Register your interest in future cohorts

Cohort 3 is meeting at the Hub throughout October. We're now taking expressions of interest from Sunshine Coast business owners and senior leaders who want to join a future cohort or get involved in Uplift in other ways.

Cohort 3 runs over four Thursday mornings

  • Thursday 8 October
  • Thursday 15 October
  • Thursday 22 October
  • Thursday 29 October

All sessions run 9am to 11am at the Peregian Digital Hub.

Read our collection notice to see how we handle your information.

Participants collaborating during the Tokenizer Uplift program

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
  • How to identify and implement a valuable use case
Up to 3 people per business

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
Available by EOI

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
Selected projects
Cohorts 1 and 2

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.

80 Business leaders
53 Local businesses
2 Completed cohorts

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 Lindstrom, 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

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

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 international 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

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

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

  • 2020+
    AI Cadetship Program - Hands-on AI fundamentals for high school students, engaging over 200 students since 2020
  • 2018+
    Coding from Beach Meetups - Long-running tech community events with AI-focused workshops and expert talks
  • 2023+
    "Upstream" Program - Weekly sessions keeping members at the cutting edge of generative AI technologies

AI Ecosystem Development

  • Infrastructure
    AI Lab Facility - Dedicated space for AI development, experimentation, and collaboration
  • Community
    Thriving AI Startup Hub - helped incubate innovative AI startups like Springboards.ai, Nextplay.ai, Telescope.co, and Workr Labs
  • Impact
    53 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

What is Uplift?

Uplift is an 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.

Who is Uplift for?

Uplift is for owners and senior leaders of eligible Sunshine Coast SMEs who want to make practical progress with AI in their business.

What does Cohort 3 cover?

Cohort 3's 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.

When and where will the sessions be held?

Cohort 3 is running every Thursday from 9am to 11am, 8 to 29 October 2026, at the Peregian Digital Hub. Dates for future cohorts are not set yet. Register your interest and we will let you know when they are.

How do I apply?

Fill in the expression of interest form using a button on this page. We will contact you when we confirm dates for the next cohort.

How will you use my information?

The Hub is operated by Noosa Shire Council. Our collection notice explains how Council collects, uses and stores the information you give us, including through the expression of interest form.

AI Collaboration

Put AI to work in your business

Cohort 3 is in session now. Register your interest in a future cohort and we will be in touch when dates are set.

Register your interest

Read our collection notice to see how we handle your information.