

This Is Not a Tech Talk!
A hands-on AI workshop for non-tech founders and small business owners.
Discover how to use AI, automation and no-code tools in your business without a tech team or coding skills.
Business technology has moved from paper records to spreadsheets, SaaS platforms and now AI. Today’s AI agents can handle multi-step tasks within the permissions and boundaries people give them, while no-code tools make it possible for non-tech people to build practical business tools without a traditional engineering budget.
But just because AI can do something does not mean it should get the job.
Valeria Oliveira will use Oro Fashion House to show what this looks like inside a real small business.
She will demonstrate how she used Claude Cowork and Codex to bring operational information and processes from different systems together, map a clearer workflow and shape the prompts used to build a functioning app with Lovable.
Simone Oro will briefly share the business owner’s perspective, including the original challenges and the impact the new app has had on her operations, revenue and work-life balance.
Through hands-on activities and conversations, you will begin exploring where AI could be useful in your business, where human judgment may still matter and what you might want to test before investing in a new automation, app or system.
During the workshop, you will:
Understand the difference between an AI chat, skill, agent and no-code app, and how they can work together
Follow a real small business workflow from disconnected information to a working app
Spot where AI could actually help in your own business
Recognise where human judgment still matters
Consider what might be worth testing before investing in automation or new software
Leave with a practical next step
No technical background required. No coding skills, previous AI experience or tech team needed.
Who is this for?
Non-tech founders
Small business owners
Service providers
People dealing with repetitive, manual or unclear processes
Anyone curious about AI and no-code tools without wanting to become an expert
Facilitator: Valeria Oliveira
Valeria is the founder of Validate Launch Scale. She helps non-tech founders and small business owners work out what is worth building or automating before they waste money on the wrong app, workflow or system.
Guest speaker: Simone Oro
Simone is the founder of Oro Fashion House and the business owner behind the workshop’s real-world case study. She will share what it was like to bring information and processes from different systems into a clearer way of working, and the impact the new app has had on her business.
Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Time: 6:00 pm
Venue: Substation No.13
Address: 63 Little Mount Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009
Tickets: Free, registration required
Format: 60-minute interactive workshop
Getting there
Substation No.13 is a 3 minute walk from the Fish Market Light Rail stop. Bus services run along Harris Street, with stops near Harris Street and Miller Street. Parking nearby is limited, so public transport or a rideshare is recommended.
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Photography and filming
Photos and video may be taken during this session for Spark Festival and Validate Launch Scale event coverage and promotion, including social media, event recaps and future marketing. If you would prefer not to be photographed or filmed, please let a team member know at check-in. We will provide a way to identify your preference and make reasonable efforts to ensure you are not included.
Places are limited to keep this interactive. Register to save your seat.
Questions? Contact Valeria Oliveira at info@validatelaunchscale.com.