Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Program

About the course:

Top universities worldwide have already embedded Artificial Intelligence into their curriculum, while corporations struggle to prepare their workforce for AI-driven jobs. iStart Valley’s AI and Data Science Program gives high school students the chance to stay ahead of the curve with an immersive, hands-on learning experience taught by Berkeley Haas–certified faculty and leading industry experts. This program goes beyond the basics, providing an end-to-end understanding of AI with practical applications that build unique credentials for college and career advancement.

With AI and Data Science shaping every industry and demand for talent skyrocketing—job postings for data scientists have risen over 348% since 2013—this program opens doors to one of the hottest fields of the 21st century. Students will gain exposure to core AI concepts, neural networks, machine learning, and the role of neuroscience, LLM, Gen AI in advancing AI. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with future-ready skills, real-world insights, and the confidence to lead in an AI-powered world.

• Phase 1: Understand and Explore Data Science and Visualization
• Phase 2: Building blocks of AI - Machine Learning, Deep Learning and AI Techniques
• Phase 3: LLM, RAG, GenAI and AI Applications

Course includes hands on labs leveraging Jupyter Notebook. No prior Programming experience required.

Pre-requisite: Course is designed for high school students, Innovators, Creators, Startup Enthusiasts, anyone who want to go beyond the basic to Pro. Exposure to Linear Algebra and Statistics is preferred but not a requisite. No Computer Science or Programming is necessary. Whether you are from Law, Business, Engineering, Finance this is a must attend course.

Schedule

January 25th 2026, to April 12th, 2026, Every Sunday, 10.00 AM - 11.00 Noon Central

Meet the Instructors:

• MJ Charmani: is a Director at Accenture, a global consulting firm and #2 world's best company by TIMES. MJ founded iStart Valley, the first business accelerator initiated by an Indian American. He has certifications in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence from Berkeley Haas, University of California. MJ earned an Executive MBA from the University of Texas Arlington and a Graduate Certificate in Global Business Studies. He has spearheaded various programs in Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Economic Development. MJ has been honored as one of the "Top Tech Innovators and Influencers" in Northeast Florida and received the "Outstanding Innovation" Award from D-CEO Magazine. He is passionate about teaching the next generation the latest technology based skills. MJ is certified in Large Language Model (LLM) and Generative AI.

• Dr. Anwesha Banerjee: is a Neuroscientist who has completed her doctorate from University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) and currently working at Emory University, Atlanta. She is a Certified in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence by Berkeley Haas, University of California. Her other degrees include a Masters in Biotechnology from Bangalore University and a Masters in Neuroscience from UTD. She also has successfully completed certification courses in Business of Science from University of Pennsylvania. She has authored multiple publications in prestigious journals and presented at national and international conferences, around the globe. Here active interest involves exploring the world of artificial intelligence and how concepts of neuroscience can be applied to develop improved next generation AI. Anwesha recently spoke at TEDx event in Atlanta and leads the Human Capital Accelerator initiatives at iStart Valley.

• Industry Experts and Leaders in AI and Data Science: Course will feature leaders and experts Data Science and AI that working in Companies such as AirBNB, UBER and Space Engineering etc., Participants will have unique opportunity to connect and grow their network.