AI for Software Product Management Bootcamp
The course is divided into thematic weeks, each with three sessions, balancing theory and hands-on practice. Below is a detailed breakdown, including content, hands-on activities, and expectations for each session.
Week 1: The Foundations
Session 1: How Automation Really Works
We’ll start with the basics of how automated systems think. We’ll cover the difference between systems that follow strict rules and those that make educated guesses, like AI. You’ll learn to see any business task as a simple loop: get information, make a decision, take action. We’ll practice by mapping out a sales process to find the best places to add automation.
Session 2: The Modern AI Toolkit
We’ll look at the key pieces of modern automation, like how Large Language Models (LLMs) can act as the “brains” of an operation and how vector search helps find relevant information quickly. You’ll learn the essential components of an AI system so you can sketch out a basic plan for how one would work inside your own business.
Week 2: Designing Your Solution
Session 3: Choosing the Right Tool for the Job
We’ll explore the different types of AI, like systems that classify information, predict outcomes, or understand language. You’ll learn how to decide when a simple rule is better than a complex AI model based on the task’s complexity, the cost of a mistake, and the data you have. We’ll then practice by designing an automation solution for a sample business problem.
Session 4: Building in Safety Nets
We’ll discuss how to control AI in the real world. This includes writing better instructions (prompt engineering), setting up safety rules (guardrails), and creating fallback plans for when the AI gets stuck. You’ll learn to design an automation plan that includes pre-checks, post-checks, and rollback steps, and we’ll build a simple chatbot with these safety features.
Week 3: Finding & Proving the Value
Session 5: Finding Your AI Opportunity
We’ll look at the current AI market to see what kinds of solutions businesses are actually buying. You’ll learn how to identify business problems that are perfect for automation and have real market value. We’ll then practice by researching an emerging area of AI and creating a short plan for how to build a product for it.
Session 6: Proving It’s Worth the Cost
We’ll break down the real costs of using AI, from API fees to maintenance. You’ll learn how to design a small-scale experiment (a “Proof of Value”) to test your idea and measure its success. We will then map out a full solution for a business, justifying the costs and projecting the potential return on investment.
Week 4:Planning Without Code
Session 7: From Idea to a Technical Plan
We’ll focus on how to translate a business idea into a clear plan that a technical team can understand and build. You’ll learn to turn a workflow diagram into a step-by-step project plan written in plain English. We’ll practice by converting a common sales or customer support process into a blueprint for developers.
Session 8: Managing Data, Risk, and Rules
We’ll cover the essential safety checks for any AI project. This includes making sure your data is ready, protecting private information, and checking for bias. You’ll learn how to create a simple checklist to ensure your AI solution is safe, compliant, and trustworthy for clients.
Week 5: Packaging & Selling Your Solution
Session 9: Turning Your Solution into a Product
We’ll discuss how to package and price your automation solution. We’ll cover different pricing models, like charging per user or based on the results achieved. The goal is to learn how to create a clear commercial offer that explains the value, scope, and price of your solution, which we’ll practice by creating a simple one-page sales sheet.
Session 10: Selling the Story of Automation
We’ll learn how to craft a compelling sales pitch that tells a simple story: here was the problem, here is the system we built to help, and here are the positive results. You’ll learn how to handle common objections and design a 2-4 week pilot project to prove your solution’s value to a potential customer.
Week 6: Making It Last
Session 11: Keeping Your AI Running Smoothly
We’ll cover the basics of making sure your AI solution is reliable and professional. We’ll talk about how to monitor its performance for things like speed, errors, and accuracy over time. You’ll learn the best practices for building production-grade software that can scale and remain secure.
Session 12: The Final Pitch: Selling Your Vision
This is where it all comes together. You’ll present your complete automation plan to a panel, just like a real boardroom pitch. We’ll walk through your entire journey: from spotting the opportunity and designing the solution to modeling the financial return and planning the launch. You’ll leave with a complete “Go-to-Market” plan for your idea.