Workday Inc. (NASDAQ: WDAY) announced the launch of the Workday Foundation Solopreneurship Accelerator Program in partnership with Anthropic and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). The initiative will provide $150,000 in total seed funding and AI training to aspiring small business owners.

The program will serve an initial cohort of 15 solopreneurs, with each participant receiving a $10,000 grant from the Workday Foundation to cover business expenses. Participants will also receive free access to Anthropic's Claude AI credits, an AI skills entrepreneurship curriculum delivered by LISC, and coaching through LISC's network of Business Development Organizations.

The curriculum focuses on building AI fluency for business operations, teaching participants to use generative AI for strategy, marketing, fulfillment, customer relationship management, and financial management. The initial cohort will begin in July 2026.

"Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities, and AI holds incredible potential to open the doors of opportunity," said Carrie Varoquiers, Chief Impact Officer at Workday.

Elizabeth Kelly, Head of Beneficial Deployments at Anthropic, stated that "Solo founders are some of the country's most determined builders and often the most resource-constrained." She noted that the partnership aims to put Claude AI in the hands of solopreneurs to help them reach more customers.

Michael Pugh, president and CEO of LISC, emphasized the importance of ensuring small businesses are equipped to utilize AI technology for growth and sustainability. LISC will use its national network of business development organization partners to identify solopreneurs who would benefit from the program.

The announcement was based on a company press release. The program design, curriculum, and future learnings will be shared publicly to support other entrepreneurs and organizations serving small businesses.