Entrepreneurs, take notes — literally. In a recent episode of the Access Granted podcast, hosted by Jekwenta Primm (widely known as Coach K), AI strategist and entrepreneur Alicia Lyttle dropped deep insights on how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing business operations — especially when it comes to securing grant funding, scaling operations, and saving time.
Lyttle, known for helping small business owners harness digital tools to work smarter, explained that AI is no longer optional — it’s essential.
“AI isn’t something you can afford to ignore,” said Lyttle. “If you’re trying to grow your business and get ahead, this is the tool that will change your entire process.”
During the episode, she walked listeners through a simple, actionable framework for using AI platforms like Perplexity.ai to identify funding opportunities. The site’s Deep Research function, Lyttle explained, allows users to input specific business traits — such as being a woman-owned or minority-owned company — to uncover tailored grant opportunities complete with deadlines and application links.
But the game-changer? AI can also write your proposals. Once you identify a grant (like the Amber Grant, for instance), you can feed the tool information about your business and ask what else is needed to draft a compelling proposal.
“Tell it what you’re applying for, who you are, what your business does, and let it help you create a winning application,” said Lyttle. “It’s like having a research team and grant writer in your pocket.”
Coach K described the episode as a masterclass.
Lyttle’s message to entrepreneurs is simple: “If you’re not using AI to streamline your business, you’re choosing to work harder instead of smarter.”
