Project summary

A 10-year AI safety in business project, training 10,000 business owners (1,000 annually) in ethical and safe AI adoption. Moving beyond a successful 100+ persons physical pilot in Jos, Nigeria, we are launching a fully virtual, mobile-first learning platform to scale impact across the Global South. We address the critical "Safety Gap" where MSMEs adopt AI for growth but fail at data privacy, security, and algorithmic integrity. We operate as a self-sustaining social enterprise: participants pay a nominal #5,000 ($3) "pay-it-forward" fee, which funds the digital infrastructure for future cohorts, ensuring the project remains independent of continuous grant cycles in case we don't secure grants in the future.

What are this project's goals? How will you achieve them?

1. Establish a Global Virtual Classroom: We will achieve this by building a low-bandwidth, WhatsApp-integrated Learning Management System (LMS) optimized for business owners with limited data access.

2. Scale to 10,000 Leaders by 2036: We will hit our target of 1,000 participants per year by leveraging digital marketing and partnerships with regional SME hubs.

3. Deploy "Safety-First" Business Intelligence: We will achieve this through a specialized curriculum that teaches owners how to use AI for revenue growth while performing "Safety Audits" to protect customer data.

4. Achieve Financial Self-Sufficiency: By Year 3, we will achieve 100% operational sustainability through the #5,000 participant fee model.

How will this funding be used?

This seed grant serves as the "Foundational Capital" to move from a local individual pilot to a global virtual organization:

• $800: Legal and Registration (CAC registration, NGO constitution, and tax setup).

• $1,500: Platform Infrastructure (Subscriptions for WhatsApp automation, Zoom Pro, and LMS hosting).
• $1,200: Content Production (Development of 10 compressed, high-impact video modules on AI Safety & BI).

• $1,000: Digital Recruitment (Targeted social media ads to enroll the first virtual cohort of 1,000).

• $500: Operational Buffer (Bank setup fees and initial 3-month administrative costs).

Who is on your team? What's your track record on similar projects?

Lead Founder: Feranmi Williams

Track Record: In 2025, I successfully executed an AI transformation pilot for 200 MSMEs in Jos, Plateau State, in partnership with the state government. I single-handedly managed the curriculum, government relations, and fundraising, raising ₦125,000 locally to supplement state in-kind support. This experience proved that there is high market demand and that I can deliver results with extremely lean resources.

What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails?

Cause 1: Digital Dropout.

If participants find virtual learning too disconnected compared to physical classes. Mitigation: We use small-group WhatsApp "Masterminds" and weekly live Zoom clinics to maintain high engagement.

Cause 2: Technical Barriers.

High data costs for MSMEs. Mitigation: Our content is "Micro-compressed" (under 10MB per lesson) and optimized for low-bandwidth mobile devices.

Outcome if Failed: The organization remains a small-scale individual consulting effort rather than a scalable 10,000-person global network. The $5,000 would result in a registered entity and a validated digital curriculum, but growth would stall.

How much money have you raised in the last 12 months, and from where?

Cash Raised: ₦125,000 (~$80 USD) from private donors during the Jos pilot.

In-Kind Support: Logistics and venue support from the Plateau State Government for the 100+ persons physical pilot.