By Ryan Hunter, Technology & Education Director, Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc.—
MUNCIE, IN — Innovation Connector, Inc. has formed a strategic partnership with LaunchReady.ai to expand access to practical, high-quality artificial intelligence learning opportunities for businesses, organizations, educators, and community leaders across East Central Indiana.
The partnership builds on the momentum of Innovation Connector’s AI in Action series, which has helped local professionals better understand how to use artificial intelligence responsibly and effectively in real-world settings. Through this expanded collaboration, Innovation Connector will serve as a regional delivery and community anchor for AI learning, while LaunchReady.ai will provide its AI proficiency framework, assessment tools, curriculum, and learning platform.
“At Innovation Connector, our goal is to help local businesses and organizations move beyond the hype and use AI in practical, strategic ways,” said Ryan Hunter of Innovation Connector. “This partnership provides East Central Indiana with a structured learning pathway to help individuals and teams assess where they are, build confidence, and develop real AI capability over time.”
LaunchReady.ai, operating The AI Launch Pad, provides a framework to help organizations measure and develop AI proficiency. The partnership includes access to the 7 Levels of AI Proficiency framework, team baseline training, assessment tools, curriculum, and cohort-based learning opportunities. These tools help participants understand their current capabilities, identify growth opportunities, and apply AI in ways relevant to their work.
As part of the agreement, Innovation Connector will extend Launch Pad membership and assessment access to its AI Business Learning Connector audience and members. This will help build a regional dataset on AI readiness and capability, providing East Central Indiana with a clearer picture of how businesses and organizations are adopting and applying AI.
The collaboration is also designed with future growth in mind. Potential next steps include industry-specific cohorts for sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, and professional services. These pathways would enable AI learning to be tailored to the needs of different audiences while supporting broader regional workforce and economic development goals.
“This is about helping our region learn together,” Hunter said. “AI is changing how people work, communicate, create, and solve problems. East Central Indiana needs accessible, practical learning opportunities that help people use these tools wisely rather than be overwhelmed by them.”
The Innovation Connector’s AI in Action series has focused on making AI accessible and practical for local professionals. Sessions have emphasized hands-on learning, real-world examples, and practical applications rather than abstract theory. The partnership with LaunchReady.ai enables that work to expand into a more structured regional learning initiative.
Innovation Connector and LaunchReady.ai also plan to collaborate on grant opportunities to support broader access to AI learning across the region. The agreement designates Innovation Connector as a regional delivery partner and LaunchReady.ai as the provider of the AI proficiency framework and measurement for applicable regional efforts.
For more information on Innovation Connector and upcoming AI learning opportunities, please email tbaker@innovationconnector.com.
