BUILD AI – Accelerate Your Business Idea from Concept to Market

A fully funded, accelerator programme helping microbusinesses and SMEs develop a strong value proposition, turn great ideas into functional MVPs, and accelerate your speed to market.

BUILD AI (Business Uplift, Innovation and Lean Development through Artificial Intelligence) for non-technical business owners is a brand-new, fully funded programme created specifically for microbusinesses and small businesses who want to accelerate, grow, or commercialise what they are building.

Whether you’re developing a new digital product or solution, refining an idea, or exploring smarter ways to scale, this programme gives you the practical tools, expert guidance, and hands-on support to move forward with confidence.

Who is BUILD AI for?

This programme is ideal for:

• Microbusinesses and small businesses looking to innovate or scale
• Founders exploring AI‑powered solutions
• Entrepreneurs wanting to commercialise a new product or idea
• Business owners needing technical guidance but lacking in‑house expertise

There are no sector, stage or geographical restrictions. If you’re ready to grow, this is for you.

What you’ll gain

Over six expert‑led sessions, you’ll get practical, hands‑on support to help you turn your idea into something commercially viable. You’ll receive:

• Six expert-led sessions – blending strategy, hands-on building, and commercialisation guidance
• Access to AI-assisted development platforms to build your minimum viable product (MVP)
• Dedicated support from facilitators at Salford University and NoCodeLab.ai
• A pitch-ready MVP and revised value proposition by programme end

Across six practical, hands-on sessions (in-person and online), you’ll work alongside expert facilitators to:

• Create a clear, compelling value proposition that sets your business apart
• Prototype and refine your idea using real-world insight and smart system functionalities
• Build a working MVP using AI-assisted coding tools 
• Connect APIs, integrations, and AI capabilities into your product
• Optimise your platform with authentication, SEO and deploy your MVP
• Refine your pitch and prepare for funders, grants, or investment

Upon completion, you won’t just have a slide deck. You’ll have a functional MVP. You’ll be pitch-ready and equipped with everything you need to unlock opportunities whether that’s grant funding, investment, or routes to commercialisation.

Registrations open for BUILD AI:

You will need to be able to attend all sessions, including an onboarding webinar taking place on 13 April 2026, 1-2pm. All businesses who register will be contacted by a member of the team to confirm your place.

Register your interest

Why join?

• Fully funded, so there’s no cost to take part
• Practical, microbusiness‑focused content
• Designed to overcome the challenges small companies face when innovating
• Opportunities to secure funding or explore commercial routes
• Delivered by experts in innovation, AI and business growth

If you’re searching for an AI innovation programme for microbusinesses that gives you real, actionable results, BUILD AI is your next step.

Want to find out more?

Chat with our team to see how we can support your project.