Build Your 2026 AI Advantage Now!

AI isn’t waiting for anyone—and 2026 is essentially already here. Artificial intelligence is moving at breakneck speed; what felt cutting-edge just months ago is already outdated. For small businesses and women entrepreneurs, the question is no longer whether AI matters, but how quickly you can adapt before the next wave reshapes the rules of the game. Again.

Join NYWIB, Women.NYC and Accompany Capital for a dynamic fireside chat that brings together two top AI insiders—a visionary tech executive and Microsoft’s Director of Software Innovation—ready to break down what the next wave of AI really means for small businesses.

Guided by a moderator who has been on the front lines of AI content creation for five years, this conversation will replace anxiety with clarity and opportunity. Expect straight talk on how evolving tools will transform marketing, communication, innovation, and day-to-day operations—and what actions you should be taking now to protect your margins and fuel growth.

Immediately following the conversation, participate in two rounds of discussion circles led by the speakers. Ask questions about what this shift means for your business—and then stay to network and build the connections that help you grow.

If you want to stay competitive in an unpredictable economy, you can’t afford to miss this.

This isn’t another talk about “what ChatGPT can do.” This is about practical, forward-looking strategies you can put into action now so you’re not playing catch-up tomorrow.

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, December 2, 4:00–8:00 PM
Location: Microsoft Experience Center
677 5th Avenue (between 53rd & 54th Streets)
New York, NY

What You Will Learn and Experience

• Anticipating the 2026 AI Shift – What’s on the horizon and how it will directly impact small businesses and entrepreneurs.
• Resilience Through Innovation – How to pivot quickly, experiment boldly, and thrive in rapidly changing markets—and how to use AI instead of avoiding it or trying to compete with it.
• Answers to Your Questions – Join two rounds of small-group discussion circles with the speakers.
• Community & Collaboration – Network and learn from peers facing similar challenges, and walk away with action steps tailored to your business.

🔗 Register Now!

Admission is free, but you must register to attend.

Snacks and beverages while they last

A donation of at least $1 would be appreciated to help cover our costs. here if you care to make a donation. Your support now matters more than ever as our funding is being challenged.

About Catherine Ventura

Catherine Ventura is a veteran Social Media Branding and Content Strategist known for spotting what’s next long before it hits the mainstream. One of the earliest adopters of Twitter and YouTube, she helped shape the first era of social storytelling—and has spent the last two decades guiding small businesses and nonprofits on how to build clear, compelling, and strategic online brands.

With a career rooted in understanding platform shifts and audience behavior, Catherine brings a sharp, grounded perspective to the conversation about where AI is heading in 2026.

About Sarah Perkins

Sarah Perkins is the Founder & Principal of Product Place Labs, a strategic advisory firm that partners with technology and product organizations to define and execute on transformative product and digital experience. As a former Chief Product Officer with 15 years of B2B, B2C and IT experience, she specializes in launching 0→1products, AI Strategy & Implementation, operational excellence and turning ideas into revenue. Sarah empowers organizations to future-proof their products through strategic frameworks that align technology, people, and strategy for transformative growth

About Allen Stewart

Allen is a cloud and AI engineer who helps organizations modernize their technology and move confidently into the future. A native New Yorker now based in Washington, he works across a wide range of cloud-native tools and platforms—everything from containers and orchestration systems to development pipelines and application design.

Allen leads major modernization and cloud-migration initiatives on Microsoft Azure, helping teams update older systems and build faster, more flexible applications. Since 2023, he has also been building AI-powered applications, bringing together cloud expertise and emerging intelligent technologies to create practical, real-world solutions.

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About Women.NYC

Women.NYC - part of the New York City Economic Development Corporation - is a flagship City initiative to make New York City the best place in the world for women of all backgrounds to thrive in their businesses and careers. Women.NYC advances diversity, gender equality and fosters economic mobility by focusing on equipping women to succeed in the future economy.

Bookmark https://women.nyc/ to stay engaged in this program. We will have a series of events centered around these high-priority sectors, allowing you to sign up for career coaching and shadowing. This is the only women-centric network established to help you take control of your future.

About New York Women in Business (NYWIB)

To recognize the importance and impact of women entrepreneurs on our city, SCORE NYC founded New York Women in Business (NYWIB) in 2016 to provide support.

New York City has more women-owned businesses than any other city in the U.S. Women own more than 40% of businesses in NYC. And, these women-owned businesses grow as much as four times faster than those owned by men. For additional insights about women business owners, see Articles and Facts about Women in Business in our resource library.
We have evolved into a community supporting women in business, fostering personal and professional success for women across non-profits, city government, and national women’s professional organizations. Now, as businesses face the pandemic, they are tapping into our resources for guidance and leaning on our community for support throughout their reopening and start-up journeys. We continuously seek and share helpful content about grants, loans, and how to sustain a business and your health in tough times, all with a focus on supporting women in business..

*Disclaimers: (1) This event is open to the public and at no-cost, doors will be closed once the venue reaches capacity, arrive early. (2) By signing up for this event you accept to be photographed and recorded, and allow women.nyc to use the materials for informational and promotional purposes.(3) By registering to this event you accept to join our email list and receive information about future events and resources.

*Note: Anyone can participate in Women.NYC programs regardless of actual or perceived sex, gender, gender identity or gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, partnership status, marital status, disability (including use of a service animal), race, color, national origin, alienage, citizenship status, military status, or any other class protected by City, State, or Federal law

Event Venue

Microsoft Experience Center, 677 5th Avenue, New York, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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