AI for Small Business Owners

A 3-hour hands-on pilot workshop for businesses based in the City of LA. Demystify AI, then build real marketing assets in the room.
About this Event

PLEASE NOTE: This workshop is open only to City of Los Angeles businesses and residents.



Workshop Objectives

• Understand what AI actually is and how it fits into a small business, without the buzzwords.
• Feel confident that the barrier to using AI is lower than they thought.
• Have built a real marketing asset (social post, flyer, or promotional copy) for their own business during the session.
• Walk out with a repeatable workflow they can use that same week.

Curriculum
Part 1: AI Basics

What AI actually is, in plain language. Why the technical barrier is mostly imaginary. The "player's mindset" approach: treat AI like a video game, not a test. The idea of AI as a super smart assistant that's always available, always willing to help, and has infinite patience. Hands-on: first prompts. Attendees get comfortable asking AI the right questions about their own business.

Part 2: AI for Marketing

The number one small business problem: more clients. Marketing as the place to start. A simple, repeatable workflow: gather inspiration on Pinterest, generate copy and content ideas with ChatGPT or Gemini, finalize the design in Canva. Hands-on co-build: each attendee creates one finished marketing asset for their own business, end to end, alongside live instruction.

Attendee Requirements

• Have a valid government-issued ID
• Proof of business (BTRC)- If already in the business
• Proof of address in the City of Los Angeles
• Arrive 30 minutes in advance for registration and completing the forms

Attendee Expectations

• Bring a laptop (Windows or Mac).
• Free ChatGPT or Gemini account set up before arrival (instructions included in the pre-session email).
• Free Canva account (instructions included in the pre-session email).
• Come with a specific business or business idea in mind.