Forward Deployed Expert Program
Learn AI. Deploy it in real companies. Get paid for what you know.
The Forward Deployed Expert (FDEx) Program is a training and deployment track for experienced operators in finance, operations, revenue, healthcare, supply chain, and business systems. Certified experts will be matched to paid work in live customer environments.
- Training
- 6 weeks
- Commitment
- 3–5 hours weekly
- Cost
- Free
- Format
- Remote
How it works
Training is the beginning. Deployment is the point.
The Velanir FDEx Program turns deep operational knowledge into practical AI deployment capability. You learn the methods, prove them in certification, and then bring both forms of expertise into real customer work.
Free training and certification
A structured six-week program built by Velanir. You will learn how AI agents work, how to scope an automation opportunity, how to design agent workflows, and how to validate and troubleshoot them in production. There is no cost to you.
Real deployments, not simulations
After certification, you join our FDEx network and work alongside Velanir engineers deploying automation inside real customer companies. Live environments. Real stakes. Real outcomes.
Paid for your expertise
You are not an intern, and this is not a course you pay for. Your domain knowledge is what makes these deployments work, and you are compensated for it.
Flexible and remote
The program is built for people with careers. Work remotely, on a schedule designed to fit around your current role.
Who this is for
Bring the expertise. We will teach the rest.
This is a strong fit if you
- Have real, hands-on depth in one of our requested functions, ideally several years of it.
- Know at least one core system well enough to explain why it is set up the way it is.
- Are curious about AI and want to work with it rather than read about it.
- Can commit meaningful hours to training and deployments.
- Are based in the U.S. We are prioritizing U.S. applicants for this batch.
You do not need
- A technical background.
- Coding experience.
- Any prior AI experience whatsoever.
We will teach you all of that. What we cannot teach is what you already know.
About Velanir
Engineering meets operational judgment.
Velanir is an AI company based in San Francisco. We build and deploy AI agents that run complex operational workflows. This is work that has always demanded expertise, judgment, and a lot of human hours.
We are backed by leading Silicon Valley investors and growing quickly.
We started this program for a simple reason. The limiting factor in deploying AI is not engineering. It is knowing what good looks like inside a real business function. That knowledge lives with the people who have spent their careers doing the work.
FAQ
What to know before you apply.
Does the training cost anything?
No. Training and certification are completely free.
Am I really getting paid?
Yes. Once you are certified and working on customer deployments that match your expertise, you are compensated for your time and knowledge.
How much time does this take?
The six-week program requires three to five hours each week. After that, engagement time is flexible and depends on your availability and the deployments you are matched to.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. Zero technical background is required. We are looking for operational expertise, not engineering skills.
Is this remote?
Yes. The Fall 2026 batch is remote.
What if my title is not listed?
Apply to the closest category. If you own a repeatable operational process and know it deeply, we want to hear from you.
How many people are you accepting?
The Fall 2026 batch is a small cohort of roughly 20 experts across all six functions. We review applications as they arrive.
Fall 2026 batch
The next decade of this work is being decided right now.
You can watch it happen, or become one of the people who knows how it is done.