AI for Tough Tech Teams: 3-Part Workshop with Max Kelly
AI for Tough Tech Teams: 3-Part Workshop Series with Max Kelly (April 14, 21, and 28)
Space is limited. Register once to attend the series—your confirmation will include a calendar link for all three sessions. The content builds week over week, so attending all is encouraged, but you’re welcome to join even if you can’t make every session.
AI is rapidly reshaping how companies operate—but the challenge isn’t access to tools. It’s knowing where to start, what to build, and how to make it actually useful.
This hands-on workshop is designed for The Engine residents to move from curiosity to implementation. Each session combines practical instruction with dedicated time to build, test, and refine real workflows using AI.
The workshop is tool-agnostic and focused on frameworks that apply across models and platforms. You’ll work on your own use cases and leave with systems you can continue using and improving.
Who should attend
This series is for The Engine residents actively building or supporting Tough Tech companies who want to:
Move faster with AI
Reduce manual work and friction
Build simple, useful workflows that actually stick
No prior AI or coding experience required.
What to expect (scroll for session info)
A mix of structured instruction and hands-on building
Real-time support and troubleshooting
Practical frameworks you can apply immediately
A focus on high-leverage, real-world use cases
Please bring your laptop. Pizza will be provided.
Max Kelly is the founder of Arcane Intelligence, where he works with founders and operators to identify high-leverage workflows and implement practical AI systems inside their organizations. He specializes in AI tooling, agentic workflows, and automation strategy, with a focus on helping teams cut through hype and apply these tools in ways that are genuinely useful, scalable, and adaptable.
Week 1: Foundations + Your First Workflow
Tuesday, April 14 | 5–8 PM | The Event Space
This session introduces the core concepts behind modern AI systems and helps you identify where they can create immediate value in your work.
We’ll cover:
What agents are and how they differ from chat-based tools
The current AI landscape (models, tools, and capabilities)
Key concepts: context, workflows, and system structure
Risks, limitations, and responsible use
You’ll then identify a high-leverage workflow within your own work and begin building a first version during the session.
Week 2: Building Smarter Workflows
Tuesday, April 21 | 5–8 PM | The Garage
This session focuses on improving and expanding the workflows you started in Week 1—making them more reliable, useful, and integrated into your day-to-day work.
We’ll cover:
Structuring workflows for consistency and repeatability
Managing context and inputs across steps
Integrating tools, data sources, and external systems
Designing more specialized, task-specific agents
Debugging and improving outputs
You’ll spend time refining your workflow and extending its capabilities.
Week 3: From Personal Use to Company Systems
Tuesday, April 28 | 5–8 PM | The Garage
This session explores how to scale AI beyond individual use—into systems that support teams and organizations.
We’ll cover:
Turning individual workflows into shared systems
Designing guardrails, approvals, and human oversight
Ownership and accountability for AI-enabled processes
Identifying where AI can reduce bottlenecks across your organization
Coordinating workflows across teams
You’ll adapt your workflow for broader use or map a new system at the team level.