Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center

Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center (Renaissance) was launched in San Francisco in 1985 to deliver training classes and support services to help lower-income individuals achieve financial independence through small business ownership. Since then, Renaissance has steadily grown, now serving over 2,200 entrepreneurs annually. Named 2024 Nonprofit of the Year by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, Renaissance has served over 43,000 Bay Area residents in the last 40 years who have started and grown over 22,000 businesses, created employment for nearly 33,000 residents and secured more than $100M in capital.

Renaissance purchased their headquarters building at 275 5th San Francisco in 1997 which is also the location for their Women’s Business Center and Small Business Incubator. Since then they have expanded to multiple locations: Bayview Hunters Point (2001), East Palo Alto (2007), Richmond, CA (2010), South San Francisco (2021), San Jose (2022), North Fair Oaks (2023) and Half Moon Bay (2024). Renaissance has also added new levels of services including: Industry specific training in the food, child care, retail and construction sectors, technology training, and additional Business Incubators in East Palo Alto and Bayview Hunters Point.

Issue

How can Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center use Artificial Intelligence to improve organizational efficiencies and identify new funding opportunities? 

Situation 

As Renaissance has grown, so has the number and complexity of their contracts. Renaissance also faces potential future funding reductions due to cuts in government programs. Renaissance is seeking support to embrace Artificial Intelligence to improve organizational efficiencies and identify new funding sources. 

Project 

Renaissance would like ACT support to use AI to improve organizational efficiencies for reporting and other tasks, as well as help identify new sources of funding. 

1. Streamline Operations: A primary area which could benefit is using AI to access/upload client and financial data for government contract reporting and invoicing. Renaissance currently has 42 federal, state and local government contracts, each with different types of reporting and invoicing requirements.
2. Funding Sources: Renaissance would like assistance understanding how AI could be used to identify new potential funders.
3. Other Uses: Renaissance would appreciate insight into what other opportunities might also exist to use AI in their organization.