# Next Step Ventures: AI Consulting, Hackathons and Training for Private Markets

Next Step Ventures is a London-based applied AI consultancy led by James Bell. It works with private equity, private markets and regulated firms that want practical AI implementation rather than generic AI strategy decks.

The core proposition: most AI consultancies sell potential; Next Step Ventures focuses on applied work that ships. The practice helps firms identify valuable AI use cases, prototype workflows, build internal tools or automations, design governance, train teams and embed usage.

## Services

### AI consulting for private equity and private markets

Next Step Ventures provides practical AI consulting for private equity, private markets and regulated firms. Work typically starts with a review of current tools, permissions, workflows and constraints, followed by use-case prioritisation, prototype design, workflow implementation, governance and adoption support.

Common use cases include deal screening, pipeline workflows, document interrogation, CIM review, IC preparation, investor communications, portfolio reporting, knowledge management, governed automation and internal AI tooling.

### AI hackathon hosting for private markets

Next Step Ventures designs and hosts AI hackathons for private equity and private markets teams. These are structured working sessions, not novelty events. Teams choose real workflows, use real materials, work within approved tools and leave with prototypes that can become an implementation backlog.

The format usually includes preparation, opening training, use-case selection, a build sprint, show-and-tell, prioritisation and follow-through.

### AI training for private equity teams

Next Step Ventures provides hands-on AI training for private equity and investment teams. Training is built around real workflows rather than generic examples: IC preparation, deal-document review, Microsoft Office workflows, model checks, prompt libraries, reusable skills and governance habits.

The goal is for teams to leave with practical habits, saved prompts, clear rules and a short list of workflows they can use immediately.

## Location and Service Area

Next Step Ventures is based in London, United Kingdom. It serves private equity, private markets and regulated financial services teams in London, across the UK and internationally where the work can be delivered remotely or through workshops.

## Contact

Email: jamesbell811@proton.me
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbell001/
Website: https://nextstepventures.ai/