2026 AI Innovator in Education Award

Prototype with purpose

Jason Kelley

Appalachian State University · Next Carolina Ventures

Student Achievement

AI-Enabled Venture Creation: a scaffolded approach that turns management students into AI prototype builders at zero cost—teaching why and how to use AI strategically, with built-in ethical friction so students reason about AI, not only with it.

• Zero-cost AI prototyping for management students
• Six-stage arc for strategic AI use
• Ethical friction built into the workflow