UNLOCK UP TO $10,000

Train your team on AI and automate workflows

We teach your team to build AI systems that ship real work, and we handle the government funding so up to $10,000 of it is covered.

THE SHIFT

AI just changed what leaders need to budget for

For a decade you budgeted for headcount and software. Now there's a third line item: tokens. Who gets how many, which model they reach for, and what the ROI looks like. Most teams haven't had this conversation yet.

And most still treat AI like a supercharged Google. "Agents" sound engineer-only, but they aren't. Tools like Claude Cowork let non-technical teams build workflows and live artifacts in a single place. Your team can be doing it next week.

That's what this training is for. If you're an Ontario business, the government will cover up to $10,000 of it.

Who qualifies

Ontario businesses

5-499 employees

$500K+ annual revenue

Businesses eager to optimize operations

Manufacturing, construction, wholesale, distribution, agri-food, and mining industries

WHAT YOU GET

A training program built around what makes AI actually work

Most people think picking the right model is 99% of the game. It isn't. Here's what we cover, and what your team walks away able to do on their own.

AI Business Audit & Assessment

We conduct a comprehensive analysis of your operations to identify the highest-impact AI opportunities and create a customized implementation strategy tailored to your industry.

Customized AI Training Programs

Hands-on workshops designed around your team's skill level and your actual business processes. No generic courses, just practical knowledge and live builds your team can use immediately.

Context Engineering

Most "bad AI output" is user error, not model error. We teach your team how to manage context like a precious resource, which models to reach for, and how to budget tokens so you get the best answer at the right cost.

Skills & Agentic Workflows

A skill is just an SOP written for an AI. We show your team how to codify the processes already in their heads, and how to use tools like Claude Cowork to build real agentic workflows without an engineering team.

AI Strategy & Guardrails

We help you build internal AI capability: tool selection, rollout planning, and the guardrails that keep Legal, Compliance, and IT on-side. Your team learns to lead AI initiatives confidently and safely.

Implementation Support

Ongoing guidance as you roll out AI solutions, including troubleshooting, optimization, and strategic advice. We stay close until adoption sticks.

Your AI-driven transformation begins here

We've helped over 100 small businesses unlock government funding for AI and technology upgrades. Fill out the form below and we'll be in touch within 48 hours.

Successfully submitted.

Opening Motion Calendar...

Congrats, you may be a great fit for the DMAP program. Book a consultation call to find out more.

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
ABOUT US

Official partner with Ontario's Future Ready Program

The Future Ready program supports Ontario SMEs in key sectors including Advanced Manufacturing, Construction, Agri-food, and Mining by helping them upskill employees on emerging technologies.

Islands is an official CIT and DCC Program Advisor, helping Ontario small businesses unlock government funding for digital transformation. As a certified Digital Consultancy, we handle the complete process, from funding applications to building and implementing custom technology.

founder

Ali El-Shayeb

linkedin logo

Founder & CEO of Islands

Serial entrepreneur, investor, and AI operator out of Toronto. With two AI exits behind him, Ali works with high-growth teams as a Fractional CTO, designing agentic systems, training their people to build alongside them, and turning AI strategy into shipped work.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What business owners ask us

Quick answers to help you understand how the grant works for your business.

Is my business eligible for the AI training grant?

Your business may be eligible if you're an Ontario company with 5-499 employees, $500K+ annual revenue, and operate in Manufacturing, Construction, Wholesale, Distribution, Agri-food, or Mining industries. We'll help you determine eligibility during your free consultation call.

How much funding can I get?

You can access up to $10,000 in government funding through the Future Ready program for AI training and implementation. During our first call, we'll assess your business needs and determine if you qualify for this or other available government funding programs.

What does the application process look like?

It's simple and we support you end-to-end. After our first consultation call, we guide you through the application, and most clients are approved within 30 days.

What will my team actually learn?

We cover four core areas: model selection and token budgeting, context engineering, building skills and agentic workflows, and guardrails for safe deployment. Every engagement includes hands-on process mapping with your leadership and live agent builds with your team.

How is this different from an AI course or a consultant?

Courses teach theory. Consultants write decks. We embed with your team, coach them hands-on, and build real agentic workflows alongside them — the kind they'll run themselves once we're done.

Do we need technical people on the team?

No. A big part of what we teach is how non-technical people can build real agentic workflows using tools like Claude Cowork. If you have technical people, great — we'll go deeper with them. If you don't, we'll get your operators shipping on their own.

Do you also develop tailored solutions for our business?

Yes! As a technology company, we don't just provide training - we can develop custom AI solutions and automation technologies specifically designed for your business needs and industry requirements.

Do I have to pay anything?

This is a 50% matching grant program. Your business contributes $10,000 toward AI training and solutions, and the government provides a matching $10,000 grant.

What is the Future Ready program?

The Future Ready program is an Ontario government initiative that supports small and medium businesses in key sectors by providing funding to help them upskill employees on emerging technologies like AI.

What is Islands and which services do you offer?

Islands is a certified digital consultancy specializing in AI training and technology solutions for small businesses. We offer government funding assistance, custom AI training programs, solution development, and ongoing tech support to help businesses modernize their operations.

APPROVAL PROCESS

How to apply for the Digital & AI Training Grant

We guide you through the entire process. Approval typically takes 30 days.

1

Book a Call

We map where AI can help your business most and which modules fit your team.

2

Application and proposal

We handle the paperwork and build a custom funding proposal for your business.

3

Get approved and start training

Access up to $10,000 in funding and start hands-on, agentic AI training built specifically for your team.

WALL OF LOVE

Real results from real businesses

We specialize in helping businesses secure funding for both digital transformation and AI adoption. Our team ensures a seamless application process, from eligibility assessment t project implementation. See what our clients have to say:

Monty Elsabbagh, Director
Ottawa General Contractors
We weren’t just learning theory—we werebuilding AI workflows that solved realbottlenecks. This was the best kind of hands-ontraining: clear, relevant, and future-ready.
Vash Bhatia, CEO
Myron Tile & Stone
The Islands AI training felt like a lightbulb going off. This was the first time AI made real sense for our business, making AI actually useful, not just cool.
Junaid Zabir, COO
Toronto Construction
Islands made AI click for me and my team. It’snot just about tools, it’s a new way of thinkingabout scaling our work.
Mohammad El Hassan, CEO
Infinite Distribution Inc.
Our partnership was all about strategy. Islandcame in, assessed our business, and showed usexactly where AI would drive ROI. It was hands-on consulting and results.
Husam Abu Hashem, CEO
International Design Stars
From automation to customer experience, theirtraining gave us a whole new toolkit to rethinkhow we do business. We're now miles ahead ofwhere we started.
Amal Ahmed, President
Selections Interiors and Design
We’ve tried trainings before, but nothing likethis. Islands gave us clarity, direction, animmediate ways to streamline our work. We leftwith tools we actually use every day.
Mark Anthony, CEO
Noble Ground
Their LLM sessions were strategic, fast-paced and laser-focused on our real needs. I’d recommend Islands to any founder trying to bring AI into operations.
Khaled Daoued, CEO
Arcan Glass Inc.
Their AI training was detailed, actionable, and made me rethink how we run key processes. The team came out more efficient and more confident in using AI.
Justin Hocking, Director
JH & Co
From prompt engineering to smart automations, every part of the program delivered immediate ROI. This is AI strategy with execution.
Angie Polanco, Owner
Elite Iron Design
Islands upskilled our team quickly, but more than that, they taught us how to build, test, anddeploy AI solutions that actually work in our dayto-day environment.
Akram Hanna, Owner
Hanna Homes Construction
They didn’t just train our team. They restructured how we think about AI, applying it to procurement, site operations, and client communications with deep expertise.
Roger Sabat, CEO
Biiibo
Islands helped us unlock Grant (DMAP) thatdirectly supported our growth plans. Theirprocess was efficient and clear, and the impacton our hiring and internal systems wasimmediate.
Abdallah El-Falou, CTO
FluidAI Medical
Working with Islands gave us a real edge. Theyhandled the complexities of the grant processwhile we focused on scaling. The grant fundingwe secured through them accelerated keyinitiatives across our team.
Anan Massud, Head of Sales
Toronto General Contractors
Phenomenal team and very fast work. Glad wemet Ali and the team. They work diligently andhave helped us secure $25K funding in weeks,with very little effort on our side.
Valentin Staykov, CEO
Pastel
Islands made it incredibly easy for us to accessnon-dilutive capital. Their team understood ourbusiness, acted fast, and helped us makemeaningful progress without slowing us down.
Devin Holmberg, Founder
YTZ Management Inc.
Partnering with Islands was a smart move for us.They streamlined the entire funding process and helped us secure the support we needed tostrengthen our back office and internalcapabilities. Highly recommend them to anygrowing company.
Salpy Sepan, General Manager
Ararat Trading Corp.
We’ve worked with other consultants in the past, but Islands was on another level. Their team made the grant process seamless, and we were able to invest into areas of the business that needed immediate attention.
Umang Dua, Director
Trysight
Working with Islands felt like having an in-housegrants team. They guided us through every step, from identifying the right fundingopportunities to handling the full submissionprocess. Their support directly helped us investmore confidently in our team and productroadmap.