AI Learning and Innovation

Find practical AI programs to help you grow, innovate, and prepare for what’s next

NOW OPEN

AI Innovation Challenge

The AI Innovation Challenge invites students in grades 9–12 to identify a real-world problem, explore how AI could help, and develop a solution with support from educators and mentors. Teams will present their work at the SOVA Innovation Hub in April 2027. No prior AI or coding experience is required.

Workshops can be scheduled for participating groups in person, with Jacob Dolence joining a classroom by Zoom, or at SEED Innovation Hub in Farmville.

  • Cost: Free; tuition is covered by SOVA Innovation Hub
  • Program period: September 2026–April 2027
  • Who can participate: High school teams in Halifax, Charlotte, Mecklenburg, Prince Edward, Buckingham, Lunenburg, Brunswick, Nottoway, and Cumberland counties
  • School coordination: One lead educator serves as the contact for each participating school system
  • Private school and homeschool students: Coordinated through Jacob Dolence of Longwood University
Learn More

NOW OPEN

AI for Business Workshops

Practical, In-Person AI Training

Learn how to use AI to save time, improve everyday tasks, and support business growth. These live workshops will provide practical guidance for businesses, entrepreneurs, and their teams.

  • $0 cost
  • Open to: Business owners, entrepreneurs, and their teams
  • Format: Live workshops at the SOVA Innovation Hub, plus one session at the RISE Summit on August 27
  • Topics: AI basics, data analysis, chatbots, workflows, content creation, and product development
  • No prior AI or coding experience required
View Upcoming Workshops

WAITLIST OPEN

gener8tor Skills AI for Leaders

sVirtual 6-Week Training for Business Leaders and Teams

gener8tor is again partnering with Microsoft and the SOVA Innovation Hub to bring AI for Leaders to the region, at no cost to participants. No technical background or tech job is required. This program is fully online, cohort-based with live sessions, and require no tech background, require hands on learning and award certificates on completion.

  • $0 cost (Microsoft covers tuition)
  • Teams of 1-4 participants each (priority to teams with multiple members) 
  • Eligibility: Lunenburg, Brunswick, Mecklenburg, Halifax, or Charlotte counties, VA
  • Who it’s for: leaders, managers and decision makers. Preference goes to people who live and work in the region and join as a team from the same organization.
  • Dates: February 22 – March 31, 2027 (6 weeks, about 5–10 hours per week)
  • Format: virtual and cohort-based, with weekly live Lunch and Learns and workshops, plus self-paced Microsoft and LinkedIn Learning course
  • You’ll leave with: a real AI use case for your organization, presented at a final Use Case Showcase to industry guests and peers and three professional certificates
  • Seats: limited to 30
Join the Waitlist
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