Collective raises $100 million to empower AI-native solopreneurs

Small businesses drive the future of the AI economy

Small businesses are central to the AI economy because their ability to integrate the technology influences how broadly economic benefits are shared. These firms have created 61 percent of net new jobs in the United States over the past three decades.

Goldman Sachs and Manhattan Chamber of Commerce facilitate AI integration

Goldman Sachs is working to assist small businesses in moving from AI experimentation to the integration of technology into daily operations and growth strategies.

Jessica Walker, President and CEO of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, is leading this initiative.

OpenAI researchers outline new models for AI-integrated organizations

Two researchers who began managing teams at OpenAI at age 24 recently published an essay detailing organizational structures for an artificial intelligence future. This essay is the second in a series on the next economy hosted on a platform for independent voices. The authors note these views are their own and do not reflect the positions of OpenAI or their colleagues.

Hybrid firms remain significant because AI adoption does not happen instantly. More capable AI is easier to adopt because labor can learn the firm and onboard itself. OpenAI anticipates the future will consist of smaller businesses and large AI holding companies that leverage common assets. AI can function as a coordination layer within larger firms to reduce friction and communication issues found in traditional hierarchies.

The authors propose three scenarios for how AI integrates into organizational charts. In the "Beneath us" model, a new layer of AI labor reports to individual contributors, effectively making everyone a manager. In the "Beside us" model, AI functions as a colleague that works directly for human managers and executives. In the "Between us" model, AI acts as an intermediary that coordinates and monitors work between humans in higher and lower positions.

In the "Beneath us" scenario, AI agents initially have low autonomy and expectations. As models improve, they take on more tasks and eventually function like a small firm with the human as the board of directors.

The authors contend that AI adoption does not necessarily lead to layoffs. Employees can move up the hierarchy to manage greater sums of output. Productivity increases can lead to higher ambition and potentially higher wages, provided humans continue to add value to production. Future labor force size depends on whether consumer appetite for output continues to grow and whether humans remain additive to the production process.

Sam Altman, CEO and co-founder of OpenAI, spoke on these topics at the 2026 Dreamforce conference in San Francisco on September 15, 2026.

Investors demand evidence of financial value from AI spending

Investors now demand evidence of financial value from artificial intelligence spending rather than rewarding companies for large announcements.

A McKinsey study found that 89% of organizations use artificial intelligence in at least one business function. However, only 44% of these organizations have begun to scale the technology.

AI automation disrupts the traditional billable-hour model

Artificial intelligence integration in professional services poses an existential threat to the traditional billable-hour model by automating complex tax planning and support, according to reports.

The Collective platform offers entity formation, LLC structuring, automated expense categorization, account reconciliation, full-service payroll, tax preparation, and access to business liability and health insurance. Its systems resolve 50% of customer support requests while maintaining a 4.5-star satisfaction rating.

Market leadership rotates as tech sector growth continues

Projected capital spending for Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, and SpaceX will reach between $803 billion and $828 billion for 2026, though not all expenditure relates directly to artificial intelligence.

Microsoft’s Azure segment achieved 48% growth, the fastest rate in two years, according to a Tech Times report from October 30, 2026.

Market leadership is rotating away from technology toward other sectors, a trend that Invesco views as a sign of a durable bull market.

Emerging AI-native platforms expand the financial services landscape

Other recent developments in the artificial intelligence-native financial platform sector include $35 million in growth funding for Coast and the launch of Mandl. The sector also saw an $8 million seed round for Soteris and the launch of Mila by Capchase.