Bridging the Digital Divide: Why San Antonio’s Small Businesses Deserve More Than Wi-Fi Access
In a city where small businesses make up over 90% of local enterprises, digital readiness is no longer optional—it’s essential. And yet, across San Antonio’s most entrepreneurial neighborhoods, many business owners are still struggling with the basics: setting up a professional email, building a website, or simply learning how to engage customers online.
Behind the surface-level challenges is something deeper: a confidence gap, not just a technology gap.
“Too many business owners have been told to just figure it out. But the truth is—they shouldn’t have to,” says Lina Rugova, founder of Emerge and Rise. “That’s what this program is here to change.”
Why Digital Literacy Still Matters in 2025
The tech world moves fast, but many local entrepreneurs are being left behind. According to recent research from the Brookings Institution and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, small businesses that lack digital literacy skills lose out on customers, funding opportunities, and operational efficiency.
The consequences aren’t just technical—they’re financial.
Without a strong digital foundation, businesses can’t track customer data, automate operations, or scale online. They get stuck in survival mode, relying on word-of-mouth instead of measurable growth. Worse, many feel too overwhelmed or ashamed to ask for help, especially in communities where access to training has historically been limited.
That’s why Emerge and Rise launched the Digital Literacy Initiative—to give these entrepreneurs a way forward that’s approachable, practical, and deeply community-rooted.
A Program That Meets People Where They Are
Unlike online tech courses or one-size-fits-all workshops, the Digital Literacy Initiative is designed for real San Antonio business owners, especially those who’ve been historically excluded from mainstream digital spaces.
The program takes a layered approach. Participants start with foundational tools like email setup, basic website design, and social media marketing. But we don’t stop there. As confidence grows, so does the curriculum, covering automation, AI tools like ChatGPT, cybersecurity and even data analytics to help inform business decisions.
Sessions are offered in both English and Spanish, with special attention to veteran-owned, immigrant-owned, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses. Each participant is matched with mentors who stay engaged throughout their journey.
And here’s what makes this initiative truly different: support doesn’t stop after the last workshop.
Every business that completes the program is followed for 18 months, receiving check-ins, advanced workshops, and alumni resources to ensure long-term success. It’s not just about teaching skills—it’s about creating digital confidence, business efficiency, and scalable impact.
Real Value, Real Transformation Starts Here
The vision behind the Digital Literacy Initiative is bold but necessary: to help San Antonio’s entrepreneurs move beyond outdated, manual systems and embrace the digital tools that will allow them to grow, hire, and scale.
This upcoming first cohort will be the foundation for something bigger—a lasting shift in how small businesses operate in San Antonio’s underserved communities. From professional email setup and social media branding to AI-powered content creation and workflow automation, participants will begin building confidence in areas they once found intimidating or inaccessible.
This isn’t a tech bootcamp with a corporate agenda—it’s a community-centered initiative designed with local business needs in mind.
The program is made possible through the generous sponsorship of AI Cowboys, and co-hosted with our innovation partner Learn2AI, ensuring that participants have access to cutting-edge tools, mentorship, and real-world application from day one.
As we prepare to welcome the first 25 businesses into this program, we’re not just teaching digital skills—we’re creating pathways to stronger businesses, resilient communities, and generational economic change.
Applications Open: Emerge and Rise Is Recruiting Now
Right now, Emerge and Rise is accepting applications from 25 small businesses for the next cohort. The cost to participate is only $55, and that fee is refunded when the business completes the program. The low barrier to entry reflects our nonprofit’s mission to remove friction, not add more.
Workshops begin soon and take place at Emerge and Rise’s innovation hub on Broadway (District 10). Interested business owners can apply directly through emergeandrise.org.
In San Antonio’s future, every business should be digitally ready, and Emerge and Rise is making that future more inclusive, one entrepreneur at a time.
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