Start Date: 15th October, 2026
Executive Program in Forward Deployed AI Product Management
For the ones who don't just stay ahead but build the curve.
4 Months
90 Live Hours
Weekends, Online
The next role to be forward deployed is the Product Manager.
A specialized product leader embedded directly within the customer's environment, closing the gap between what the roadmap promised and what the real world actually needs.
They drive adoption on the ground, troubleshoot where the product meets reality, and route every hard-won insight straight back to engineering turning field friction into the next release.
The Forward-Deployed Expert: How AI Is Reinventing Product Management
"The PM's job shifts, too. They will spend less time documenting manually and more time on the judgment calls AI cannot make: reading organizational dynamics, distinguishing habit from real pain and deciding which patterns are important enough to shape the roadmap."
Abha Dogra (CPO, IBS Software)
The market is already hiring for Forward Deployed PM
Embedded with the client. Owns the outcome, not just the roadmap.
Average Comp | India
₹30-39 LPA
Average Comp | Global
$200K – $300K
40% more than regular PMs for the forward-deployed PM role.
Who is this for?
No coding
Any graduate discipline
6 Months of product experience required
About six months of product exposure is the entire entry bar, and it exists to keep the room advanced, not to keep you out. If you know how a product goes from idea to shipped, you are good to go.
YOU COME IN AS
YOU LEAVE AS
PM, APM, or product owner
An AI-native PM who builds with AI and owns the outcome
Product or business analyst
A builder who runs discovery and drives delivery with AI
Founder or solo operator
The product leader who ships more with fewer people
Consultant, delivery or pre-sales lead
A PM who leads AI product work end to end
Built to be practical
One Cohort, Two Journeys
Taught by the industry’s best
TECH
Taught by IIT Faculty
Learn how AI actually works
Not theory, but the mechanics of models and agents, taught by people who research this for a living.
Build something real
Go from idea to a working prototype, with faculty who’ve built systems that survived contact with production.
Know why it broke
Debug, evaluate, and fix AI systems with the same rigor an IIT lab would demand.
CONSULTING
Taught by IIM faculty
Learn how the room thinks
Stakeholders don't care about your architecture; they care about outcomes. IIM faculty teach you to speak their language.
Turn the build into a business case
Frame ROI, cost, and risk the way a consultant would walka client through it.
Defend it and close it
Handle pushback, negotiate scope, and get the work approved, not just admired.
CURRICULUM
Go from roadmap to shipped
Seven modules, live masterclasses and a capstone; across four months of weekends.
Module 1: The Forward-Deployed PM & the Frame-to-Ship Spine
Module 1: The Forward-Deployed PM & the Frame-to-Ship Spine
The role shift: from backlog owner to outcome owner
The AI-native operating model and the 4 maturity levels
The agentic PDLC and the Frame-to-Ship spine (P0-P3)
Where to zoom: which phase your context demands
Module 2: How LLMs & Agents Work, and Running Your PM Week with Them
Module 2: How LLMs & Agents Work, and Running Your PM Week with Them
How LLMs work, at PM level
Prompt engineering
How agents work, at PM level
When to use AI, and when a simpler solution wins
Automating your PM week
Module 3: Context & Data Decisions
Module 3: Context & Data Decisions
Context engineering & RAG at PM level
AI-native discovery
Data sources & MCP-class integrations
Data residency & privacy levels
Module 4: The Artifact Stack: PRDs, PRD-Lites & LLM-Friendly Spec Docs
Module 4: The Artifact Stack: PRDs, PRD-Lites & LLM-Friendly Spec Docs
The artifact map of the agentic PDLC
PRD formats and when each fits
LLM-friendly spec docs
From PRD to acting spec
Module 5: Prototyping & POCs: Figma Mockups and Vibe-Coded Builds
Module 5: Prototyping & POCs: Figma Mockups and Vibe-Coded Builds
The prototyping flow
Vibe-coding methodology & frameworks
Figma & UI mockups with AI
The POC that ships with the PRD
Demo craft
Module 6: The Decision Layer: Evals, Autonomy & Token Economics
Module 6: The Decision Layer: Evals, Autonomy & Token Economics
Evals at PM level
Guardrails & autonomy levels
Token economics & estimation
The agentic-or-not call & qualification metrics
Module 7: Forward-Deployed Delivery & Consultancy Frameworks
Module 7: Forward-Deployed Delivery & Consultancy Frameworks
The forward-deployed operating model
Consulting craft for AI engagements
ROI & the business case
Stakeholder command
Leading the build & the handover
CS 1: RAG & Recommendations in Food & Grocery Delivery
CS 1: RAG & Recommendations in Food & Grocery Delivery
The problem and the retrieval-recommendation architecture
Building the assistant live
Evaluating a fuzzy-answer product
ROI and guardrails
CS 2: Agentic Merchant Support at Payments Scale
CS 2: Agentic Merchant Support at Payments Scale
Clustering the repeating issue
The agentic workflow and the trust boundary
Building the workflow live
ROI, rollout and the signal memo
Capstone: End-to-End Agentic Product Build
Capstone: End-to-End Agentic Product Build
Discovery on a given idea (P0)
Spec & prototype (P1-P2)
Evals, economics & outcome (P3 gate)
Panel review
By the end, you'll be able to
What changes
The PM manages the plan.
The Forward-deployed AI PM owns the outcome and builds with AI to get there.
AI has not replaced the product manager.
It has moved where the value sits.
The PM role today
The forward-deployed AI PM
Owns the roadmap and the backlog
Owns the whole cycle: problem, build, deploy
PRDs and features delivered
The outcome, and what ships
Briefs engineering, rarely builds
Prototypes and evaluates with AI directly
An occasional assist
AI-native across the entire lifecycle
Inside one product team
Embedded, in-house or with a client
Roles this supports
These are the requirements open right now, with the ranges they hire at.
CAREER ASSISTANCE
1:1
Mentor and career sessions
Portfolio
Capstone build as proof of work
Referrals
Hiring partner introductions
Mocks
AI PM interview
Our students are acing it
They are working at companies that are a dream for most
Fee Structure
Total Admission Fee
₹49,999
+18% GST
| Component | Amount (₹) |
|---|---|
| Program Fee | ₹49,999 |
| GST (18%) | As applicable |
| Registration Fee (Non-Refundable)* | ₹5,000 (Adjusted in Program Fee) |
| Total Payable | ₹58,999 (incl. 18% GST) |
EMI Options Available
The registration fee of ₹5,000 is a one-time, non-refundable application processing fee, adjusted against the total program fee.
Payment of the registration fee is required at the time of application submission.
If a participant withdraws before the program start date, the program fee will be refunded, excluding the registration fee, GST, and any applicable processing charges. No refunds are applicable once the program has commenced.
Optional 2-Day Campus Immersion at IITM Pravartak may be offered at an additional cost (approximately ₹10,000, subject to actuals).
Travel, boarding, and lodging expenses for campus immersion (if opted) will be borne by the participant.
Note: The campus immersion is subject to a minimum number of participants and may be conducted jointly with learners from multiple batches, depending on scheduling and operational requirements at any given time, at the discretion of the Institute.
Application Deadline
23rd August, 2026
Admissions close once the required number of students is enrolled for the upcoming cohort. Apply early to secure your seat.
HOW IT WORKS
1
Submit your application
Share your details and a little about your product background. Under two minutes.
2
Speak with an admissions advisor
A short conversation to confirm your product exposure and check the fit.
3
Pay and confirm your seat
Secure your place in the upcoming cohort, with flexible payment options.
Ready to start?
Enquire in under two minutes, or speak to an admissions advisor first, whichever you prefer.
9 of 40 seats left · Apply by 23 Aug 2026
Advanced Certificate from IITM Pravartak, the technology innovation hub at IIT Madras.
Curriculum directed by IIT and IIM faculty alongside practising AI product leaders.
Capstone scenarios drawn from Futurense industry partners.
Led by the Futurense Leadership Council (FLC)
A collective of CXOs, AI leaders, and digital transformation heads from global and Fortune 500 companies shaping the AI-native workforce.
Frequently Asked Questions
We know you might have some questions before getting started in our platform
What is the Forward Deployed AI Product Management programme?
An advanced certificate programme from IITM Pravartak for product professionals who want to work AI-native. It covers building and evaluating AI and agentic products, managing the AI product lifecycle, and owning end-to-end delivery. Four months, weekends, 90 hours, one capstone.
What does "forward deployed" mean in a product role?
It describes how you work, not where you sit. You own a product outcome end-to-end: align stakeholders, gather requirements, prototype quickly, work alongside engineering and design, and drive returns quickly. No travel or client-site posting is involved. You own the outcome, not just the backlog.
Is the programme lecture-based or hands-on?
Hands-on throughout. Every phase produces a working output: prototypes, PRDs, agent-ready specs, and evaluation suites. Concepts are introduced in service of what you are building rather than as standalone theory.
Who teaches the programme?
IIT & IIM faculty alongside experienced industry practitioners. Practitioners carry much of the hands-on teaching and both expert masterclasses. Concepts are anchored academically, while the Tech part is taught by IIT Faculty & the Consulting is covered by the IIM faculty.
What are the eligibility requirements?
A graduate degree in any discipline, plus about six months of product exposure. Field of study matters far less than whether you already think in terms of users, problems, and outcomes.
How much product experience is required?
About six months close to product, in any role. The title is not the requirement. Product owners, analysts, founders, and product-adjacent leads all fit comfortably. The opening phase levels the basics so the cohort starts from common ground.
Is a product background essential?
Some product grounding helps you get the most from the programme. Candidates who sit slightly outside this are reviewed individually, so it is worth a conversation with the admissions team.
Is coding knowledge required?
No. You direct AI through prompting, not production code. Prototypes are built with AI tools, which is a different craft from software engineering and requires no programming background. Any graduate discipline works.
What is the admission process?
Three steps. Submit an application with your details and your interest in the programme. Clear a short, non-technical qualifying test that assesses your skills. Then confirm your seat with payment to secure a place in the upcoming cohort.
Is there a qualifying test, and is it technical?
Yes, there is a short qualifying test as part of admissions. It is non-technical and does not assess coding, so no programming background is needed. It is designed to check whether you are a fit for the programme's pace and level.
What is the programme fee?
The programme fee is ₹49,999, plus 18% GST as applicable as applicable.
Is the campus immersion included in the fee?
No. The two-day campus immersion at IIT Madras Research Park is optional and charged separately. Travel, accommodation, and all related expenses are borne by the participant. The immersion is not required to complete the programme or receive the certificate.
Are there any other costs?
No. The programme uses only free, free-to-try, or open-source tools, with no paid subscriptions and no proprietary sandbox to purchase. This is deliberate: real product work is done with exactly these tools.
Are EMI or financing options available?
Yes, EMI options are available through partner NBFCs.
What is the refund policy?
If a student withdraws before program commencement, fees are refundable, excluding registration fee, GST, and subvention charges. No refund is applicable after the program begins.
What is the total duration and time commitment?
About four months, 90 hours in total: 72 hours of taught modules, 8 expert masterclasses, and 10 hours of the capstone. The 10 capstone hours are your own project time, not additional classes.
When are classes held?
Teaching runs on weekends, so the programme fits around a full-time job.
Is the programme fully online?
Delivery is online. An optional two-day campus immersion at IIT Madras Research Park is available for participants who want the in-person experience. It is not required to complete the programme or receive the certificate.
How is the programme structured across the four months?
Seven modules run in sequence across weekends, grouped into five phases: the forward-deployed mindset, understanding LLMs and agents, building and prototyping, proving and engineering, and forward-deployed delivery. Masterclasses sit inside that flow as applied checkpoints. The capstone comes near the end.
What is the capstone project?
An end-to-end agentic product build. You take an idea through the full lifecycle: discovery, prototype, evaluations, a working loop, specs, and a ship plan. It is the only individual submission and the only assessment in the programme.
Is the capstone mentored?
Yes. It runs as a mentored end-to-end build, so you have guidance through the full lifecycle rather than submitting a project unsupported.
Are there exams?
No exams. The capstone is the single assessment. Completing it completes the programme.
What are the expert masterclasses?
Expert masterclasses consist of live sessions where a practising expert builds a real AI product case in front of the cohort, so you see how the work is actually done. Cases are drawn from current industry problems and refreshed as the market moves.
What certificate is awarded, and who awards it?
An advanced certificate from IITM Pravartak, a Technology Innovation Hub of IIT Madras, is awarded upon completing the programme. Futurense is the admissions partner.
Is this a certificate or a degree?
An advanced certificate programme, not a degree. It is designed as a focused professional upskill for working product professionals rather than an academic qualification.
How does this programme support career growth?
Product roles are shifting toward people who can build and ship with AI, not only specify features. You finish able to do that work, with an IITM Pravartak credential and a portfolio of real builds to show for it.
Will the content stay relevant as AI changes?
The programme is built on durable skills: how to evaluate an AI product, when agents or loops are justified, and how to run an agentic lifecycle. Cases and masterclasses are refreshed to stay current, so the way of working outlasts individual tools.
About IITM Pravartak
IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation is the Technology Innovation Hub of IIT Madras, established under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. Embedded within the IITMRP ecosystem, it combines renowned faculty, cutting-edge labs, and specialised research facilities to drive skilling, innovation, and incubation.
Working at the intersection of academia, research, and industry, IITM Pravartak fosters the adoption of deep technology, nurtures next-generation talent, and enables real-world impact.