New Mexico State University’s (NMSU) Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship has announced a six‑week AI Sprint that will run from October 27 to December 1, 2026. The program, titled AI Co‑Workers for Startup Teams, is designed to help founders and small‑team entrepreneurs integrate artificial‑intelligence tools into their day‑to‑day operations.

The sprint focuses on building reliable, repeatable AI‑powered systems rather than simple prompt‑based experiments. Participants will learn to create reusable AI skills, set up quality‑assurance procedures, link AI tools to existing workflows, and develop systems that extend the capacity of lean teams. By the end of the sprint, each participant is expected to have a portfolio of AI‑enabled workflows tailored to their own business.

Curriculum coverage includes several startup functions where AI can deliver immediate value: customer research, content creation, market analysis, fundraising preparation, sales support, operations, and internal knowledge management. The program is structured to provide hands‑on practice in each area, allowing teams to prototype and test AI solutions in a real‑world context.

The sprint is open to founders, startup team members, and entrepreneurs at any stage who are ready to integrate AI into their business operations. Applications close on October 16, 2026. Interested applicants can learn more and submit their application through the online form at https://forms.gle/jYB3bCr1Wbudeg8T9. For additional information, the program director, Carlos Murguia, can be reached at cmurguia@nmsu.edu.

"Founders in southern New Mexico and the Borderplex are building real companies with small teams and limited resources. AI tools have changed what is possible for those teams, but only if you know how to build systems around them," Murguia said. "This sprint gives participants the frameworks and hands‑on practice to do exactly that."

The Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship is housed within NMSU’s Arrowhead Center, a hub dedicated to innovation and entrepreneurship. The center was established through a transformative gift from the Woody and Gayle Hunt Family Foundation and is positioned at the forefront of efforts to empower diverse entrepreneurs, nurture student startups, and drive economic progress in the region.

By offering a structured AI training program, the Hunt Center aims to support the growing number of startups in southern New Mexico and the Borderplex that are looking to leverage AI to compete with larger firms. The sprint aligns with broader trends in the startup ecosystem, where AI sprints and bootcamps are increasingly used to accelerate product development and operational efficiency.

The program’s emphasis on building repeatable AI systems is intended to help teams move beyond one‑off experiments and toward sustainable, scalable solutions. This approach is expected to reduce the learning curve associated with AI adoption and provide a clearer path to integrating AI into core business processes.

Applications for the 2026 AI Sprint will open on October 16 and close the same day. The six‑week program will begin on October 27 and conclude on December 1. Prospective participants are encouraged to apply early, as spots are limited.

For more information about the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship and its programs, visit https://arrowheadcenter.nmsu.edu/program/the-hunt-center/.

The AI Sprint represents a concrete step by NMSU to bridge the gap between academic research and practical business application, offering entrepreneurs a chance to harness AI in a way that is tailored to the constraints and opportunities of small teams.