AI Spark Lab begins October 20, 2026, and the official program ends December 17, 2026. Sessions are held Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Tri-C Corporate College.
Put AI to Work in Your Business.
Bring a business challenge.
Build an AI solution.
Measure the results.
AI Spark Lab was built for that.
AI Spark Lab is an eight-week, consultant-supported business lab that helps qualified Greater Cleveland businesses build practical AI capability, develop working business solutions, and pursue measurable results.
Bring a business 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. AI Spark Lab was developed by BDPA Cleveland. Tri-C Corporate College serves as the delivery partner for the inaugural in-person cohort. This cohort is designed for qualified Greater Cleveland businesses and decision makers: entrepreneurs, small and medium business owners, and solopreneurs ready to compete in an AI-driven economy.
AI Spark Lab is an approved training option under Ohio TechNet’s Northeast Ohio Opportunities in Tech program, administered by Lorain County Community College. Eligible approved U.S. citizens receive a full scholarship with no out-of-pocket tuition.
After BDPA Cleveland approval, the candidate completes Tri-C student registration and then Prime registration. The administrator then registers the candidate for AI Spark Lab and applies the scholarship.
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. A business 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 an Agile Sprint tied to a measurable business outcome, then to an optional 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
The program starts October 20, 2026. Sessions are held Tuesday and Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Tri-C Corporate College. Thanksgiving week is a scheduled break. The official eight-week program ends after the Sprint on December 17, 2026. The optional AI Spark Showcase takes place 60 days after program completion.
Participants attend all four workshops. Each week builds a different AI capability area and produces business assets that feed the Sprint.
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 AI-driven social media workflows that expand reach, save time, and keep engagement consistent.
Participants apply the capabilities built in the workshops to an AI-enabled solution tied to a measurable business outcome, using Agile methods and PMO governance.
The optional Showcase is held 60 days after program completion. Participants may present their solutions, results, findings, outcomes, and implementation progress.
Pick a measurable outcome. Build toward it.
The Agile Sprint applies your new AI capabilities to a solution tied to a measurable business result.
Use AI to open new opportunities, strengthen sales, and grow top-line revenue.
Automate and streamline work so your team produces more with the same resources.
Tighten operations and decision-making to strengthen the cash position of the business.
The Qualification, Scholarship & Enrollment Process
Every prospective participant begins with the AI Spark Scorecard. The pathway runs from qualification through official enrollment in seven steps.
Receive immediate readiness results and recommended actions.
Meet with the AI Spark Lab team for a 45-minute consultation to validate fit and clarify the business challenge.
BDPA Cleveland reviews the Scorecard and consultation and confirms prequalification for the cohort.
BDPA Cleveland sends the required candidate information to the administrator using a secure administrative process.
The candidate completes the Tri-C student registration process.
The candidate completes the Prime scholarship application. Prime registration follows Tri-C student registration.
Lorain County Community College registers the candidate for the program and applies the scholarship.
Ohio TechNet scholarship eligibility requires U.S. citizenship and completion of the required Tri-C and Prime registrations. BDPA Cleveland approval confirms the candidate’s fit for AI Spark Lab but does not replace the scholarship registration requirements. Lorain County Community College administers the scholarship and completes program registration. Eligible approved candidates have no out-of-pocket tuition cost.
Two ways to participate
The course price is $2,000 per participant. How it is covered depends on the pathway you qualify for.
Eligible approved U.S. citizens may complete the Ohio TechNet scholarship process. After BDPA Cleveland approval, the candidate completes Tri-C student registration and then Prime registration. Lorain County Community College then registers the candidate for AI Spark Lab and applies the scholarship. No out-of-pocket tuition is required.
Available for candidates who do not qualify for the Ohio TechNet scholarship, including candidates who are not U.S. citizens. The employer or participant pays the course price, subject to cohort admission and Tri-C registration requirements. Tri-C may provide an eight-week payment plan.
Ohio TechCred is not an option for the initial AI Spark Lab cohort. BDPA Cleveland and Tri-C may continue developing a future TechCred pathway for the AI Productivity & Innovation Practitioner™ certificate.
Every participant begins with the AI Spark Scorecard.
AI Spark Lab requires at least 20 participants and is capped at 25 business leaders.
Before anything else, every prospective participant completes a short AI Spark Scorecard to 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.