SBDC's Ian Carlstrom serving on national AI curriculum committee

Ian Carlstrom, regional director of the West Central Minnesota Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at M State’s Moorhead campus, has been selected to serve on the 2026 curriculum committee for AI U, a national initiative of America’s SBDC that helps small businesses use artificial intelligence to support growth. 

Carlstrom brings extensive experience in applied AI training to the role. In his work with the West Central Minnesota SBDC, he helps advisors and entrepreneurs move from basic AI awareness to practical, real-world use. His initiatives include the AI Resource Lab and the “10 [C]hats: AI Solutions for Every Hat You Wear” training framework, and he is an active contributor to the AI efforts of the national SBDC.

The AI U curriculum committee develops practical AI training materials for SBDC advisors nationwide. Committee members meet weekly to collaborate on curriculum design and delivery and provide AI U certification training at the America’s SBDC annual conference. This year’s conference will be held Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Carlstrom is one of five committee members selected to serve this year through a competitive, open application process, joining four other members from SBDC offices in Indiana, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Connecticut. Members are chosen based on their experience advising small businesses and their ability to translate AI tools into accessible guidance. 

Established in 2024 through a multi-year partnership with Google.org, AI U is delivered through a nationwide SBDC network that includes federal and state agencies along with college and university partners such as M State. AI U’s training, tools and resources are expected to reach over 100,000 small business clients.

Learn more about AI U at americassbdc-ai-u.org. Learn more about the West Central Minnesota SBDC at minnesota.edu/sbdc.