Applied Lovable training for non-coders · Independent programme by Next Billion Lab
TeachBuildShipNBL Builder L1
Non-coder track · 4 weeks, live

Ship real apps. Without writing code.

A live, hands-on programme for people who don't write code. You learn Lovable in class, build on your own idea in class, and ship a real, working app by week four.

Free to apply. Seats are limited to keep classes small.
The credential

NBL Lovable Builder, Level 1

Awarded for what you ship, not for showing up. A graded capstone — a real, working app on a live URL — assessed by a person, against your own use case.

A live app on a real URL — not a slide deck, not a mockup
Built for the people who want to ship, not just prompt
FoundersOperatorsProduct managersConsultantsMarketersEducatorsAnalystsCommunity buildersSolo entrepreneurs
4 weeks
One 90-min class per week
Live · mentor-led
Small cohorts, real coaching
Human-assessed
5-dimension shipping rubric

Anyone can prompt an app into existence in ten minutes. Almost nobody ships one that works, is safe, and gets used. The gap isn't the tool. It's scoping, data, auth, and the last mile.

So we built the four weeks that close it.

The method

Teach. Build. Ship.

A repeatable loop, applied to your own app every single week.

01 · Teach

45 minutes, concept-first

We teach the part of Lovable — scoping, data, auth, integrations, shipping — that earns its place this week. No filler.

You leave with: a mental model you can reuse on any app.
02 · Build

45 minutes, on your own app

You apply it live to your actual idea, with a mentor watching, unblocking, and pushing the build further.

You leave with: a working slice of your app, live in preview.
03 · Ship

Capstone, graded by a person

A 5-dimension rubric scores the shipped app, not the attendance. One free resubmission. Human sign-off required.

You leave with: a live app and a credential that means what it says.
Curriculum

Four weeks. Each one solves the problem the last one left you with.

Built around Lovable Cloud, AI Gateway, and the shipping habits that separate a demo from a real app.

Week 1Foundations
The problem

You prompt an app, and by turn three it's a mess.

What changes

You learn to scope one idea into one buildable app — pages, actions, states — and prompt Lovable in short, deliberate turns instead of vibes.

Covers: Scoping · Prompting · First passHomework: ~45 min setup + scoping briefYou ship: A working v0 of your app in preview
Week 2Data & Auth
The problem

You have screens. You don't have a real database or real users.

What changes

You wire Lovable Cloud: tables, row-level security, sign-in. You learn what data you actually own and how not to leak it.

Covers: Lovable Cloud · Auth · Row-level securityHomework: ~60 min data model + policiesYou ship: A signed-in app with your own data and rules
Week 3Integrations
The problem

Your app is closed off from everything real.

What changes

You add AI, payments, and one external service. You learn where secrets belong, what belongs on the server, and how to keep it cheap.

Covers: AI Gateway · Stripe · WebhooksHomework: ~90 min integration + secretsYou ship: A working AI feature and a real payment flow
Week 4Capstone
The problem

You have all the pieces. You haven't shipped.

What changes

You publish to a real URL, run a launch check, and hand it to a first user. It's assessed against the NBL Builder rubric, by a person.

Covers: Shipping · Launch check · HandoffHomework: Capstone build + user testYou ship: A live app on a real URL → NBL Builder credential
What learners actually ship

Real apps. Not tutorial clones.

Bring your own idea. These are the shapes it usually takes.

Shape
Client portals

A private, signed-in space for your customers to see their data, files and updates.

Shape
Internal dashboards

A tool your team actually uses, replacing three spreadsheets and a group chat.

Shape
Small marketplaces

Two-sided lists with sign-in, listings and payments — scoped to a real community.

Shape
AI tools

A focused AI app on top of your own data — copy studio, brief generator, review helper.

What you walk away with

One credential. Backed by a live app.

No completion certificates. The NBL Builder credential is only awarded when your app is live and passes the rubric.

Next Billion Lab
Lovable Builder, Level 1

Assessed capstone — a shipped, working app on a real URL. Graded against a 5-dimension rubric. Distinction at 17/20. Human sign-off required on every credential decision.

The rubric

Five dimensions. Scored 0 to 4. By a person.

The credential is only worth what this rubric makes it worth. So we publish it.

01
Scoping

One clear idea, cut down to something actually shippable in four weeks.

02
Prompting & iteration

Deliberate, short prompts. Fixes the right thing without breaking the rest.

Min 3 to pass
03
Data & security

Sensible data model. Row-level security, auth, and secrets in the right place.

04
Shipped app

It's on a real URL. It works. A first user can actually use it.

05
Responsible use

Owns the AI outputs, the data, and the cost. No leaks, no dark patterns.

Pass: 13/20 total · minimum 2 on every dimension · minimum 3 on Data & security (non-negotiable). Distinction: 17/20 with no dimension below 3. One free resubmission if a learner falls short. Human sign-off required on every credential decision.
The stack you'll actually use

Boring where it matters. Fast everywhere else.

Backend
Lovable Cloud

Database, auth, storage, edge functions. One click to enable, no keys to juggle. Row-level security by default.

AI
Lovable AI Gateway

Chat, images, embeddings, speech. No provider keys to manage. Model choice without the plumbing.

Payments
Stripe

Real checkout, subscriptions, and webhooks. Wired the right way — secrets on the server, verification before writes.

Questions

The things people ask before applying.

Do I need to code?

No. Lovable Lab is the non-coder track. If you can use a browser and describe what you want, you can do this.

Do I need an idea before I start?

A rough one is enough. Week 1 is scoping — we help you cut it down to something you can actually ship in four weeks.

What if the app I want is too ambitious?

You'll ship a real slice of it. The rubric grades what's shipped and working, not what's on the roadmap. A small live app beats a big broken one.

Is this affiliated with Lovable?

No. Lovable Lab is an independent programme by Next Billion Lab. Lovable is a trademark of its owners.

What if I don't pass the capstone?

You get specific feedback against the dimensions you fell short on, and one free resubmission. The standard doesn't move, but the door stays open.

What does it cost to run my app after the cohort?

Most learners' Week 4 app runs on Lovable's free tier. If you get real usage, hosting and AI usage cost a few dollars a month, not hundreds.

Next cohort

Small pods. Real mentors. A live app at the end.

Apply free. Pay only once you're confirmed for a seat.

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