Unlocking Entrepreneurial Dreams with AI

On May 18th, the Centri Tech Foundation partnered with TheBlackUpStart and Martha’s Table to host the “AI for Entrepreneurs Workshop” in Washington, D.C. 

This in-person event brought together 33 individuals with little to no tech or entrepreneurship experience and provided them with immersive, daylong training to learn how to leverage generative AI and digital tools for kickstarting side hustles and advancing their business ventures. 

Under the guidance of Kezia Williams, founder and CEO of The Black upStart and a 2023 Centri Tech Social Justice Innovation Fellow, attendees rolled up their sleeves for hands-on training with AI software like ChatGPT+, design tools like Canva Pro, and digital product creators like Ideogram. Over an intensive seven-hour session, participants aged 17 to 70+ learned to wield these platforms to breathe life into their entrepreneurial visions.

The Centri Tech Foundation was able to provide full scholarships for all workshop participants, which covered tuition, software access, and laptops provided by Digitunity and the Wilderness Technology Alliance.

“The AI for Entrepreneurs Workshop demonstrated the potential of these programs to expand access to opportunities and reshape the entrepreneurial landscape,” reflected Centri Tech Foundation President Marta Urquilla. “This pilot is just the beginning– we are excited about the future possibilities it unveils for helping entrepreneurs transform their dreams into realities at scale.”

Tiffany Williams, CEO of Martha’s Table, echoed this sentiment:

 “Together, we did more than host a tech workshop; we created a powerful space for shared learning among a community of aspiring entrepreneurs and gave them the tools to turn their ideas into tangible opportunities for income generation.”

The AI for Entrepreneurs Workshop was made possible with funding from Verizon’s Forward Community Enhancement Award to support Community Skills Connect, a new initiative led by the Centri Tech Foundation. 

For more information or inquiries about the Centri Tech Foundation, contact hello@centritechfdn.org.