Generative Minds UK

What if your first product didn’t take months to build? What if you could test an idea in a weekend, with real users, a landing page, and an email sign-up system, all without needing to write a single line of code? That’s what we taught at our latest AI Startup School. Over two days, a group of early-stage founders & aspiring entrepreneurs went from loose ideas to working prototypes, using AI tools like Lovable to build landing pages, automate follow-ups, and get their concepts in front of people fast. This is the heart of vibe coding, using your words and AI to test whether your idea actually solves a real problem before investing months of time and energy. The goal? Don’t guess. Don’t wait. Build something simple, show it to real people, and learn what matters. That’s how great startups begin. Curious to try vibe coding for your own idea? Or already using AI to speed up your early builds? Drop your experience or your questions in the comments 👇 We’d love to hear how you’re experimenting 🌟

We’re excited to share that Alex Keyter, founder of Generative Minds, has been shortlisted for the ‘Leading the Future: One to Watch’ award at the Liverpool Chamber Innovation in Business Awards 2025. This award recognises individuals showing real potential to shape the future of their field – and anyone who’s worked with Alex will know how much he cares about making AI more accessible, practical, and inclusive. From building tools that help first-time founders turn ideas into products, to running workshops that empower communities to use AI with confidence – Alex is on a mission to make sure nobody gets left behind in the age of AI. Thanks to the Liverpool Chamber for recognising the work, we’re looking forward to the big night this October. 📅 23 October 2025 | St George’s Hall, Liverpool 👇 See the full shortlist and book your place now: 🔗 https://bit.ly/46sZbbU

What if you could test your business idea in 48 hours without spending weeks building websites, writing copy, or figuring out funnels? That’s exactly what we did at the AI-Powered Startup School, a 2-day bootcamp we delivered in collaboration with the Brett Centre for Entrepreneurship. The goal? Help young founders, creatives and first-time entrepreneurs validate their ideas fast, using AI to build the systems that test demand before they build their idea. Over two packed days, participants: • Used the latest AI tools to research and refine their business idea • Built a landing page with an email signup system • Created a pitch deck to share their vision • Designed brand visuals, taglines and messaging • Learned how to reach out, get feedback and adapt quickly To support them, Alex Keyter built a tool called StartBox, an interactive AI workspace that adapted to each person’s idea and helped them structure their thinking into a tangible product (step by step). To finish off, we got everyone to pitch their idea (using the pitch decks, designed by AI). Big thanks to: 📍 Richard Leighton from the Brett Centre for Entrepreneurship 📍 Dr David Higgins for funding the programme 📍 Everyone who showed up with curiosity, ambition and an idea to build This is what startup education should look like: practical, inclusive, and focused on action, not theory. Comment below if you think we should host another AI-Powered Startup School 👇

How can AI help voluntary and community organisations do more with less? That’s what we explored last week at the Community First Networking Event, hosted by Sefton Council for Voluntary Service (CVS). Alex Keyter joined as a guest speaker to share how tools like ChatGPT, NotebookLM and Gemini can help the voluntary, community and faith sector save time, write stronger funding bids, and better understand the needs of the people they support. We shared live demos showcasing: - Using tools like NotebookLM and Gemini to summarise complex grant documents - Generating surveys with ChatGPT, then analysing responses into visual reports - Reusing successful bids to help draft future ones without losing your voice - Automating admin emails and planning project timelines with AI support But we didn’t shy away from the limits either, from ethical data use and bias, to the importance of reviewing, editing and grounding AI output in your own mission. The session ended with a brilliant panel featuring Rebecca R. from The National Lottery Community Fund and Lifa Zvimbande MBA from PH Holt Foundation, who shared their advice on how to use AI responsibly in funding applications. Big thanks to Rachel Jones for bringing together such a thoughtful group of people. And to everyone who came along and asked questions with so much curiosity. Conversations like this are where change begins.

What if writing stronger funding bids didn’t mean starting from scratch every time? Last week, we sat down with Emma Kyffin and Michael Skeldon from Good Things Foundation to explore how AI can support their bid writing process (without losing the human touch). We walked through how AI tools can help with: - Finding and summarising relevant grant opportunities - Breaking down complex funder criteria into clearer priorities - Drafting surveys and analysing stakeholder feedback - Building first-draft timelines, budgets, and outputs - Using internal impact data to generate tailored, evidence-led responses We also talked about the ethics and limits, why AI should never replace lived experience, and why reviewing, refining, and staying context-aware matters more than ever. The goal isn’t to automate everything. It’s to make the process more manageable so the energy can go into the work that creates real impact. Thanks again to the team at Good Things Foundation for the open and thoughtful conversation. We’re excited to see how this work evolves. #GenerativeMinds #AIForGood #FundingSupport #CharityTech #BidWriting #TechForImpact #ResponsibleAI #DigitalInclusion

We planned to hire one intern. We ended up with two. Best decision we could’ve made. Over the last 8 weeks, Rory Kane and Madeleine Higgins joined us through Unitemps Liverpool John Moores University to support project coordination at Generative Minds and quickly became an essential part of the team. They got stuck into everything that comes with life in a growing startup: fast-paced days, 18 events/workshops, unexpected curveballs, and plenty of team meetings. Rory took the lead on content, capturing the energy of our sessions, keeping our community updated, and ensuring our message reached the right people. Maddie focused on research and planning, helping shape upcoming events and exploring new opportunities for us to grow. Thanks to their effort, insight and energy, we continue our mission of ensuring nobody gets left behind in the age of AI. Also, shoutout to AvenueHQ for the co-working space and allowing us to host many events!

What if you could take an idea out of your head and turn it into an app right there in the moment? That’s exactly what we explored in our latest online session on vibe coding. Someone in the chat shared an idea for a holiday planner app. So we built it live. We started by feeding the idea into Google Gemini, asking it to turn the concept into a prompt ready for Lovable (an AI app builder). Then, step-by-step, we guided the AI to: - Build the interface - Add user login - Connect a database - And publish the app online - All in under an hour. No code. No prior experience needed. That’s the power of vibe coding: making app building more accessible so more people can turn ideas into reality. We also shared tips on writing better prompts, avoiding common mistakes, and why starting small is the best way to build momentum. If you’re curious how AI can help you bring your ideas to life, this is a great place to start. Know someone with a startup idea? Send this their way.

What does AI inclusion really look like? Last week, we had the chance to hear from a brilliant group of students at the University of Liverpool who were tasked with a key challenge: How do we bridge the AI literacy gap for older adults? Their research uncovered some important insights: - 52% of UK businesses now use AI, yet millions remain offline. - 28% of people in the Liverpool City Region have the lowest level of digital capability. - 75% of UK executives say AI skills are their biggest barrier. - And by 2025, UK workers are expected to spend 3 hours per week using AI tools. The group explored these gaps through surveys, conversations with care homes, and insights from community events like Wellness in the City. Their findings made one thing clear, many older adults want to learn, but face real barriers: lack of confidence, access to technology, physical health challenges, and a belief that “it’s too late.” The team’s proposed solution? A thoughtful, multi-session workshop designed to help older adults build their own AI companion. The idea is simple: use personal stories to make AI feel more relatable and human. Participants would gradually learn how to use AI by: - Demystifying how it works - Creating a digital story of their life - Personalising their AI companion with their own memories, routines and preferences - And learning how to use the technology safely and responsibly The sessions would be interactive, supportive, and paced to avoid overwhelm, with carers or family members encouraged to join in, too. This is the kind of people-first thinking we need more of. Big thanks to Anne P. for hosting and Andrew Cummings, Joel Jose, Laveeza Imaan and Ifeoluwa Olayemi for sharing this work, and for reminding us that AI can only be for everyone if we build it that way.

Big news at Generative Minds 🎉 Our founder, Alex Keyter, has been nominated for Digital Tech & Innovation Personality of the Year at the Livercool Awards 2025! Hosted by Downtown in Business at the Crowne Plaza Liverpool. This recognition feels like a real reflection of the work we’ve been doing at Generative Minds. Over the last 2.5 years, Alex has focused on bringing AI out of the tech bubble and into places where it’s often missing, such as schools, libraries, youth hubs, community centres, and co-working spaces across Liverpool. He’s shown that AI isn’t just for coders or big businesses. It’s a tool that can support: ✨An artist turning an idea into a digital product ✨A student who’s learning how to learn ✨A local organisation building tools they never thought possible ✨A parent saving time on admin so they can focus on what matters most This nomination reflects that belief: that AI should be something everyone can access, understand and shape. If you’d like to show your support, you can vote here: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/et48fN-F Thanks to the team at Livercool for highlighting work that puts people first. We’re just getting started. Let's ensure no one gets left behind in the age of AI! #GenerativeMinds #TechForGood #LivercoolAwards2025 #DigitalInnovation #AIForEveryone #LiverpoolTech #NoOneLeftBehind

This week we visited The Studio & Life Science UTC in Liverpool for an interview, in collaboration with Brett Centre for Entrepreneurship, in front of a group of curious and creative Year 10s. Alex Keyter shared his journey building Generative Minds. From selling comics in primary school to teaching languages in Spain, and eventually creating his startup. He spoke openly about the struggles of balancing commercial work with community impact, and why he believes anyone can get started with the right mindset and tools. You don’t need good grades, you just need an idea. One message stood out. You don’t need to be great to start. But you do need to start if you want to be great. The conversation touched on everything from communication and public speaking to taking risks, building relationships and learning how to learn. We explored how AI can support creativity, learning and wellbeing, rather than replacing our thinking, a key issue schools are facing. And why access to opportunity shouldn’t depend on where you’re from. The students asked amazing questions, including about the energy impact of AI and how it could be used to support health and learning. Sessions like this remind us how important it is to create space for young people to ask big questions and imagine new possibilities. Big thanks to Enda Carey, Richard Leighton and Jay Thakkar. We loved being part of it. #GenerativeMinds #AIForEveryone #Entrepreneurship #YoungPeople #CreativeEducation #TechForGood #LiverpoolSchools #AIinEducation