Revved Assembly

This practical, hackathon-style workshop helps SMEs and teams use generative AI to explore a real business problem and rapidly turn it into a testable solution concept.

Hosted by academyEX and facilitated by Felix Scholz, AI workshop facilitator and educator.

Participants can work individually or in table groups. Using a guided prompt pack and AI Problem Framing Canvas, they will move through a practical 9-step micro design sprint. Generative AI tools are used throughout the process to help participants understand the problem, generate ideas, develop a solution and test it before sharing the outcome.

The 9-step sprint process:

1. Identify the problem: Choose one business problem, growth opportunity or customer pain point.

2. Define users and needs: Identify the users, their pain points and the outcome they are looking for.

3. Brainstorm solutions: Use generative AI to explore a range of possible solution concepts.

4. Select a concept: Choose the idea that best addresses the problem and take it forward.

5. Outline the features: Use AI to define the core features, process steps and interactions.

6. Mock up the solution: Turn the concept into something tangible using AI tools, such as a visual mock-up, workflow or simple proof of concept.

7. Test with synthetic users: Use synthetic personas to challenge the solution and identify gaps, objections and possible improvements.

8. Define the value proposition: Capture the value of the solution in one clear sentence.

9. Show and tell: Share the concept and prototype with the group as part of a short two-minute pitch.

By the end of the sprint, participants will have moved from a real problem to a tangible and tested concept they can take back into their organisation and continue developing.

28 October | 3 - 6 PM | academyEX

Save the date here

An election shifts the mood in every boardroom and every staffroom. It can also shift your KiwiSaver balance; your tax bill and the rules you run your business by. Join Generate Investment Specialist Greg Smith and leading business and political journalist Katie Bradford who are sitting down over breakfast to talk about the election, the policies to watch and what they could mean in practice.

They will get into KiwiSaver, tax and business regulation. What is on the table, what is noise, and what owners, employees and taxpayers should keep half an eye on.

Greg has spent more than 20 years reading the markets, with a background in funds management here, in Australia and in London. Katie has covered politics and business for more than two decades, including 10 years in the press gallery and a decade as TVNZ's business correspondent. Between them they have seen a few election cycles come and go.

Two people who know their stuff talking about what comes next.

Thursday 22 October, 8am to 10am

The Northern Club, Wintergarden Room

Expression of interests here