  Generative AI platforms and features are permeating many aspects of work.
Entrepreneurs from lean economies in particular are well positioned to
outsource tasks to generative AI given limited resources. In this paper, we
work to address a growing disparity in use of these technologies by building on
a four-year partnership with a local entrepreneurial hub dedicated to equity in
tech and entrepreneurship. Together, we co-designed an interactive workshops
series aimed to onboard local entrepreneurs to generative AI platforms.
Alongside four community-driven and iterative workshops with entrepreneurs
across five months, we conducted interviews with 15 local entrepreneurs and
community providers. We detail the importance of communal and supportive
exposure to generative AI tools for local entrepreneurs, scaffolding actionable
use (and supporting non-use), demystifying generative AI technologies by
emphasizing entrepreneurial power, while simultaneously deconstructing the
veneer of simplicity to address the many operational skills needed for
successful application.
