Barbados’ National Organisation of Women (NOW) has partnered with local AI capability firm Amplifi AI to launch a groundbreaking free training initiative that will equip up to 35 women with the skills to build sustainable, AI-integrated businesses. The programme, officially named *Build a Business with AI*, was unveiled during a press conference held Monday at the Ministry of People Empowerment in Warrens, with organizers framing it as a tangible step toward closing the gender gap in digital economic empowerment.
NOW president Melissa Savoury-Gittens emphasized that encouragement alone is not enough to lift women into economic independence. For too long, she noted, women have been urged to dream bigger, launch ventures, and build financial security – but have been denied access to the practical tools and cutting-edge skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital economy. “Economic empowerment today means access, it means skills, it means knowledge, and it means opportunity,” Savoury-Gittens explained. “Increasingly, that also means ensuring women understand and can access the technology that is reshaping how we work, communicate, and do business.”
Open to women of all ages, the three-session programme will run across three consecutive Saturdays – September 12, 19, and 26 – at Barbados’ Solidarity House. Unlike many superficial AI training courses that only introduce a list of tools, the initiative is structured to guide participants from initial business ideation all the way to a fully executable launch plan, with completion leading to an official certificate of participation.
Janelle Germain, chief executive of Amplifi AI, clarified that the programme’s curriculum prioritizes foundational business knowledge first, before integrating AI as a complementary tool rather than a replacement for critical judgment. “Knowing 10 AI tools does not make a business,” Germain noted. “This programme follows one structured workflow: from idea to execution, with AI woven into every step of the process.” On the first day of training, participants will start by defining their target customer base, verifying market size, and calculating pricing for profitability – all before touching any AI platform. Germain stressed that core business expertise remains non-negotiable even in the age of generative AI: “You cannot direct artificial intelligence well if you do not understand the subject itself. You cannot judge whether the output AI gives you is correct or safe to attach your brand to it.”
The curriculum is designed to support all participants, regardless of their starting point. For women who already have a business concept, the programme will help them test the idea’s actual revenue potential, addressing a common pitfall that leads new entrepreneurs to misjudge market opportunity. For participants who have not yet settled on an idea, trainers will work with them to identify viable ventures aligned with their available capital – whether they have $0, $500, or $5,000 to invest – tailored to the Barbados market.
The initiative grew out of public demand following a successful earlier digital skills programme that NOW ran for young people earlier this year. After that programme wrapped, many women across age groups reached out to request a similar opportunity open to all adults, prompting NOW to partner with Amplifi AI to develop the new AI entrepreneurship training. The full $20,000+ value of the programme is covered through partnerships with NOW, Amplifi AI, and additional supporting stakeholders, meaning no participant pays any fees to attend.
Germain noted that the programme fills a critical gap currently facing micro-entrepreneurs, small business owners, and workers in the informal economy, who rarely have access to specialized training to integrate AI into their operations. The programme will conclude with a live pitching event on October 10, where the three strongest business concepts will be presented to a panel of judges and a public audience. Germain’s ultimate goal is for every participant to leave with a business they can launch immediately, and for local stakeholders to step up to support these new ventures long-term. She is calling on local partners to contribute advertising and media exposure to help new businesses reach customers, small-scale financing for initial inventory and equipment, ongoing mentorship during the challenging early launch phase, and access to distribution channels such as retail shelf space and first client contracts.
This first group of participants will serve as a pilot cohort, and Germain confirmed that additional rounds of the programme will be considered if public demand is strong. Applications for the programme are open now on Amplifi AI’s official website, and will close one week from the announcement date this Wednesday. Germain encouraged all women and young people with an interest in entrepreneurship to apply, noting that the programme is designed to give aspiring founders the structured framework they need to turn abstract ideas into viable, income-generating businesses.