{"id":925454,"date":"2026-01-08T10:04:53","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T15:04:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/zoom-opens-nominations-for-first-u-s-solopreneur-50-list-recognizing-ai-first-solo-business-leaders\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T10:04:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T15:04:53","slug":"zoom-opens-nominations-for-first-u-s-solopreneur-50-list-recognizing-ai-first-solo-business-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/zoom-opens-nominations-for-first-u-s-solopreneur-50-list-recognizing-ai-first-solo-business-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"Zoom Opens Nominations for First U.S. Solopreneur 50 List, Recognizing AI-First Solo Business Leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nInaugural grant and recognition program from Zoom highlights solopreneur success and scalability through AI integration and adaptation
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SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Zoom opens nominations for its Zoom Solopreneur 50 List (ZSP50)<\/strong>, a first-of-its-kind recognition and grant program celebrating the individuals who are redefining entrepreneurship by building and growing businesses on their own.<\/p>\n

Nominations are open until 5 p.m. ET on February 13, 2026.<\/strong> Individuals can nominate themselves or others by completing a short form at zoom.com\/solo50<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The ZSP50 will honor 50 trailblazing \u201cbusinesses of one\u201d across the U.S. \u2014 independent creators, consultants, educators, inventors, and innovators using technology, ingenuity, and purpose to make an outsized impact. For business owners working alone, this is the opportunity to be part of a select group of doers with similar drive and grit.<\/p>\n

\u201cAI is expanding what a single person can accomplish,\u201d said Kimberly Storin, Chief Marketing Officer at Zoom<\/strong>. \u201cSolopreneurs are using AI to remove friction, move faster, reach further, and operate with a level of sophistication that used to be out of reach. The Solopreneur 50 recognizes the builders proving that scale today is driven by capability, not company size. Zoom is focused on enabling that future.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n Scaling Solos with AI<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

There are over 30MM small businesses in the U.S., 82% of which operate without employees (U.S. Chamber of Commerce<\/a>). For an increasing number of solopreneurs, AI has become a core operating capability, enhancing decision-making, execution, and customer engagement.<\/p>\n

Zoom, in partnership with Upwork, recently surveyed more than 1,000 small businesses<\/a> (SMB), including solopreneurs, 64% of whom said they couldn\u2019t be in business without AI. What\u2019s more, 91% of small businesses saw a return on their AI investments within one year, and SMBs and solopreneurs report that AI has helped them reduce business costs (82%), increase customer acquisition (91%), and increase customer retention (87%).<\/p>\n

Many solopreneurs can quickly adopt and iterate with AI tools, unencumbered by legacy systems or lengthy approval processes, allowing them to test, learn, and apply new capabilities in real time.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of the most effective uses of AI aren\u2019t coming from big companies \u2013\u00a0they\u2019re solopreneurs,\u201d said Lisa Scheiring<\/strong>, Global Small Business Advisor<\/strong> (informally known as the \u201cChief Solo Officer\u201d<\/strong>) at Zoom<\/strong>. \u201cThey\u2019re not waiting for polished playbooks or permission; they\u2019re using AI to solve real problems in real time, from gaining continuous visibility into operations, to accessing expertise on demand, to turning a single hour of work into an entire marketing campaign. That speed and agility are real advantages, and it\u2019s reshaping what\u2019s possible for armies of one.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ZSP50 is part of Zoom\u2019s broader initiative to provide independent business builders with research, recognition, and real-world tools to scale their success.<\/p>\n

\n The ZSP50 Program<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

The ZSP50 recognizes a growing community of individuals who operate and scale their ventures independently, with no full-time employees, across multiple sectors including but not limited to technology and design, wellness, media, and social impact.<\/p>\n

Eligible nominees must:<\/p>\n