AI in Action

The Florida Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University and the FGCU Dendritic Institute for Human-Centered AI and Data Science will present AI in Action: Strategies for Business Growth, a regional forum examining how artificial intelligence is already reshaping business decision-making, operations, capital access, and competitive strategy. The event brings together academic leadership, industry practitioners, investors, and technologists for a focused, execution-driven discussion grounded in actionable real-world applications for small businesses.

The program frames artificial intelligence through the lenses of engineering, business strategy, and organizational innovation, moving fluidly between academic insight and applied industry experience. Discussion topics include operational automation, data-informed decision-making, customer experience optimization, risk modeling, and workforce augmentation, with an emphasis on tools and approaches that scale realistically for small and mid-sized enterprises. For local businesses, these perspectives translate into clearer processes, better use of existing data, reduced operational friction, and more confident strategic planning, without requiring enterprise-level teams or budgets. The forum also explores AI’s expanding role in capital strategy and investment decision-making, highlighting FGCU’s role as a regional convenor of applied research, workforce alignment, and economic development. This event will provide local businesses with a clearer framework for evaluating AI not as a trend, but as a practical component of long-term operational planning.

AI in Action takes place Thursday, February 26, 2026, from 4:00 PM — 8:00 PM at the FGCU Academic Building 9 (The Water School), Room AB9 138. Tickets are $49 and include dinner.

To register, visit https://events.blackthorn.io/en/6g3Q8Wa7/ai-in-action-strategies-for-business-growth-5a1eVOCLPPW/overview