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.
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
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
Customized AI Training Programs
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Context Engineering
Skills & Agentic Workflows
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AI Strategy & Guardrails
Implementation Support
Fund your share of the grant at 2.25% interest
Ontario grants match your investment. BDC's LIFT program covers your half with a low-interest loan, and building with a Canadian team like ours qualifies you for the preferential rate.
Interest rate
Loan size
Principal deferral
LIFT is a repayable loan administered by BDC for businesses with $1M+ in annual revenue. Conditions apply.
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.
Trusted partner for Ontario's digital transformation programs
Islands helps Ontario SMEs across sectors like Advanced Manufacturing, Construction, Agri-food, Mining, and beyond upskill their teams and adopt emerging technologies with confidence.
As an official CIT and DCC Program Advisor, a BDC Advisor, and active seminar participants with the Toronto Region Board of Trade, we help small and mid-sized businesses unlock government funding and put it to work. From funding applications to building and implementing custom technology, we handle the complete process end to end.
Ali El-Shayeb
Lead Advisor and 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.
What business owners ask us
Quick answers to help you understand how the grant works for your business.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How to apply for the Digital & AI Training Grant
We guide you through the entire process. Approval takes up to 30 days.
Book a Call
We map where AI can help your business most and match you to the right program, from Future Ready training to full-scale implementation.
Application and Proposal
We handle the paperwork and build a custom funding proposal tailored to your business and the program that fits best.
Get Approved and Get Started
Access government funding and kick off with your team, starting as fast as the $10,000 Future Ready training or scaling up to consulting and implementation.
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:
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