EPS 3548: The AI Innovators Bootcamp for Small Business
4 advanced credits
The AI Innovators Bootcamp for Small Business is an advanced experiential elective tied to The Generator’s effort to train 1,000 small business owners in AI for business growth and innovation. A consulting skills practicum, the course explores the unfolding intersection of small business priorities and emerging AI capabilities. Students work as consultants: interviewing small business owners, diagnosing needs, mapping AI opportunities to priorities, and delivering client-ready recommendations. Students are trained in foundational AI concepts and capabilities (e.g., LLMs, CustomGPTs, computer vision, multimodality, agentic AI) of relevance to common small business growth challenges. The semester culminates in two Babson Alumni-facing AI Innovators Bootcamps, co-delivered with Generator faculty, engaging 60+ small business leaders. The course blends applied AI knowledge with structured consulting practice, requiring students to demonstrate diagnostic thinking, professional presence, and client-centered advising.
Prerequisites: (FME1000 and FME 1001) or (EPS 1000 and MOB 1010)