What happens when artificial intelligence (AI) meets underserved small businesses? Building Markets, a non-profit dedicated to powering small business growth in economically vulnerable communities around the world, chose to partner with the Jackson School’s Global Research Group to find out.
Collaborating for impact
The collaboration began in the summer of 2024, when eight Jackson School undergrads under the guidance of Jackson School faculty and cybersecurity expert Jessica Beyer, conducted AI research with the Building Markets team. Using the students’ data collection and analysis as well as interviews with Building Markets team members, in Spring 2025 Building Markets turned the research into a report titled, “AI Applications for Small & Medium-Sized Enterprises” and published it on their website.
Vanessa Pankaj ’25
“The opportunity to conduct research on AI for small businesses helped me learn about the various applications of AI, as well as the many ways in which businesses can use AI to increase productivity or improve workflow,” said International Studies and Law, Society & Justice major Vanessa Pankaj, who graduates this June.
Research findings
The findings in the report explore how generative AI tools can—and can’t—support marginalized small and medium-sized enterprises, especially refugee- and women-owned businesses in Türkiye. With 40+ tools evaluated, risks analyzed, and global small and medium-sized enterprise use cases included, the report offers actionable insights for safe and impactful AI integration.
From translation and writing tools to customer relations management (CRM) and search, the publication highlights what works best—and where the gaps still are.
Building job skills
Fern Hinrix ’25
“The Global Research Group was a chance to get real world experience working with an organization to do research on a topic impacting people and businesses around the world,” said Fern Hinrix, who is earning her bachelor’s degree in international studies and is graduating this spring. “It was challenging at times, but also pushed us to work cohesively as a team and produce a high quality report we could all be proud of.”
For Pankaj, the experience allowed her “to develop valuable skills, such as conducting research collaboratively and creative problem-solving which will be very helpful for jobs and internships in the international affairs and foreign policy fields.”
Safaa Turner-Rahman ’25
“Ultimately, the Global Research Group was an excellent opportunity for professional growth and for building connections with like minded individuals both within the Jackson School and across the broader UW community,” said Safaa Turner-Rahman, who will graduate this spring with a bachelor’s degree in international studies and a minor in environmental studies. “I’m proud to share this accomplishment with such a dedicated and hardworking group.”
The Global Research Group program hosts teams of faculty-supervised students help clients who want leading-edge and cost-effective consulting.
