NMSU's Hunt Center: Last call for AI Co-Workers Sprint applications

WRITER: Alejandro Najera-Acosta, a_najera@nmsu.edu 
SOURCE: Carlos Murguia, cmurguia@nmsu.edu 

The Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship at New Mexico State University's Arrowhead Center is issuing a final reminder that applications for its fall AI Co-Workers Sprint close on October 16, 2026. The six-week program, AI Co-Workers for Startup Teams, begins October 27 and is designed to help founders and startup teams use modern AI tools as practical co-workers within their businesses. 

This program is for early-stage entrepreneurs and small teams ready to move beyond basic prompting. Participants develop reusable AI skills, establish quality assurance processes, connect AI tools to existing workflows, and build systems that extend the capacity of lean teams. By the end of the sprint, each participant will have assembled a portfolio of AI-enabled workflows tailored to their own business. 

The curriculum addresses startup functions where AI can generate immediate operational value, including customer research, content creation, market analysis, fundraising preparation, sales support, operations, and internal knowledge management. Rather than focusing on a single platform, the program emphasizes frameworks and practices that apply across modern AI tools, giving founders the foundation to adapt as technology evolves. 

"Founders in southern New Mexico and the Borderplex are building real companies with small teams and limited resources," said Carlos Murguia, director of the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship. "AI tools have changed what is possible for those teams, but only if you know how to build systems around them. This sprint gives participants the frameworks and hands-on practice to do exactly that, and we want to ensure that founders across the region have access to this opportunity." 

The six-week sprint begins on October 27, 2026. Applications are open to founders, startup team members, and entrepreneurs at any stage who are ready to integrate AI into their business operations. Interested applicants can learn more and apply at https://forms.gle/jYB3bCr1Wbudeg8T9. For additional information, contact Carlos Murguia at cmurguia@nmsu.edu. 

Arrowhead Center is a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship, committed to catalyzing economic development and fostering a culture of innovation. The Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship, established through a transformative gift from the Woody and Gayle Hunt Family Foundation, is at the forefront of these efforts, empowering diverse entrepreneurs, nurturing student startups, and fueling economic progress. 

For more information about the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship, contact Carlos Murguia at cmurguia@nmsu.edu or visit https://arrowheadcenter.nmsu.edu/program/the-hunt-center/.