Home

Big Lever Institute: Program Overview

New Venture Planning in the Age of AI

Welcome to Big Lever Institute's flagship 12-week programs, designed to prepare innovation leaders to launch new ventures or champion new product initiatives inside established organizations. Each track blends proven lean startup and business model design with the latest advances in AI—empowering you to build, test, and refine high-impact solutions, all while learning ethical, responsible AI practices.

What Sets These Programs Apart?

1

AI as a Team Member

AI is integrated as a research analyst, simulation engine, experiment factory, scenario planner, and feedback source—not simply a writing tool.

2

Peer, Expert & AI Feedback

Continuous improvement cycles leverage reviews from humans and advanced AI.

3

Practice over Theory

Build, test, and learn using live data, not hypothetical case studies.

4

Portfolio Outcomes

Every student graduates with a full venture or innovation portfolio, ready for investors, employers, or internal sponsors.

5

Ethical & Practical

Learn transparency and risk mitigation for safe, trustworthy AI use.

Core Learning Experience

Iterative, project-based modules

Using AI alongside human creativity and judgment

Live and simulated testing

Landing pages, MVPs, pilot programs

Structured portfolio building

For presentations—whether pitching investors or executive leadership

Who Should Enroll?

Startup Track

Aspiring entrepreneurs, founders, or anyone developing new products, services, or organizations from scratch

Intrapreneurship Track

Innovators and product leaders driving new initiatives, services, or products inside corporations, nonprofits, or government organizations

Both programs are accessible as open, self-paced courses or can be taken as a facilitated cohort with expert guidance.

Startup Track

Build Your Venture from the Ground Up

Startup Track Syllabus

Weeks 1-2: Mindset & Foundations

  • Differences between startups and established companies
  • Modern business models and innovation patterns
  • AI's evolving role, capabilities, limitations, basic prompt skills

Weeks 3-4: Customer Discovery & Persona Development

01

Design, run, and synthesize customer interviews

02

AI for persona simulation and problem mining

03

Early validation signals and "jobs to be done"

Weeks 5-6: Market Validation & Opportunity Sizing

What You'll Learn

  • Market sizing frameworks (TAM/SAM/SOM)
  • Keyword research using both digital tools and manual methods
  • Sketching initial business case and unit economics

Assignment

Market analysis report (with AI input); keyword data set; LTV/CAC estimate

Weeks 7-8: Landing Page & Ad Campaign Creation

Building and deploying conversion-focused ads and landing pages

AI-powered copywriting, A/B test variation generation

Setting up analytics or similar tools for real-time feedback

Weeks 9-10: Data-Driven Testing & Iteration

Reading traffic, conversion, cost data

Understanding what the numbers tell you about customer behavior

AI "experiment factory" for rapid variant testing

Accelerating your learning cycles with intelligent automation

Decision-making: pivot, iterate, or double down?

Making strategic choices based on evidence

Weeks 11-12: Synthesis & Presentation

Final Deliverables

  • Completing the full Business Model Canvas using real results
  • AI scenario planning and risk assessment (e.g., what if conversion dips, market shrinks, etc.)
  • Pitch video and written portfolio design
  • AI and peer feedback cycles

Intrapreneurship Track

Drive Innovation Inside Your Organization

Intrapreneurship Track Syllabus

Weeks 1-2: Innovation Within Organizations

Finding and scoping opportunities inside companies

Asset mapping and stakeholder analysis

Understanding internal "customers": decision makers, blockers, sponsors

Weeks 3-4: Dual Customer Discovery & Coalition Building

Simultaneous external and internal interviews

Customers, managers, sponsors, teams

Mapping needs to internal business priorities

Aligning innovation with organizational goals

AI-assisted persona and interview prompt generation

For both groups

Weeks 5-6: Business Case & ROI Development

Financial Frameworks

  • Corporate finance requirements (NPV, payback, risk, cannibalization)
  • AI-powered financial modeling and risk matrix construction
  • Building strategic alignment with company goals

Weeks 7-8: MVP Pilot & Internal Launch Planning

Piloting solutions with real users

Staff or select customers

Success criteria and measurement frameworks

Defining what good looks like

Navigating stage-gate approvals and compliance

Working within organizational processes

Weeks 9-10: Pilot Analysis & Iteration

Synthesizing data from pilot

Both quantitative and qualitative

AI-driven scenario analysis

Resource, adoption, risk

Building the case for expansion

Scale, or pivot

Weeks 11-12: Executive Presentation & Next Steps

Final Presentation

  • Pitching to an internal executive board or steering committee (structure differs from investor pitch)
  • Governance plan and next-90-days action plan
  • AI-generated FAQ for anticipated objections

FAQ

Which AI tools/platforms are used?

The program teaches prompt engineering and concept development for a wide range of modern AI-based tools. Students may use their preferred platform(s); all instruction is platform-agnostic.

More Questions?

What portfolio will I take away?

  • Startup track graduates complete a full "investor-ready" business portfolio
  • Intrapreneurship track graduates complete an "internal business case" and pilot plan ready for executive review

How do I apply or enroll?

  • Open cohort and self-paced options are available.
  • Corporate/facilitated cohorts may have additional requirements and interactive elements.
  • See enrollment page for start dates, fees, and facilitator bios.

Ready to Get Started?

For more detailed module descriptions, delivery options, or cohort start dates contact our team.

Contact Us