The Kuleana AI Lab is launching an exciting, hands-on AI Accelerator Program this fall — a 10-week guided journey designed just for small business owners in agriculture and consumer packaged goods (CPG) right here on Kaua‘i.

Whether you're a farmer looking to improve efficiency or a local brand trying to grow smarter, this cohort-based program will help you learn and apply artificial intelligence tools to your real business challenges — no technical background needed.

Best of all? It’s free to participate, thanks to support from the Hawai‘i Technology Development Corporation (HTDC).

Who’s Behind This?

This program is brought to you by the Kuleana AI Lab, a community-powered initiative based at Kuleana.Work, our nonprofit coworking space in Līhuʻe. We’re passionate about helping Kaua‘i’s small businesses tap into the power of artificial intelligence in ways that are practical, empowering, and grounded in local values.

We’re proud to offer this program in partnership with the Hawai‘i Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) — a statewide organization that supports innovation and small business growth through grants, mentorship, and resources.

Together, we’re building a future where Kaua‘i businesses don’t just keep up with AI — they help shape how it’s used in meaningful, local ways.

Who This Is For

This program is designed for Kaua‘i-based small business owners working in:

• 🌱 Agriculture – Farmers, growers, ranchers, co-ops, and food producers OR

• 🍯 Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) – Makers of food, drinks, beauty products, home goods, and more

We’re looking for local entrepreneurs who are:

• Curious about AI but not sure where to start, or those just getting started but looking to ramp up their skills

• Committed to improving their business

• Open to learning alongside others in a collaborative setting

• Able to attend workshops regularly and put new tools into action

Minimal tech background required. Whether you’re tech-savvy or just getting started, we’ll meet you where you are.

This is not a drop-in course — it’s a cohort, meaning a small, selected group that will grow and learn together over 10 weeks. Think of it like a business class tailored just for you.

Program Timeline

This is a 10-week, cohort-based program running from September to November 2025. We’ll meet in-person at our Līhuʻe space for workshops, though mentoring and collaborative learning will be a mix of in-person and virtual.

📆 Key Dates

• Applications Due: August 10, 2025

• Cohort Announced: Late August

• Program Begins: Week of September 15, 2025

• Final Showcase Event: Mid-November 2025

🗓️ Weekly Commitment

• Workshops: 1 evening or midday session every other Wednesday (5 total)

• Mentorship: 1-on-1 check-ins every week

• Independent Work: Learn and apply tools to your own business between sessions

• 1-4 hours per week

We’ll share the full detailed calendar with accepted cohort members before the program begins — and we’ll do our best to accommodate your schedule.

What You’ll Learn

We won’t just talk about AI — we’ll show you how to use it in ways that fit your business, your challenges, and your goals. Throughout the 10-week program, we’ll work closely with you to explore tools and build solutions that make a real difference in how you work.

You’ll learn how to:

• 🔍 Understand your business better with data — Spot trends, forecast demand, and simplify your decision-making using AI tools designed for small teams.

• 🛠️ Automate repetitive tasks — Speed up things like email replies, inventory planning, or product descriptions so you can focus on what matters most.

• 🌐 Supercharge your marketing — From social media to sales copy, we’ll show you how AI can help you speak to your customers more clearly and consistently.

• 🤖 Develop custom-fit tools — Together, we’ll explore how to build AI tools (like custom GPT “mini-apps”) that are specific to your business and your local market.

• 💬 Get better at talking to AI — You’ll learn how to ask the right questions and give the right prompts to get useful, accurate results.

• 🌱 Use AI intentionally and ethically — We’ll explore the risks and responsibilities that come with using powerful tools, and help you build habits that align with your values, your customers, and your community.

Everything is practical, local, and grounded in your real-world needs. We’ll help you figure out what’s worth your time — and what isn’t — so you can build smart, not just fast.

What to Expect - The Cohort Format

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all course. It’s a collaborative learning experience where you’ll be part of a small, hand-picked group of fellow local business owners. Together, you’ll learn, share ideas, and support each other over the 10-week journey.

Here’s how it works:

• Every-other-week Workshops: We’ll meet about twice a month to explore new tools, strategies, and your real-life use cases for AI in small business.

• 1-on-1 Mentorship: You’ll get personal guidance tailored to your unique goals — whether that’s streamlining your harvest cycle, improving product labeling, analysing your data, assessing your competition, or scaling up customer outreach.

• Cohort Collaboration: You’ll learn alongside peers facing similar challenges, with literal space to share what’s working (or not) and help each other grow.

• Hands-On Projects: You’ll develop a mini AI-powered solution for your business — guided by us, inspired by your needs.

We’ll meet you where you are. Whether you're starting from scratch or already experimenting with AI, we’ll help you build something that fits your business and your bandwidth..

Benefits of Participating

This isn’t just a learning opportunity — it’s an investment in your business, your time, and your growth. Here’s what you’ll get as a cohort member:

• ✅ Free admission: Thanks to support from HTDC, program is offered at no cost to you (although you’ll need a ChatGPT Plus membership)

• 🧑‍🏫 Personalized mentorship: 1-on-1 sessions to help you apply what you're learning directly to your business

• 🧑‍💻 Coworking space access: Enjoy free membership at Kuleana.Work during and beyond the program (six months total), including meeting space, fast internet, and coffee!

• 🤝 Supportive community: Learn alongside a group of fellow local business owners who get what you’re navigating

• 🌺 Locally grounded learning: Tools/examples adapted for life and work on Kauai

• 🎉 Final showcase event: A chance to share your work with local leaders, funders, potential collaborators, and other community members

• 📜 Certificate of (Completion): Upon finishing the program, you’ll receive a formal certification recognizing your new skills, project work, and commitment to innovation

We're here to support your growth — not just with technology, but with community, context, and care.

Who’s Teaching

This program is taught and supported by a team of educators, technologists, and community builders who understand both the promise of AI and the realities of running a small business on Kaua‘i. You’ll learn from people who speak your language — and who care deeply about making tech useful, not intimidating.

Peter Simon – Lead Instructor, Tool Builder & AI Guide

Peter is the Director of the Kuleana AI Lab and co-founder of Kuleana.Work. He’ll lead sessions focused on building and applying AI tools to real business challenges — from automating tasks to customizing models. His goal? Help you build something that works for you, right now.

Jennifer Jones Patulli – Lead Instructor, Curriculum Co-Designer

Jennifer is a leadership development consultant with a deep background in responsible innovation and organizational growth. She’ll guide cohort members in understanding how to grow alongside these new technologies — focusing on ethical use, sustainability, and building AI fluency you can carry forward.

Kim Theisen – Program Administrator & Curriculum Co-Designer

Kim co-designed the curriculum and keeps everything running smoothly — from schedules and communications to logistics and documentation. Kim is an experienced educator and curriculum designer and also has a background in user experience research, global health initiatives, and running a small business. 

Together, they’ll support you throughout the journey — teaching, mentoring, and helping you turn learning into action.

How to Apply

Ready to join the cohort?

We’re now accepting applications for the Fall 2025 AI Accelerator. The program is free to participate in, but space is limited — we’ll be selecting just 5–6 businesses for this year’s cohort.

🗓️ Application Deadline: August 10, 2025

You’ll need to:

• Fill out a short application form

• Tell us about your business, your goals, and what you hope to gain from the program

• Commit to attending the workshops and participating fully in the 10-week experience

We’re looking for engaged, curious business owners who are ready to explore new ways of working — together.

Apply now

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to know anything about AI to join?

Very very little. Have you asked AI questions? Have you ever used it to write emails or generate ideas? That’s the level of familiarity we’re looking for. This program is designed for beginners. Along with this introductory understanding, you bring your business experience — we’ll bring the tools and guidance to help you learn and apply AI from the ground up.

What if I’m not sure I have time?

We know you're busy — that's why the program is focused and flexible. One workshop per 2 weeks, short mentorship sessions, and independent work you can fit into your own schedule. That said, full participation is important — we want to make sure each cohort member gets the most out of the experience.

Can more than one person from my business participate?

We ask that one person serve as the primary participant, but they’re welcome to bring in collaborators to certain sessions or involve team members in projects. Just let us know what your team setup looks like in your application!

What does “cohort” mean — is this like a class?

Sort of — but more personal. A cohort means a small group of business owners learning together over 10 weeks. You’ll attend the same workshops, share progress, and support one another. We’re building a learning community, not just a lecture series.

What happens at the end of the program?

You’ll have a working knowledge of AI, a project or tool you've developed for your business, and connections with both peers and mentors. You’ll also present your work at a final showcase event — and receive a certificate of completion recognizing your new skills.

What’s included with the coworking membership?

Cohort members will receive full membership at Kuleana.Work during the program — including 24/7 access, access to monitors and shared tech tools, high-speed internet, meeting space, and more. This package is valued at over $2,000 and is included free for participants.

Am I eligible to apply?

To be eligible, you must:

• Be based on Kaua‘i

• Owning or be working in a small business (10 employees or less) with a focus in agriculture or consumer packaged goods (CPG)

• The business must be a registered business in the State of Hawai‘i

If you're not sure whether you qualify, just reach out (link to email here) — we’re happy to talk it through.