OpenAI, DoorDash, SCORE Empower 1,000 Small Businesses
OpenAI, DoorDash, and SCORE launch the Small Business AI Jam to empower 1,000 U.S. small businesses with AI tools, enhancing efficiency and innovation.
OpenAI, DoorDash, and SCORE Unite to Empower 1,000 Small Businesses with AI Tools
On November 20, 2025, OpenAI launched a groundbreaking initiative called the Small Business AI Jam in partnership with DoorDash, SCORE, and local organizations to help 1,000 small businesses across the United States adopt practical AI solutions to grow and compete in today’s economy. This nationwide, hands-on workshop aims to equip Main Street business owners with accessible AI tools tailored to their unique needs, enabling them to innovate without requiring a technical background.
What Is the Small Business AI Jam?
The Small Business AI Jam is a one-day event designed specifically for small businesses with 1 to 100 employees, including restaurants, retail shops, service providers, and online sellers. It provides participants with:
- Hands-on training and mentorship from OpenAI experts and community partners.
- Step-by-step guidance on building AI-powered tools such as marketing assistants, appointment schedulers, customer service chatbots, and inventory organizers.
- Peer collaboration with other local small business owners facing similar challenges.
- No coding required: The event welcomes beginners and offers optional pre-event video tutorials to prepare participants for Jam Day.
- Free participation to ensure accessibility.
During the event, small business owners work alongside mentors to develop at least one AI solution tailored to their operations. For example, a café owner might create a daily specials planner that also drafts social media posts, while a salon owner could build a ChatGPT assistant to manage bookings and client follow-ups.
Locations and Accessibility
The event is hosted in five major U.S. cities: San Francisco, New York City, Houston, Detroit, and Miami. Each hub includes support from DoorDash team members and local organizations, with content and mentorship available in both English and Spanish to accommodate diverse communities.
Why This Matters for Small Businesses
Small businesses often face resource constraints that limit their ability to leverage advanced technology. By democratizing access to AI, OpenAI and its partners aim to:
- Increase operational efficiency by automating routine tasks such as marketing, customer communication, and bookkeeping.
- Expand customer reach through AI-powered marketing tools.
- Enhance customer service with conversational AI assistants.
- Save time and reduce costs, allowing owners to focus on growth and innovation.
This initiative aligns with broader trends where over one million business customers are already integrating AI into their workflows, boosting productivity and competitiveness.
Industry Context and Strategic Partnerships
OpenAI’s collaboration with DoorDash and SCORE is significant. DoorDash, a leader in food delivery and local commerce, brings deep insights into small business operations and customer engagement. SCORE, a nonprofit organization providing mentorship to small businesses, offers trusted community support and resources.
OpenAI’s commitment to practical AI adoption is also reflected in its broader ecosystem, such as the recent acquisition of Software Applications Incorporated (maker of Sky), which enhances AI integration on personal devices, further empowering users to embed AI into daily workflows.
Future Outlook
The Small Business AI Jam represents a scalable model for empowering entrepreneurs with AI, potentially spurring innovation across diverse industries. As AI tools become more embedded into business processes, this could lead to:
- Greater economic resilience for small businesses.
- More personalized and efficient customer experiences.
- A narrowing of the technology adoption gap between large enterprises and small businesses.
OpenAI plans to continue expanding such initiatives, improving access to AI education and resources, and integrating new technologies to help businesses thrive.
Visuals to Accompany the Article
- OpenAI Small Business AI Jam event photos: Images of business owners participating at the workshops, interacting with mentors, and building AI tools.
- Logos: OpenAI, DoorDash, and SCORE logos to highlight the partnership.
- Screenshots of AI tools: Examples of ChatGPT-based assistants created during the Jam, such as marketing planners or appointment schedulers.
- City hub locations: Visual maps or photos of event venues in San Francisco, New York City, Houston, Detroit, and Miami.
These visuals reflect the core of the initiative—hands-on AI empowerment tailored to small businesses’ everyday needs.
The Small Business AI Jam marks a pivotal step in bringing AI innovation directly to the backbone of the U.S. economy—small businesses—helping them compete, grow, and serve their communities more effectively in an increasingly digital world.
