BMW Motorrad in Munich and Europ Assistance in Brussels. This year, that could be you.

Both teams came up with solutions that enhanced the digital user experience for each brand’s clients. Their work is protected by non-disclosure agreements (NDA’s) so no details will be provided, but both solutions were very impressive.

The success story started in 2025

“The BMW project was one of the few parts of university that felt real — a live company brief where we had to build something useful, sell it clearly, and perform with real stakes at play.” 

George Ratcliffe, Team AI UX BMW Motorrad challenge winners

How does it work?

You can apply today, and if you’re successful, you will work in a team tackling real business challenges.

Through masterclasses, hands-on workshops and team challenges, you’ll learn how to assess AI tools, develop responsible solutions and communicate your ideas with confidence.

You’ll work alongside students with different strengths and perspectives — just as you would in the workplace — and gain experience turning an early idea into a compelling proof of concept.

You’ll learn how to use AI to develop ideas with practical value, you’ll strengthen your commercial awareness and create a product you can demonstrate to future employers.

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Stage 1 - AI Masterclass

AI Masterclass Foundations, the AI landscape, ethics & responsible use.

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Stage 2 - AI Lab

Four hands-on workshops, critical evaluation & benchmarking of AI tools.

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Stage 3 - Advanced AI Lab

Live briefs from corporate partners, proofs of concept under NDA.

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Stage 4 - AI Ventures

Mentoring to scale commercial spin-offs via Kent Innovation.

The AI Accelerator Programme schedule

The study will be progressive, building your skills, knowledge and your project week by week, culminating in the final. You will need to commit to attending all sessions in order to  progress and for the opportunity to present to our sponsors at their headquarters next spring. 

AI Masterclass: 

  • Thurs, 15 Oct, LT2, Sibson, 4-6pm

AI Lab (Team-Based Challenges):

  • Weekend: 24th &  25th October, MBA Suite, Sibson,10am– 3pm
  • Weekend: 7th & 8th November, MBA Suite, Sibson, 10am – 3pm
  • Weekend: 21st & 22nd November, MBA Suite, Sibson,10am – 3pm

AI Advanced Lab (Industry Challenges)

  • Weekend 23rd & 24th January 2027, MBA Suite, Sibson, 10am – 3pm
  • Weekend 6th & 7th Feb 2027, MBA Suite, Sibson, 10am – 3pm
  • Weekend 20th & 21st Feb 2027, MBA Suite, Sibson, 10am – 3pm

Learn with industry

AI & core business skills development

The programme encompasses a broad range of skills to get your future-focused and career-ready.

  • Using AI to create business value
  • Prompt engineering and AI-tool evaluation
  • Responsible AI, ethics and risk management
  • Commercial problem-solving
  • Teamwork, prioritisation and time management
  • Communication, pitching and presentation

“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 .

The AI tools

You will be working hands-on with the following tools:

  • Claude
  • Claude Code 
  • Anthropic SDK 
  • Claude API 
  • OpenAI ChatGPT 
  • Google Gemini
  • Perplexity 
  • Consensus AI 
  • Replit 
  • Python 
  • PyTorch (TIMM) 
  • Pillow

Teams will build their winning solutions using agentic workflows and Model Context Protocol (MCP).

Ready to take on the challenge?

Bring your ideas, curiosity and ambition. Join the AI for Business Accelerator and start building the skills, experience and confidence to shape the future of work.

Complete the registration form

The AI Accelerator for Business Programme Partners

We’re pleased to welcome back our Year 1 programme partners and guest speakers:
DAIVID logo
BMW Motorrad logo
Databricks logo
IBM logo
Europ Assitance logo
We Sprint logo

About Thomas Hirschmann

Thomas is the CEO and Founder of CoreCortex and Behavioural Economy. Tom is a passionate data & technology entrepreneur who helps organisations convert abstract AI challenges into practical human-centric innovation. He works where AI stops being technology and starts becoming strategy, behaviour, and concrete business advantage. As founder of CoreCortex & Behavioural Economy, he helps the most forward-thinking brands translate AI into measurable business impact by unlocking new forms of creativity, growth, and competitive differentiation. Tom is also an academic researcher, the author of several academic publications on creativity and innovation and lectures in Data Science, Innovation, AI Analytics, AI Entrepreneurship and Applied AI at Universities in UK, France and Switzerland.

For more informtion contact Professor Thomas Hirschmann at t.hirschmann@kent.ac.uk