From Zero to AI: A Business Owner’s Cohort

From Zero to AI — 5-Part Series

From Zero to AI: A Business Owner’s Cohort (Free 5‑Part Workshop Series)

Five free workshops to use AI for marketing, research, and funding—even if you’re not techy.

Are you a Sacramento business owner or aspiring entrepreneur who feels a bit left behind by the AI boom? Have you tried tools like ChatGPT or Gemini, only to get generic, robotic results that don't sound like you?

From Zero to AI is a free, 5-part hybrid workshop series designed specifically for small business owners who want practical, real-world results without the tech jargon. Across five monthly, 90-minute sessions, you’ll learn how to transform AI into a capable, time-saving business assistant.

🛑 No coding. No sales pitches. No tech background required. Bring your phone or a laptop, use whatever AI tool you prefer (free accounts are completely fine!), or just follow along.

📅 The 5-Part Workshop Schedule

Note: Sessions run monthly from July - November. Exact dates and times will be sent to registered attendees.

• Session 1: Prompting Fundamentals & Business Research
• • The Goal: Learn how to get reliable answers from AI instead of "confident nonsense." Master the art of asking better questions and verifying facts.
• Session 2: Advanced Prompting & Master Prompts
• • The Goal: Set up your personal AI preferences so it gives you tailored business recommendations by default, plus a custom tool to fix weak prompts.
• Session 3: Local Competition & Landscape Analysis
• • The Goal: Map out your top local competitors, score their strengths, spot gaps in the market, and walk away with your next 3 strategic moves.
• Session 4: Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) & Brand Voice
• • The Goal: Stop sounding like a robot. Build a custom "Voice Card" using your real emails and posts so AI writes marketing copy that actually sounds like you.
• Session 5: Funding Research & Application Writing
• • The Goal: Demystify the grant process. Learn how to use AI to analyze a real Request for Proposal (RFP) and confidently draft funding applications.

🛠️ What You’ll Leave With

This isn't a lecture series where you just take notes. You will walk away from these sessions with tangible deliverables:

• 📋 Copy/paste prompt packs for each session to reuse anytime.
• 📊 A Competitor Scorecard to evaluate your market.
• 🗣️ A personalized AI Voice Card for consistent brand messaging.
• 💰 A Funding Kit & SOP to streamline future grant and loan applications.

Who should attend:
• Small business owners
• Entrepreneurs and startups
• Freelancers and consultants
• Nonprofit leaders
• Anyone interested in using AI for marketing

Attendance options:
• In-person
• Zoom (register to get the zoom link)

This program is designed to be beginner-friendly, with practical examples, guided activities, and resources participants can apply right away.

If you are having trouble registering please contact matthew@alliancecd.org