Helping 1,000 small businesses build with AI

Update on December 15, 2025: Our after-action report features highlights from the OpenAI Academy Small Business Jam, including participant use cases and key takeaways on AI adoption for small businesses. A copy of the report is available here⁠(opens in a new window)⁠.

At OpenAI, we want everyone to benefit from our tools that help solve hard problems, especially the small businesses that power our economy. Small businesses drive innovation, create jobs, and form the backbone of communities across the country. But many don’t have the time, resources, or technical background to explore how AI can help them grow and compete for new customers. Putting this capability into the hands of small businesses helps ensure that the productivity gains AI unlocks reach Main Street, not just the largest companies.

That’s why today, OpenAI Academy is teaming up with DoorDash⁠(opens in a new window), SCORE⁠(opens in a new window), and a network of local business support organizations to host the Small Business AI Jam—a nationwide, hands-on workshop designed to make AI practical and accessible for Main Street businesses. Across five hubs—San Francisco, New York City, Houston, Detroit, and Miami—more than 1,000 small business owners will work alongside OpenAI mentors over the course of a day to build AI tools tailored to their needs. Participants range from professional services such as accounting and law firms (about 1 in 5 participants), to restaurants, caterers and food trucks (also about 1 in 5), to retailers like clothing and convenience stores (1 in 10), to creative services like small marketing and design firms (1 in 10), to local repair and cleaning companies, hair salons and barbershops (1 in 20).

At each of the five Jam locations, regional business support organizations and community conveners are helping tailor the event to meet the specific needs of local small businesses, including: