Empowering Small Teams to Build Big Things: How Agile and AI Helped Students Deliver a Real-World App

Key Challenge:

Denver Public Schools wanted students to engage in civic tech by creating an app that makes voting information accessible. But there was a problem: how do you guide students—many of whom had never written code—to deliver a working AI product? 

SETDA, the principal association representing state and territorial educational technology and digital learning leaders, released a report, Universal Connectivity Imperative: Sustaining Progress to Close the Digital Access Divide in K-12 Education, revealing that only 27% of states have plans to sustain K-12 digital access as key federal programs expire. 

“Universal connectivity is more than just internet access—it’s about addressing the digital divide to ensure every student is prepared for post-secondary success,” said Julia Fallon, Executive Director at SETDA. “Nearly every career pathway today demands tech literacy and digital citizenship skills—not just the jobs of tomorrow..."  

This is the same challenge small teams face every day: limited experience, limited resources, and high expectations. 

The Results:

• AI-Powered Voter Info App Built and Deployed: Students used generative AI and Boxcar to create a real product that demystifies the voting process. 

• Agile Practices Internalized: Students learned how to run standups, manage backlogs, and hold each other accountable—just like real software teams. 

• Repeatable Model: Teachers can now run Agile-based tech projects independently, year after year. 

•  Big Outcomes, Small Team: The project shows how small group-given structure and the right tools—can deliver high-quality, real-world solutions. 

Our Approach: Structure + Tools + Coaching:

We didn’t build the app for them. We built the capacity so they could do it themselves.

• Agile Training for Educators: We taught teachers how to lead Agile teams, defining roles, setting cadences, and supporting student collaboration and accountability.

• AI Made Accessible: Our AI partner provided Boxcar, a platform that made it easy for students to implement and deliver their AI-powered app with minimal coding.

• Enablement Over Execution: Our goal was not to control the project, but to empower the team—creating a scalable model for future cohorts or small teams to repeat.

This project proves that you don’t need a large engineering team to launch something real. What you need is a repeatable process, the right enablement, and tools that scale with your team’s experience level.

Why This Matters Beyond the Classroom:

If a group of high school students can ship an AI-powered civic tech app in a matter of weeks, what’s stopping your team? 

Whether you’re in a school district, a nonprofit, or a small company, the challenges are often the same: 

•  Limited resources 

• Limited experience 

• Big expectations 

We didn’t just help ship an app. We helped create a model that educators can use again next year—and that other small teams can learn from right now. 

You Can Build Like This Too:

What made this project successful wasn't just AI. It was the combination of Agile structure + low-code tools + human enablement. That formula works in classrooms—and it works in business. 

If you're a school district looking to empower your students, or a small company trying to deliver more with what you have, we can help you apply the same principles. Your team is likely more capable than you think—they just need the right scaffolding to succeed.