The Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship and the Scale Up New Mexico Program at New Mexico State University's Arrowhead Center recently concluded its GenAI Product Development Sprint, a six-week accelerator designed to help New Mexico and Borderplex startups integrate generative AI into their product development processes.
Running from Aug. 5 to Sept. 16, the program provided entrepreneurs with hands-on training to leverage AI for feature prioritization, customer requirement analysis, competitive benchmarking and data-driven roadmap creation. Participants engaged in interactive workshops, personalized mentoring and real-time feedback from industry experts.
"The GenAI Product Development Sprint empowered our cohort to harness AI in streamlining their product lifecycle, from ideation to launch," said Carlos Murguia, director of the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship and Scale Up NM program manager. "By adopting AI-driven strategies, these startups are now better equipped to accelerate development, enhance product-market fit and drive innovation."
Throughout the sprint, 12 startups participated in sessions covering key AI-powered product development strategies, including automating product marketing and launch planning. The program emphasized practical application, ensuring participants could directly implement AI tools into their workflows.
"Integrating AI into product development is no longer optional; it's a necessity for staying competitive," said Dana Catron, interim director and CEO of Arrowhead Center. "We're proud to see our entrepreneurs embrace these technologies to refine their products and bring them to market more efficiently."
The GenAI Product Development Sprint featured a blend of lectures, breakout sessions, live discussions and hands-on exercises, fostering a collaborative environment for learning and application.
"As startup entrepreneurs, we're required to wear many hats, and AI has become my new skillset that focuses on working smarter, not harder. The sprint enabled me to outsource the tasks I don't enjoy so I can focus on what I do best. My overall efficiency increased by approximately 25%, with plans to increase this as my new skillset develops. In today's competitive landscape, startups that aren't constantly learning and adapting to AI will suffer compared to those that embrace it," said Monica Odell, CEO and co-founder of PXL8.
The Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship is committed to strengthening the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem by empowering diverse communities to engage in entrepreneurship, improving access to early-stage investment opportunities, and inspiring students to develop innovative products and services for the commercial market.
For more information about the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship, contact Murguia at
For more information about Scale Up NM, contact Murguia at
The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/new-cohort-celebrates-completion-of-nmsu-genai-sprint/s/bfec9784-804b-4e6d-87ff-afe6a8b0f50a
