AI Consulting in Chicago
Not sure where AI fits in your business?
We help you figure that out, and then we build it. Strategy, implementation, and ongoing support from a Chicago based team you can actually meet.
AI Consulting That Doesn’t Stop at a Slide Deck
Most AI consulting ends the same way. You get a strategy deck, a few recommendations, and a handoff to another team. Then the deck sits on a shelf, and nothing happens with it. That’s not how we work. LaunchPad Lab combines AI strategy with a team that can actually build and launch the solution.
We help you cut through the noise, stop you getting sucked in by trends, pick the right use cases, and then turn it into tools your team will use every day. We have 14+ years of experience building production software and have delivered 730+ projects for teams that need reliable, maintainable systems. AI can feel confusing, but we don’t get sucked into trends; we make AI practical and focused on real business results.
Because every business deserves great software. And today, great software includes AI.
Our process is simple:
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Start with strategy
Defining clear business objectives and identifying high-impact AI opportunities.
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Build a proof of concept
Rapid prototyping to validate technical feasibility and user adoption.
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Move into a production build
Scaling the solution into a robust, enterprise-grade software system.
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Keep improving
Ongoing optimization and data-driven refinements for long-term ROI.
Our AI Consulting Services
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AI Readiness Assessment
We evaluate your systems, data, and
processes to find where AI can deliver
real results. Includes a technology
audit, data maturity review, and
competitive benchmarking. -
AI Strategy & Roadmap
In collaborative workshops, we help your
leadership team set AI priorities and build
the business case for sustainable
transformation across your organization.
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AI Proof of Concept
Before you commit to a full build, we
create a prototype to make sure the
approach works with your real data and
infrastructure. -
AI Implementation
We don’t just advise. We build. Our
development teams implement AI
features and integrate them into your
existing ecosystem. -
Training & Enablement
AI only helps if your team knows how to
use it. We run custom training to help
your team adopt AI tools quickly and
with confidence.
Who We Help with AI
Financial Services & Fintech
We help financial teams apply AI to fraud detection, compliance workflows, and portfolio insights. This includes automation that reduces manual work and models that support faster, more confident decisions.
Healthcare & Health Tech
We guide healthcare organizations through AI use cases, including clinical decision support, patient engagement, and claims processing. We also help teams integrate AI into existing EHR and operational systems.
Insurance
We assess where AI can improve underwriting, claims prediction, and customer retention. The goal is to turn data into better risk decisions and smoother policyholder experiences.
Legal Tech & Law firms
We help legal teams use AI for contract analysis, document review, and research support. We focus on tools that fit real workflows and reduce time spent on repeat work.
Professional Services
We help consulting, accounting, and service firms find practical AI wins across delivery and back office work. Common use cases include proposal support, knowledge search, reporting automation, and internal workflow improvements.
Private Equity
We help PE teams use AI across the deal lifecycle, from sourcing to diligence to portfolio support. Use cases often include deal sourcing intelligence, faster data review, and portfolio performance visibility.
Education
We support schools and education teams with AI that improves enrollment and student support. We also build tools for personalized learning experiences and faster operations across staff workflows.
Non-Profit
We help mission driven organizations use AI for donor analytics, outreach, and program reporting. We also automate repetitive admin tasks so teams can spend more time on the work that matters.
Our AI Consulting Process
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Listen & Learn
We start by getting context. We take the time to understand what you’re trying to improve, and what’s getting in the way. We look at the tools you already use and the data you already have. Then we ask the boring but important questions early, so we don’t waste time later.
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Identify & Prioritize
Next, we look for the best places to use AI in your business. We look for a mix of impact and practicality. What will actually move the needle, and what can we build without creating a mess for your team? From there, we put together a short list and a roadmap, starting with the work that can show value first.
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Prove It Works
Before you commit to a full build, we validate the approach with a proof of concept using your data. This is where many consulting firms stop and hand things off. We stay close, work through any initial issues, and make sure the solution holds up in your real workflows, not just in a demo.
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Build & Deploy
As a full-service software development company in Chicago, we handle the complete build lifecycle, not just the strategy.We work in sprints, share progress often, and keep the scope tight so you always know what’s happening and what’s coming next. The goal is simple: something your team can use, maintain, and trust.
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Support and Evolve
AI is not a set-it-and-forget-it tool. Your data changes, your business changes, and the model needs maintenance over time. We can stay on as a long-term partner to monitor performance, retrain when needed, add features, and expand into other use cases when you’re ready.
Featured AI Consulting Engagements
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Actuarial Firm
How an Actuarial Firm Projects $2M Profit Increase with AI-Workflows
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Healthcare Insurance Platform
How a Healthcare Insurance Platform Used AI Automation to Streamline Claim Reviews
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Northwestern University’s I.AIM
Enabling Rare-Disease Dermatology Research with a Privacy-First Web App
What Our Clients Say
Visit Our Chicago Office
If you’re in Chicago, we’d love to meet in person. Come by our office to talk through your goals, look at your systems and data, and map what a practical first AI step could look like.
Address
448 N La Salle Dr Floor 9
Chicago, IL 60654
Phone
(312) 888-9651
Email
contact@launchpadlab.com
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does AI consulting cost?
AI consulting cost depends on the scope and how much support you need. Some teams start with a fixed-price workshop or a readiness assessment. Others need a longer engagement that includes strategy, a proof of concept, and implementation support. The best way to estimate cost is to define the use cases, your data readiness, and what success looks like, then size the work from there.
What does an AI consultant actually do?
An AI consultant helps you figure out where AI fits in your business and what is worth building. That usually includes understanding your goals, reviewing your data and systems, identifying use cases, and creating a plan.
How do I know if my business is ready for AI?
You are usually ready for AI if you have a clear problem to solve, access to relevant data, and a team that can support change once the solution is live. Readiness also depends on data quality, security requirements, and whether the solution can fit into current workflows. A readiness assessment can confirm what is possible now and what needs to improve first.
What’s the difference between AI consulting and AI development?
AI consulting focuses on strategy, use cases, and planning. AI development is the work of building the solution. LaunchPad Lab combines both, so you can go from strategy to proof of concept to production without handing the work off to another team. Ready to move from strategy to build? See how we approach AI software development in Chicago.
How long does an AI consulting engagement take?
Timelines vary, but most work follows a familiar path. A workshop or readiness assessment often takes a couple of weeks. A proof of concept usually takes several weeks. A production build and rollout can take a few months, depending on integrations, data readiness, and the number of teams involved.
Can you help us implement AI, not just advise?
Yes. We do the strategy work, but we also build. If we recommend an AI solution, our team can develop it, integrate it into your existing systems, and support it after launch.
Let’s Figure Out Where AI Fits
Tell us what challenge you’re facing. We’ll share honest thinking on whether AI is the right solution and, if so, what the path looks like.