Partnership aims to certify 150 community Master Trainers, expanding hands-on AI education and entrepreneurship opportunities statewide
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (June 16, 2026) –IN AI, the statewide initiative led by the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), today announced a partnership with InnoPower.ai to expand a proven community-based AI training model across Indiana. The collaboration supports IN AI’s mission to make Indiana the most AI-ready state by bringing practical artificial intelligence education directly to sole proprietors, small-business owners, community leaders, educators, and residents across the state.
Building on successful programs already demonstrated in Indiana communities including Indianapolis, Gary and Michigan City, InnoPower.ai will leverage its cohort-based certification model and train-the-trainer approach to help more Hoosiers gain the skills needed to use AI effectively in their businesses, careers and communities.
“Building an AI-ready Indiana means meeting people where they are,” said Melina Kennedy, CEO of CICP. “Through IN AI, we are connecting more Hoosier entrepreneurs, small-business owners and community leaders to practical AI tools and training that can help them innovate and grow. InnoPower.ai has already demonstrated the power of community-based learning, and our collaboration expands that impact to communities across Indiana while advancing our broader AI-readiness strategy.”
InnoPower.ai’s certification program is designed for individuals with no prior technical background. Participants progress through levels for Foundation, Fluency, Deploy and Launch, which helps them develop skills in AI literacy, prompt engineering, automation and AI agents. Each participant completes a hands-on capstone project before earning certification, ensuring they can immediately apply what they learn.
The model is built to equip, not simply inform. Among program completers to date, 34 percent have launched a new business and 20 percent of existing businesses have integrated AI into daily operations, demonstrating the practical impact of hands-on AI education.
“We’ve seen firsthand how AI can create opportunities for people who often lack access to advanced technology training,” said Emil Ekiyor, founder and CEO of InnoPower.ai and InnoPower. “Sole proprietors and small-business owners are using AI to increase productivity, expand capacity and pursue new business opportunities. Through our partnership with IN AI, we can scale that impact by certifying community-based Master Trainers who will bring AI education directly into neighborhoods, libraries, churches, coworking spaces and other trusted local gathering places.”
A key component of the partnership is InnoPower.ai’s train-the-trainer model, which expands reach through local leadership. In 2025, InnoPower.ai certified 35 Master Trainers, who collectively reached approximately 700 Indiana residents within their first four months. Through the IN AI partnership, the organization aims to certify 150 Master Trainers, each equipped to train learners within their own communities by November 30, 2026.
For participants who are ready to advance beyond foundational AI skills, InnoPower.ai’s Deploy and Launch tracks focus on workflow automation, AI-powered business processes and autonomous agents, helping learners move from AI users to AI builders. High-performing graduates may also become future Master Trainers, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that expands with every cohort.
While the initiative is designed to support entrepreneurs and small-business owners, its reach extends further to educators, returning citizens, opportunity youth and older adults seeking to develop practical AI skills and participate in Indiana’s growing innovation economy.
The partnership reflects IN AI’s broader strategy of connecting businesses and communities with trusted organizations, proven training providers and practical resources that accelerate AI adoption across every region of the state. For more information about InnoPower.ai, visit InnoPower.ai. To learn more about IN AI, upcoming roadshows, including the July 21 event in Indianapolis and Indiana’s AI-readiness resources, visit INAIReady.com.
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About IN AI
IN AI is a statewide initiative led by the CEOs of the Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) to help Indiana businesses and communities adopt artificial intelligence in ways that grow jobs, raise wages and strengthen long-term competitiveness. Supported by Governor Mike Braun, the human-centered initiative aims to engage Hoosiers across the state through
practical tools, training and partnerships that prepare Indiana for the AI-driven economy. More information is available at INAIReady.com or email ai@cicpindiana.com.
About InnoPower.ai
InnoPower.ai is the AI training and workforce development platform of InnoPower Indy, an Indianapolis-based organization focused on expanding economic opportunity through innovation and technology. Through certification programs, a train-the-trainer model and its AI Knowledge Entrepreneur framework, InnoPower.ai equips individuals to use, build and teach AI in ways that create lasting economic opportunity. Learn more at InnoPower.ai or email info@innopower.ai.
