Syracuse University

Putting AI to Work in
Upstate NY

AI Strategy Consulting · New York Businesses

19 out of 20 AI projects fail (per MIT).
We're here to make you the #1.

Expert AI strategy consulting for small to mid-sized businesses across upstate New York. From Buffalo to Binghamton, Syracuse to Schenectady, Rochester to Rome, and everywhere in between.

Schedule Free AI Training See How We Work →

How We Work

Start with a conversation. End with a transformation.

Each step builds on the last — from a free intro to a full implementation. You decide when to go deeper.

📚

Learn

A free 30-minute session on AI in your industry. No commitment, just practical knowledge you can use right away.

🔍

Discover

Hands-on workshops and audits that map AI opportunities specific to your operations, with clear ROI estimates.

🚀

Build

We architect and oversee your AI implementation, from vendor selection to launch, keeping you on track and on budget.

Free Live AI Training

30 minutes on AI in your industry. No sales pitch. Just practical insights your team can use right away.

Book Your Free Session

How We Help

Your path from curious to confident, at whatever pace fits your business.

1

AI Workshop

$1,000 half-day

Interactive seminars for executives and leadership teams. Cut through the hype. Understand what AI can actually do for your business and where the real opportunities are. Includes a hands-on AI Opportunity Scorecard exercise.

  • Half-day interactive session
  • Industry-specific use cases and real examples
  • Executive Q&A and strategic discussion
  • Take home your personalized AI Opportunity Scorecard

Our clients typically identify $50K+ in annual savings opportunities in a single session.

2

AI Audit

$3,000

We look under the hood of your operations and hand you a prioritized roadmap personalized to your business. We identify where AI saves you money, time, or both, with ROI estimates for each opportunity.

  • Full operational analysis (1-2 weeks)
  • Data maturity evaluation
  • Prioritized AI roadmap with ROI estimates
  • Clear, jargon-free executive report

Companies that adopt AI early see 20-30% cost reductions in operations. - McKinsey

3

AI Execution

Starting at $5,000

We manage your AI build from spec to launch. You get a clear technical plan, honest vendor evaluation, and a project manager who actually understands the technology. We stay involved through delivery so nothing gets lost in translation between your team and the builders.

  • Technical spec & requirements
  • Vendor selection & evaluation
  • Project plan & milestone tracking
  • Regular oversight check-ins

Expert oversight keeps your build on scope and delivering real value.

4

AI Advisory

Starting at $1,000 /mo

Stay ahead of the curve with a dedicated AI advisor. Monthly strategic check-ins, on-call guidance for AI decisions, and quarterly reviews to identify your next opportunity.

  • Monthly strategic review meeting
  • On-call email/phone access for AI decisions
  • Quarterly landscape & opportunity report
  • Priority access for new project scoping
  • First call when the next opportunity emerges

Clients on advisory retainers typically engage 2-3 additional projects per year.

Ben Nichols

Why Upstate AI?

An AI operator, entrepreneur, educator, and executive. Not a consultant who read a whitepaper. And yes, Upstate AI runs on AI.

⚙️

AI Operator

COO at an AI company, running day-to-day operations. Not theorizing about AI from the sidelines. Building, shipping, and managing AI products in production every day.

🚀

AI Entrepreneur

Founded Upstate AI to bring real AI capability to New York businesses. Brought an AI-powered product to market from concept to paying customers. Knows what it takes to bet on this technology and deliver.

🎓

AI Educator

Adjunct Professor of AI and Data Science at Syracuse University. Teaches executives, graduate students, and working professionals how to think about and apply AI. If he can explain it to a classroom, he can explain it to your team.

💼

Executive Leader

15 years leading teams across Fortune 100 enterprises, startups, and family businesses. Analytics, product, and technology leadership. Understands how organizations actually adopt change.

🤖

Powered by AI

Upstate AI practices what it preaches. Our own operations run on AI tools we built and use every day. When we tell you what works, it's because we've already tested it on ourselves.

🪞

Picture Your Business

Your team spending less time on repetitive work. Faster decisions backed by real data. New revenue from capabilities you didn't know you had. That's what our clients look like six months in.

Start here →

Based in Central NY, serving businesses anywhere in the state, and available remotely nationwide.

Let's Talk About Your AI Strategy
Upstate New York Service Area

Industries We Serve

AI solutions tailored to your sector.

🏭

Manufacturing

AI-powered quality control, predictive maintenance, and process optimization — built for the shop floor, not the boardroom.

Micron is bringing $100B to CNY — is your operation AI-ready for what's next?
💼

Professional Services

Automate document processing, streamline client communications, and unlock insights buried in your data.

🤝

Non-Profits

Do more with less. Automate donor outreach, streamline grant reporting, and free up your team to focus on mission-critical work.

📈

Growing Businesses

Whether you're 10 employees or 500, we right-size AI solutions to your budget and ambitions.

Insights & Resources

Practical guidance on AI strategy for business leaders.

Strategy

Is Your Business Ready for AI?

Five critical questions every business leader should answer before investing in AI technology. Assessment frameworks that actually work.

Coming Soon 8 min read
ROI

The Real Cost of Waiting on AI Adoption

Why "wait and see" might be the most expensive AI strategy. Understanding competitive displacement and the window of opportunity.

Coming Soon 6 min read
Leadership

5 Questions Every CEO Should Ask About AI

Cut through the hype with the questions that matter. A framework for executive AI decision-making based on years of implementation experience.

Coming Soon 7 min read

Ready to Give Your Business a Head Start?

Let's discuss how AI can actually work for your business. No sales pitch. Just an honest conversation about where you are and where you want to go.

Schedule Free AI Training

30-minute call · No obligation · Upstate NY businesses prioritized