The inaugural US Solopreneur 50 selected winners from nearly 3,000 applications across 48 states and 400-plus cities, with each receiving $30,000 plus mentorship, technology resources and partnerships.
The five winners include founders of workplace, African language translation, education, nonprofit fundraising and cake businesses, reflecting Zoom's view that AI tools are widening access to solo entrepreneurship beyond tech.
Zoom said the programme responds to workforce shifts as more than 33 million Americans are self-employed and 82% of small businesses have no employees, signalling growing interest in independent, sustainable one-person companies.
Beyond AI assistants, what is the next billion-dollar tool that will unlock the true potential of solo entrepreneurs?
When AI can run an entire business, what uniquely human skills will separate success from failure for entrepreneurs?
As AI creates one-person empires, are we overlooking the hidden financial burdens of this new American Dream?
Zoom’s $150,000 Solopreneur 50 Program Empowers 29.8 Million AI-Driven Solo Entrepreneurs
Overview
In early 2026, Zoom launched the Zoom Solopreneur 50 program to support solo entrepreneurs leveraging AI to grow their businesses without employees. Targeting a vast market of nearly 30 million solopreneurs, the program offered $150,000 in grants and valuable resources like mentorship, visibility, and AI-powered tools. The initiative recognized five top innovators who demonstrated how AI can transform diverse solo ventures, from baking to remote work solutions. While the program sparked strong interest and aligned with the growing reliance on AI, it faces challenges around accessibility and long-term sustainability. Zoom aims to build on this foundation by expanding support and fostering responsible AI adoption for the future of solo entrepreneurship.