News/SMB
Meta launches Business AI sales agent for SMBs across platforms
Meta has launched Business AI, a new sales agent designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses to automate customer interactions, drive conversions, and simplify AI adoption. The tool extends beyond Meta's platforms to work on business websites, marking the company's push into the competitive enterprise AI market alongside new augmented reality shopping features and customizable advertising options. What you should know: Business AI functions as a comprehensive sales automation tool that helps SMBs leverage AI technology without requiring extensive technical expertise. The AI agent can automate sales processes and customer interactions across multiple platforms, not just within Meta's ecosystem of...
read Sep 24, 2025Kansas launches AI platform connecting small businesses to state resources 24/7
Kansas has launched ConnectKS, an AI-powered platform designed to connect small businesses with state resources, funding opportunities, and support organizations. The initiative addresses a critical need in a state where over 99% of businesses are small enterprises, offering 24/7 access to information that was previously only available through direct government contact during business hours. What you should know: The Kansas Small Business Office partnered with EcoMap Technologies to create a centralized digital ecosystem that helps entrepreneurs navigate state resources and build connections. ConnectKS launched this summer as one of the first offerings from the Kansas Small Business Office, which was...
read Sep 24, 2025SocialPost.ai raises $1M for AI social media tools meant to boost small biz
SocialPost.ai, an AI-powered social media platform for small businesses, has raised $1 million in seed funding led by Ember Venture Capital. The funding comes just three months after launch, during which the company has attracted over 600 subscribers, demonstrating strong early market validation for AI-driven social media tools tailored specifically to small business needs. What you should know: SocialPost.ai is building what it calls the world's first large language model and agentic platform purpose-built for social media marketing. The platform helps small businesses create, schedule, and analyze social media content using AI technology. Since launching three months ago, the company...
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Amazon’s Creative Studio AI agent creates free video ads for small businesses
Amazon has launched a new AI agent that automates the entire advertisement production process, from audience research to video creation, targeting small businesses that typically lack access to high-quality ad production resources. The tool, available through Amazon's Creative Studio, leverages the company's vast e-commerce data and multiple AI models to create professional-grade advertisements at no additional cost to advertisers. What you should know: The AI agent handles every aspect of ad creation, from initial concept to final video production. The tool suggests product taglines, generates custom imagery, creates music and voiceovers, and assembles multi-scene video ads. It's powered by Amazon's...
read Sep 4, 2025MagicDoor raises $4.5M to automate property management for small landlords, petty bourgeois
MagicDoor, an AI-driven property management platform, has raised $4.5 million in seed funding led by Okapi Venture Capital and Shadow Ventures. The platform addresses a critical gap for small landlords and independent property managers who have been underserved by traditional software designed for large institutional portfolios, offering automated solutions for everything from listing vacancies to maintenance dispatching and tenant communication. What you should know: MagicDoor transforms property management into a unified, AI-powered experience that handles routine tasks automatically. The platform allows landlords to communicate their needs, then takes over by prioritizing requests, dispatching vendors, and keeping tenants informed in their...
read Sep 3, 2025India’s Jio Haptik launches WhatsApp AI agents with 24/7 capabilities for SMBs
Jio Haptik, a subsidiary of Reliance Jio, has launched WhatsApp AI agents for enterprises and small-to-medium businesses (SMBs), with pricing starting at Rs 10,000. This in-house solution enables voice AI automation for business operations, potentially allowing thousands of SMBs across India to reduce employee costs while maintaining 24/7 customer service capabilities. What you should know: The agentic AI platform provides voice AI agent capabilities that automate routine business functions around the clock. Small clinics can take appointments continuously without requiring a receptionist on duty. Educational institutes can answer course-related queries instantly, even outside office hours. The solution aims to help...
read Aug 28, 2025Animation studio collapses after founder’s misguided overreliance on AI
A small animation agency specializing in educational and NGO content collapsed into administration in July after its founder became over-reliant on generative AI tools as a solution to mounting business pressures. The agency's demise offers a stark warning about the risks of implementing AI without proper oversight, particularly for small creative firms where quality and accuracy are paramount to client relationships. What happened: The 24-person animation studio, which worked with prestigious clients on complex educational content, fell victim to its founder's misguided belief that AI could solve fundamental business challenges. The founder increasingly pushed AI-generated voiceovers, scripts, and even visual...
read Aug 25, 2025Montana restaurant begs customers to stop using Google AI for (its fake) daily specials
A Montana restaurant is pleading with customers to stop using Google's AI Overviews to check their daily specials after the AI repeatedly fabricated non-existent deals and menu items. Stefanina's Wentzville has been flooded with angry customers demanding discounts the restaurant never offered, highlighting how AI hallucinations can directly harm small businesses. What happened: Google's AI Overviews has been generating false information about Stefanina's Wentzville, creating fake specials and menu items that don't exist.• The AI told customers the restaurant was offering "a large pizza for the price of a small one," among other fabricated deals.• Restaurant owner Eva Gannon said...
read Jul 29, 2025Apple’s Motown manufacturing academy to train businesses on AI
Apple is launching a manufacturing academy in downtown Detroit to train small and medium-sized businesses on manufacturing and artificial intelligence, with Michigan State University administering the program. The move comes as President Trump intensifies pressure on the tech giant to bring more production jobs to the United States while implementing tariffs that will likely increase Apple's operational costs. What you should know: The Apple Manufacturing Academy will open in August, offering workshops led by Apple engineers to help businesses implement smart manufacturing technologies. The program will provide consulting services to small businesses and plans to offer virtual courses later this...
read Jul 22, 202537% of small businesses use AI with Gen Z leading adoption and satisfaction
Small businesses across America are embracing artificial intelligence at an accelerating pace, with 37% of owners currently using AI tools and 71% of current users planning to increase their investment, according to a new CNBC|SurveyMonkey survey. This grassroots adoption is reshaping Main Street operations and workforce decisions, with younger entrepreneurs leading a generational divide in both AI adoption and its impact on employment. The generational divide: Younger business owners are driving AI adoption at dramatically higher rates than their older counterparts. Gen Z and millennial small business owners report current AI usage at 59% and 51% respectively, compared to just...
read Jul 7, 2025Chinese SMEs outpace global rivals in AI adoption with government backing
Chinese companies hold a significant advantage in AI adoption, with small and medium-sized enterprises showing exceptional willingness to experiment with AI applications for business value. This edge stems from Beijing's strategic positioning of AI as a national priority, creating market conditions that accelerate both innovation and productivity gains. What you should know: Chinese businesses demonstrate a particularly aggressive approach to AI integration compared to their global counterparts. Small and medium-sized Chinese companies have been "very willing to try to capture value from AI adoption," according to Guoli Chen, a strategy professor at INSEAD business school. The Chinese government's designation of...
read Jun 24, 2025Only 24% of small businesses are using AI tools like ChatGPT says survey
A new survey from the National Federation of Independent Business reveals that only 24% of small business owners are currently using AI tools like ChatGPT, Canva, and Copilot in their operations. The data highlights a significant adoption gap, with smaller firms lagging behind larger competitors, though early adopters report that AI is enhancing productivity without displacing workers. What you should know: Small business AI adoption varies dramatically by company size, with the smallest firms showing the lowest implementation rates. Companies with single-digit employee counts have just 21% AI adoption, while firms with 50 or more workers reach nearly 50% implementation....
read Jun 13, 2025Shutterstock’s AI tool removes photo backgrounds in seconds for small businesses
Visual content drives modern business success, yet many small business owners struggle with creating professional-looking images. Whether you're showcasing products on an e-commerce platform, crafting social media campaigns, or developing marketing materials, removing cluttered backgrounds can transform amateur photos into polished, professional assets. Shutterstock's Background Removal Tool addresses this challenge by leveraging artificial intelligence to automatically isolate subjects from their backgrounds. This browser-based solution requires no design expertise or expensive software subscriptions, making professional image editing accessible to entrepreneurs and marketers who need results without the learning curve. The tool's significance extends beyond simple convenience. In today's visually-driven marketplace, clean...
read Jun 10, 202576% of small businesses are now exploring or using AI
A comprehensive survey of nearly 1,000 small businesses reveals that over 50% are actively exploring AI implementation, with 25% already integrating artificial intelligence into their daily operations. The findings from Reimagine Main Street, a project of Public Private Strategies Institute conducted in partnership with PayPal, indicate that AI adoption among small businesses has reached a critical tipping point, evolving from a question of "if" to "when." What you should know: Small businesses are moving beyond basic AI applications toward strategic implementations that provide competitive advantages. 82% believe adopting AI is essential to stay competitive in today's business environment The survey...
read Jun 6, 2025Bluumly AI cuts small business marketing time from 10 hours to 30 minutes
Bluumly has launched the public beta of its AI-powered marketing platform designed specifically for micro and small businesses, following a private beta that began in April. The platform aims to automate digital marketing campaigns for the 32 million small business owners in the U.S. who struggle with limited time and resources, reducing weekly marketing tasks from 5-10 hours to just 30 minutes per month. What you should know: Bluumly's AI generates fully designed, brand-consistent campaigns across multiple social media platforms after users simply describe their marketing goals. The platform supports Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest with smart scheduling to...
read Jun 6, 2025Get on this! AI Magicx lifetime deal drops to $60 from $972 until July 20
9to5Toys is offering a lifetime subscription to AI Magicx's Rune Plan for just $59.97, down from its regular price of $972, through July 20. The deal provides permanent access to a comprehensive suite of AI-powered creative tools designed for logo design, content creation, artwork generation, chatbot building, and coding assistance. What you should know: AI Magicx positions itself as an all-in-one creative platform that combines multiple AI-powered functions typically requiring separate tools or teams. The platform includes logo generation, article and story writing, visual artwork creation from text prompts, chatbot development, document editing, and AI coding capabilities. Users receive commercial...
read Jun 3, 2025AI boosts small business profits, Mindbody tells wellness brands
Generative AI is emerging as a potential equalizer for small businesses facing decades of corporate consolidation. While large corporations have dominated markets for the past 50 years, AI technologies are providing smaller enterprises with sophisticated capabilities previously reserved for bigger players. Mindbody, a booking platform for wellness services, is positioning itself as an AI-powered solution specifically designed to help independent wellness providers compete in an increasingly crowded marketplace. The big picture: Mindbody is leveraging AI to empower small wellness businesses with enterprise-level capabilities while maintaining their unique market advantages. The company's chief technology officer, Jacob Meacham, has spearheaded a significant...
read May 23, 2025Shopify unveils 150+ AI-powered upgrades for merchants
Shopify's latest platform update introduces powerful AI tools, unprecedented design flexibility, and expanded global capabilities to empower e-commerce merchants of all sizes. The Summer '25 Edition represents one of the platform's most comprehensive updates, addressing key pain points for online sellers while positioning Shopify to compete more effectively in an increasingly AI-driven commerce landscape. The 150+ new features focus on reducing technical barriers, enhancing the shopping experience, and simplifying global operations. The big picture: Shopify's Summer '25 Edition delivers over 150 new tools and enhancements designed to help merchants build and grow their businesses with greater ease, flexibility, and customization...
read May 14, 2025We’ve got our A-Eye on you: LastPass targets employees’ unauthorized AI tool use
LastPass is expanding beyond password management into SaaS application monitoring, directly targeting the growing challenge of shadow IT and unauthorized AI tool usage in small and mid-sized businesses. By leveraging its existing browser extension infrastructure, LastPass aims to democratize SaaS monitoring technology previously available only to large enterprises with substantial security budgets. This move represents a strategic pivot to help organizations gain visibility into which cloud services their employees are using—particularly as AI adoption accelerates in workplace settings. The big picture: LastPass has announced a new SaaS monitoring capability specifically designed for small to midsize enterprises struggling to track employee usage...
read May 8, 2025Contractor Appointments scales to $134M using Zapier and AI
Contractor Appointments demonstrates how AI-powered automation can dramatically transform small business operations with tangible financial results. The lead generation company's integration of Zapier with AI tools has enabled them to generate $134 million in client revenue, showcasing how strategic automation can create exponential growth for service businesses without requiring massive staff expansion or technical expertise. The big picture: Contractor Appointments leveraged Zapier's automation platform combined with AI tools to streamline their lead generation processes for contractors. By connecting various business applications and implementing intelligent workflows, they achieved significant revenue generation for their clients. This case study highlights how small businesses...
read Apr 25, 2025Spring.new beta builds dream SaaS apps in minutes
Spring.new is bringing SaaS application development into the no-code era with an AI agent that builds custom applications and workflows in minutes. This new beta solution promises to transform how businesses create software by eliminating traditional coding requirements, allowing users to quickly transform ideas into working applications through natural language descriptions—potentially representing a significant shift in how small businesses and teams access custom software solutions. The big picture: Spring.new has launched in beta as an AI agent that builds custom SaaS applications and workflow automations based on simple natural language descriptions. The platform allows users to create everything from lightweight...
read Apr 22, 2025Hostinger unveils AI-driven no-code web app builder
Hostinger's new AI-powered platform transforms the accessibility of web app development, allowing users to create interactive online tools without coding knowledge. The launch of Hostinger Horizons represents a significant shift in how small businesses and individuals can establish sophisticated online presences, potentially democratizing web app creation for those previously limited by technical or financial constraints. This development comes as the no-code movement continues to gain momentum across the technology sector. The big picture: Hostinger has globally launched Hostinger Horizons, an AI-powered no-code solution that enables users to create fully functional web applications without coding skills or third-party integrations. What they're...
read Apr 10, 2025Always-on-call center: AI voice agents give startups 24/7 customer service and operational scale
AI voice agents are transforming how startups operate by providing 24/7 customer service without the limitations of human fatigue or availability. These autonomous tools have evolved from clunky chatbots into sophisticated systems that sound remarkably human and operate across multiple platforms. As voice technology advances, businesses of all sizes are finding innovative applications beyond customer service, including recruitment, sales training, and appointment management—creating new opportunities for startups to scale operations while maintaining consistent service quality. The big picture: AI voice agents are emerging as essential tools for startups and small businesses in 2025, with major tech companies from Meta to...
read Apr 10, 2025How smart AI is helping smaller teams challenge tech giants’ big compute energy
The race to develop advanced artificial intelligence has historically been dominated by tech giants deploying massive computational resources. However, recent innovations from smaller teams suggest that AI development may be entering a new era where intelligent approaches could outpace sheer computational power. This shift has significant implications for the industry's competitive landscape and suggests that AI innovation could become more democratized and accessible beyond the handful of tech behemoths currently dominating the field. The big picture: A growing number of smaller AI labs are creating high-performing models that compete with those from well-resourced tech giants, despite using significantly fewer computational...
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