Empowering Small Businesses Through AI: The ICIC and Intuit Partnership

By ICIC | October 24, 2025

In today’s fast-changing business landscape, small businesses need every advantage to compete and grow. Recognizing this, the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) and Intuit have partnered to equip small businesses with the tools, resources, and knowledge they need to harness the power of AI. This collaboration is not just about technology—it’s about breaking barriers, fostering innovation, and driving inclusive economic growth.

This partnership has evolved through years of shared commitment to small business success, culminating in groundbreaking research, AI-focused programming, and hands-on learning opportunities. At the heart of this initiative is the belief that AI can be a game-changer for small businesses—but only if they have the right support to adopt and implement it effectively.

A Shared Mission: ICIC and Intuit’s Commitment to Small Business Growth

ICIC is a national nonprofit dedicated to helping under-resourced communities and small businesses thrive through programming and research. Founded in 1994 by Harvard Business School professor Dr. Michael E. Porter, ICIC provides executive education, coaching, technical assistance, and access to capital to more than 3,000 businesses across the U.S. and Canada each year. Through its research and partnerships, ICIC facilitates private-sector investment and economic development, creating opportunities for small businesses and local economies.

Intuit, the global financial technology platform for consumers and small businesses, shares this commitment. With a mission to power prosperity for the people and communities it serves, Intuit has built a suite of AI-driven tools—including TurboTax, QuickBooks, Credit Karma, and Mailchimp—that help solve its customers’ most important problems.

Together, ICIC and Intuit are bridging the gap between AI and small businesses, ensuring that even the smallest enterprises can benefit from cutting-edge technology.

From Research to Action: The AI Study That Sparked a Movement

At ICIC’s Annual Conference in Miami, ICIC and Intuit identified a growing concern: while 70% of small businesses believed AI could help them compete, many lacked the hands-on experience or guidance to leverage it effectively.

To address this gap, ICIC and Intuit launched a national AI study, which included:

• A survey of more than 3,700 small businesses, uncovering challenges and opportunities in AI adoption.
• Focus groups across the U.S., gathering firsthand insights into small business owners’ needs, hesitations, and real-world applications of AI.
• A small business AI report, outlining key findings and practical recommendations to help small businesses integrate AI responsibly and effectively.

One key takeaway from the study? Education is critical. Many small business owners saw AI’s potential but needed clearer, more accessible guidance on how to implement it in ways that drive growth, improve efficiency, and protect sensitive data.

The Intuit More with AI Tour: Bringing AI to Small Businesses

To turn research into action, ICIC and Intuit launched the Intuit More with AI Tour—a free, nationwide series of six half-day events that brings AI training and resources directly to small and mid-market businesses, giving entrepreneurs hands-on experience with tools from Intuit and other companies and helping them integrate AI into daily operations with confidence. In response to the clear need for AI education, the curriculum—grounded in ICIC’s research—focuses on practical applications, measurable benefits, and responsible implementation, all at no cost to attendees. The tour has already visited Boulder, CO; Los Angeles, CA; Mountain View, CA; and New Haven, CT, with two additional stops planned, including Arlington, TX, on November 14.

Steve Grossman, CEO of ICIC, highlighted the impact of this initiative:

“The future of small business success is tied to innovation, and AI is at the forefront of that transformation. Our partnership with Intuit ensures that small businesses—regardless of size or location—have the knowledge, tools, and support to harness AI effectively. This is about more than technology; it’s about economic empowerment and long-term business resilience.”

At each stop of the Intuit More with AI Tour, business owners get real-time demonstrations of AI-powered solutions in accounting, marketing, customer service, and operations. They also have the opportunity to engage with experts, ask questions, and learn best practices for using AI responsibly and strategically.

Sarah Hilmer, Local Impact and Strategic Alliances Lead at Intuit, emphasized the importance of accessibility:

AI shouldn’t be intimidating—it should be empowering.

“We designed the Intuit More with AI Tour to meet small business owners where they are, giving them practical knowledge they can apply immediately. Our goal is to ensure AI is not just for large corporations, but a tool that empowers businesses of all sizes.”

Looking Ahead: A Future Built on Innovation and Inclusion

ICIC and Intuit’s collaboration is a model for how technology and business expertise can come together to create real impact. By combining ICIC’s deep research and small business programming with Intuit’s AI-driven tools and educational resources, they are ensuring that small businesses are not left behind in the digital revolution.

The partnership continues to expand, with new research, programming, and AI adoption strategies in development. The goal remains the same: to help small businesses unlock their full potential through innovation and strategic growth.

As small businesses continue to shape the economy, the work of ICIC and Intuit is proving that with the right support, AI can be a powerful tool for economic opportunity, resilience, and long-term success.

For more information on ICIC and Intuit’s AI initiatives, visit icic.ai.