Entrepreneurship Training Series

Transforming AI Innovations into Scalable Startups

The Office of New Venture Development (NVD), in collaboration with the Manning Jack Wilson Center for Entrepreneurship (WCE), presents a specialized AI-focused entrepreneurship training program designed to support faculty, researchers and graduate students at UMass Lowell in translating AI-driven innovations into scalable ventures. 

Building on NVD's and WCE’s broader mission to strengthen the university's innovation ecosystem, this program provides structured, expert-led guidance on the commercialization of artificial intelligence technologies. It bridges the gap between academic research and real-world application by equipping participants with the tools to leverage AI not only as a technology, but as a strategic advantage in venture creation, decision-making and scaling. 

Empowering AI Innovation and Startup Formation at UML

This program is designed to help participants move from research to venture by developing entrepreneurial capabilities tailored to AI-driven opportunities. Sessions combine practical insights, real-world case studies and interactive discussions led by experienced entrepreneurs, faculty and industry experts. 

Objective: 

The goal of the program is to cultivate a thriving AI-driven innovation ecosystem at UML by enabling the Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) and New Venture Development (NVD) to successfully translate promising intellectual property into high-impact startup ventures through strategic collaboration with faculty, researchers and entrepreneurs. 

Who Should Attend: 

This program is tailored for UML faculty, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students interested in commercializing their innovations. It supports participants in leveraging AI technologies, strengthening their entrepreneurial capabilities and exploring startup formation. 

Format & Schedule

• Duration: 90-minute interactive workshops per session
• Format: Weekly sessions
• Structure: Virtual

Session 1: The Thinking Game – Human Versus AI Based Drug Discovery

• Date: April 9, Noon–1:30 p.m.
• Speaker: Bill Yelle, Entrepreneur in Residence at Partners Innovation Fund (PIF) as well as an Adjunct Faculty Member at The Manning School of Business at UMass Lowell (UML).

Topics Covered:

• Overview of predictive AI models and their growing role in drug discovery
• Benefits including accelerated hypothesis generation and identification of therapeutic targets
• Practical challenges, including model limitations and interpretation of outputs
• Real-world lessons from applying AI tools in biomedical research

Session 2: Entrepreneurial Decision-Making and Problem Solving in the Age of AI

• Date: April 16, Noon-1:30 p.m.
• Speaker: Associate Professor Mauricio Geleilate, Manning School of Business at UMass Lowell

Topics Covered:

• Using AI to enhance entrepreneurial thinking without replacing human judgment
• Recognizing decision traps and cognitive biases in startup environments
• Leveraging AI as a cognitive partner for strategic problem solving
• Why human judgment becomes a key competitive advantage in an AI-driven world

Session 3: Designing Human-AI Collaboration for Better Decisions and Innovation

Date: April 23, Noon-1:30 p.m.

Speaker: Professor Harry Zhu, Operations and Information Systems, UML

Topics Covered:

• How AI is reshaping decision-making and innovation in organizations
• Evidence that guided reflection improves the accuracy of AI-assisted decisions
• Strategies to avoid overreliance on AI in entrepreneurial and managerial contexts
• Designing effective Human + AI collaboration to drive innovation and better outcomes

Session 4: Spinning Out Starts With a Story

• Date: April 30, Noon-1:30 p.m.
• Speaker: Lori Lennon, Founder and CEO of Thinkubator Media

Topics Covered:

• Why market-ready research still needs to earn belief from investors, partners, and early customers
• The importance of clarity in communicating innovation beyond technical data
• Practical applications of AI to strengthen pitching, writing, and presentation
• How to use AI without compromising scientific credibility
• Preserving your authentic voice while leveraging AI tools

Program Benefits

• Gain practical insights into applying AI in real-world contexts, including research and venture development
• Learn how to combine AI capabilities with human judgment to improve entrepreneurial decision-making 
• Understand key limitations, risks and interpretation challenges of AI models 
• Develop strategies for effective Human + AI collaboration to drive innovation and better outcomes 
• Engage with faculty, researchers and industry experts working at the intersection of AI and entrepreneurship 
• Certificate: Participants who attend all 3 sessions will receive a certificate from the Manning Jack Wilson Center for Entrepreneurship 

How You’ll Benefit 

• Learn directly from experienced entrepreneurs, faculty, and industry practitioners 
• Gain exposure to real-world AI applications across research and startup environments 
• Build confidence in applying AI tools within your own research or venture ideas 

Interested in Joining? 

Register for the NVD–WCE AI Entrepreneurship Training Program to confirm your participation and receive session details, including Zoom access information.  We look forward to your participation. 

For any questions about the program, please email Hakim_Hammach@uml.edu, director of New Venture Development, or email Yi_Yang@uml.edu, associate dean for graduate studies and research in the Manning School of Business.