Running and managing the business are among the biggest challenges that entrepreneurs encounter today, including other hurdles such as time management, cash flow management, hiring employees, creating a marketing strategy, securing funding, and scaling the business, among others.
DoorDash wishes to bridge those gaps.
The food delivery app has partnered with OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, to launch a nationwide series of hands-on workshops, designed to help over 1,000 small businesses build and use artificial intelligence tools, so they can run their business a whole lot easier. The initiative is called Small Business AI Jam.
The Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of DoorDash, Elizabeth Jarvis-Shean, stated that running a small business requires craft, creativity, and a little bit of chaos, and AI could only do so much.
“Whether it’s writing a menu description, managing inventory, or planning for the dinner rush, DoorDash wants to make sure small business owners of all kinds have what they need to succeed as technology continues to accelerate,” Jarvis-Shean told Ridesharing Forum. “We’re thrilled to team up with OpenAI, SCORE, and our regional partners across the country to ensure they have a little more time to focus on what makes their business special.”
As the entrepreneurs partake in the Small Business AI Jam program, they take hands-on programming with experienced mentors to create AI tools for their needs, such as crafting posts on social, automating scheduling, and efficiently managing inventories. Each leaves at least one ready-to-use AI tool they could put to work immediately.
The program was made available in San Francisco, Detroit, Houston, Miami, and New York City – key cities in the USA as DoorDash and OpenAI create AI-run solutions to help businesses save time, reach new customers, and grow their revenue.
In each of those Small Business Jam locations, regional chambers of commerce, business support organizations, and community conveners are gathering to help tailor and customize the event to meet the specific needs of these small businesses.
For instance, in Houston in Texas, participating organizations and institutions are the Texas Association of Business, and the Houston Area Urban League - Entrepreneurship Center. In San Francisco, there’s the REN Center and the SF Chamber of Commerce.
“Small businesses – the family restaurants that knows your name, the small contractors that build our homes and come back when you have a home emergency, the corner grocer we go to for our goods when we need them the most, the law firm that sponsors your Little League team – these are the building blocks for a healthy neighborhood and strong community,” stated Chris Lehane, the Chief Global Affairs Officer of OpenAI. “Put powerful AI tools in their hands, and you help them punch above their weight and unlock real productivity gains. This is about making sure that the little guy has the tools needed to compete with larger enterprises, multinational conglomerates, and big chains so they can get their fair piece of the economic pie.”
OpenAI is the mind behind ChatGPT, a tool powered by artificial intelligence, where you can ask for assistance on recipes, travel itineraries, spreadsheets, solving math problems, and even coding. For more food delivery news, sign up for your account here on the Ridesharing Forum website.