LONDON - 24 April 2025: Mindstone, a global AI adoption platform and community focused on the practical use of Artificial Intelligence for non-technical staff, today announced the launch of "Mindstone for Startups," an equity-based AI training program designed to give early-stage companies access to the same high-quality AI training previously available only to enterprises. This initiative comes at a critical time when the AI skills gap threatens to leave smaller innovators behind in the race to harness artificial intelligence.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, data suggests that enterprises are sometimes adopting AI faster than startups due to their greater resources and established training budgets. While many startup founders believe their technical nature gives them an inherent advantage in AI adoption, the reality often reveals significant gaps between perceived and actual AI capabilities. Mindstone for Startups aims to reverse this trend by removing the financial barrier to AI upskilling and bridging the knowledge gap that exists even among technically-savvy founders.
The program allows venture-backed startups to access Mindstone's comprehensive AI adoption platform without immediate cash expenditure by offering a part-equity agreement instead of full traditional payment. This approach addresses one of the most significant barriers to AI adoption among startups: the prohibitive cost of quality training during the cash-sensitive early stages.
"While enterprises have the resources to invest heavily in AI training, we've observed a concerning trend where cash-strapped startups are falling behind in AI adoption despite being the very companies building tomorrow's solutions," said Joshua Wöhle, CEO and Co-Founder of Mindstone. "By accepting equity instead of cash, we're demonstrating our commitment to these companies' long-term success. We only win when they win."
Startups will gain access to Mindstone's personalised AI training methodology that focuses on practical, task & role-specific applications rather than theoretical knowledge.
"This isn't just about teaching founders how to use ChatGPT," added Wöhle. "We're building an AI-empowered startup ecosystem by providing tailored, continuous learning that integrates directly into their workflow. AI upskilling isn't a luxury anymore - it's a competitive necessity for startups looking to scale and compete effectively. If nothing is done, I see a world where automation drives unemployment instead of augmentation driving fulfilment, as the ability to leverage AI in one's job becomes the top criteria for any hiring across sectors."
The launch comes on the heels of Mindstone's research showing that companies effectively integrating AI are achieving more than efficiency gains; they are entirely redefining their operational strategies. However, the research also revealed that upskilling in AI remains costly or ineffective for most organisations, with the burden falling disproportionately on smaller companies.
"By launching this equity-based model, we're ensuring that the next generation of innovative companies doesn't get left behind in the AI transformation," said Wöhle. "We're not just a vendor - we're a partner with skin in the game, committed to their success."
Due to anticipated high demand, Mindstone has created a waitlist for interested startups, with applications opening today at https://www.mindstone.com/. The company expects to support more than 100 startups in the program's first year.
About Mindstone
Mindstone is an AI training platform that unlocks 60%+ productivity gains for your business by training your non-technical staff to use AI in their daily jobs. We combine our best-in-class personalised learning technology (which itself leverages a ton of AI under-the-hood to improve the learning experience), with learnings from running the biggest practical AI community in the world.
