Uplift starts on 28 August 2026
Join a four-week AI adoption program for Sunshine Coast business owners and senior leaders. Work on real opportunities in your business alongside other local leaders who are putting AI to work.
Put AI to work in your business
Uplift helps Sunshine Coast business leaders increase capacity in day-to-day work, improve existing products and services, and create new capabilities and value. Each session focuses on opportunities you can apply in your own business.
Find work worth changing
Identify work where AI can save time, improve quality or give your team capacity to take on more.
Use what your business knows
Make better use of the knowledge, data and experience your business has built over time.
Test practical tools and agents
See useful AI tools in action, test them against real work and learn from other local leaders.
How Uplift works
Every business starts with the four-workshop program. Subsidised mentoring and proof-of-concept support are available separately through an expression-of-interest process.
Four practical workshops
Four sessions at the Peregian Digital Hub, with up to three people attending from each business:
- Practical AI adoption
- Business knowledge and context
- Useful AI tools and agents
- Choosing and implementing a valuable use case
1:1 Commercial Mentoring
Subsidised mentoring is separate from the workshop program and available through an expression-of-interest process:
- Explore a specific AI opportunity in your business
- Make business knowledge usable by AI tools and agents
- Plan a practical implementation
- Get guidance suited to your business
Proof of Concept Support
Selected businesses may receive support to develop and test an AI project:
- Turn an idea into a working proof of concept
- Get technical support from AI specialists
- Test whether the idea is useful and viable
- Decide what further implementation requires
What businesses did next
The first two cohorts brought together 80 leaders from 53 Sunshine Coast businesses. Participants have since used AI to make specific work faster and turn business knowledge into something their teams can use.
AI in day-to-day work
More proposals
One participant increased the number of proposals their team could prepare.
Faster ISO readiness
Another business used AI to speed up the work needed to prepare for ISO certification.
Usable company knowledge
Teams turned conversations into company knowledge that people can find and use.
What participants said
"The work and significant effort you are putting in for businesses like Bella are far more reaching than you know. I sincerely appreciate you kick-starting my AI journey and the doors you have opened for me with productivity."
Andrew Blair, Director, Bella Manufacturing
"You have created a great space for collaboration and inspiration. Our team at Lindstrom Engineering really appreciated being a part of the program and we have benefited immensely from the knowledge and energy of the network you have created."
Aaron Lindstom, Director, Lindstrom Engineering
"A huge thank you to the entire team for putting together such a thoughtfully designed and empowering program. The calibre of insights, support, and real-world application throughout the workshops has been invaluable for our growth at Concept Labs. The generosity and clarity in the materials, mentorship, and community have truly made a lasting impact."
Jaimee Hockings, Concept Labs
"The most valuable aspect of the Uplift program was the clear and practical explanation of how AI works. The hands-on experience and the real-time demonstrations of AI applications have empowered us to make smarter, data-driven decisions, benefiting both our business operations and overall strategy."
Adrian Reed, Reed and Co Real Estate
Learn from Industry Experts
Our program is led by experienced mentors who are at the forefront of AI innovation
Steve Telburn
Tokenizer Uplift Stream Lead
Highly experienced technology executive and business advisor, with deep expertise spanning venture capital, enterprise consulting, and startup leadership. Currently at Antler's pre-seed VC fund, working directly with AI startups and founders.
Chris Boden
Director, Peregian Digital Hub
Chris has led the Peregian Digital Hub since it opened in 2018. Before moving to Noosa, he had an interational career in startups and innovation with stints in San Francisco, Beijing, Singapore and Melbourne. He has been leading the development of a world class AI ecosystem on the Sunshine Coast.
Ian Hansel
Technical Lead
Data scientist, AI Engineer and Director at Verge Labs with deep background in machine learning projects and solution development. Ian helps businesses create capacity by making their proprietary data assets and know-how legible for AI Agents.
Ryan Smith
Technical Mentor
Ryan is a seasoned IT leader with deep expertise in Microsoft technologies, cloud, and cybersecurity. He helps SMEs turn technology into business advantage, with a focus on the Microsoft AI stack.
Who Should Join?
Uplift is for owners and senior leaders of eligible Sunshine Coast SMEs who want to make practical progress with AI in their business.
Existing SMBs
- Looking to improve efficiency through AI automation
- Want to develop new AI-enabled products or services
- Need to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market
- Ready to unlock new value through AI implementation
Industry Sectors
- Food and Agribusiness
- Manufacturing
- Tourism and Hospitality
- Professional Services
- Digital and Creative Industries
Business Leaders
- Forward-thinking decision makers
- Innovation-focused managers
- Teams ready for digital transformation
- Professionals seeking AI upskilling
Our AI Track Record
The Peregian Digital Hub has a proven history of engaging with AI technologies and equipping our community with essential skills
AI Education Programs
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2020+AI Cadetship Program - Hands-on AI fundamentals for high school students, engaging over 200 students since 2020
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2018+Coding from Beach Meetups - Long-running tech community events with AI-focused workshops and expert talks
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2023+"Upstream" Program - Weekly sessions keeping members at the cutting edge of generative AI technologies
AI Ecosystem Development
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InfrastructureAI Lab Facility - Dedicated space for AI development, experimentation, and collaboration
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CommunityThriving AI Startup Hub - helped incubate innovative AI startups like Springboards.ai, Nextplay.ai, Telescope.co, and Workr Labs
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Impact53 Sunshine Coast SMEs supported - the first two Uplift cohorts helped business leaders apply AI to day-to-day work, products and services
Frequently asked questions
Uplift is a four-week AI adoption and innovation program for Sunshine Coast businesses. It helps owners and senior leaders apply AI to day-to-day work, existing products and services, and new business opportunities.
Uplift is for owners and senior leaders of eligible Sunshine Coast SMEs who want to make practical progress with AI in their business.
The four workshops cover practical AI adoption, business knowledge and context, useful AI tools and agents, and how to identify and implement a valuable use case. You will see local examples, work on your own business and learn from other participants.
The workshop program costs $293 per business and includes up to three participants from your business.
Cohort 3 starts on 28 August 2026 at the Peregian Digital Hub. The four sessions will run across late August and September, before the school holidays.
Subsidised mentoring is separate from the workshop program and available through an expression-of-interest process. We will share the details with workshop participants.
No. You can take part in the workshop program without applying for subsidised mentoring.
Uplift continues through peer learning, mentoring or proof-of-concept work where relevant. Suitable alumni can also apply for Hub SME membership. Businesses arrange any further implementation work directly with the provider.
Complete the expression-of-interest form by 20 August 2026 using an application button on this page.
Put AI to work in your business
Apply for Cohort 3 by 20 August 2026. The workshop program costs $293 per business and includes up to three participants.
Apply for Cohort 3