Sunnyvale, Calif. – September 18, 2026 -- Plug and Play Foundation (PNPF) has launched SMB Tech Connect, an accelerator funded by a Wells Fargo grant that will help 10 Bay Area small businesses assess technology needs and fund adoption. Applications for the pilot program are now open.
Ten small businesses will receive assessments, startup pilots and adoption grants
Each participating business begins with a technology and AI readiness assessment mapping operational gaps and repetitive processes. Results determine placement into one of two tracks: a Technology Pilot Track matching businesses with vetted startup solutions, or a Workshop Implementation Track offering hands-on sessions on AI and automation tools.
Solutions target finance and accounting, sales and marketing, human resources, cybersecurity, legal and compliance, vendor management, e-commerce, and customer operations. The program runs through PNPF's ELEVATE Pathway, combining education, one-on-one mentorship, workflow assessments, technology recommendations, and grant funding for adoption costs.
Wells Fargo's $420 million Open for Business Fund has backed 200-plus community organizations
Wells Fargo's existing Open for Business Fund has supported more than 200 community-based organizations nationwide, with grantees reporting reach to more than 336,000 small businesses. Those grantees say they created or preserved more than 461,000 jobs and delivered over 1.1 million hours of technical assistance, more than half of it one-on-one.
Dominique Reese, Executive Director of Plug and Play Foundation, said small-business owners face a complex technology landscape where tool access alone does not guarantee adoption. She said businesses need trusted guidance, implementation support, and financial flexibility to test solutions matched to specific needs.
California pilot could expand to New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago and Dallas
Plug and Play Foundation intends to use the California program as a model for potential adaptation in additional U.S. markets. Small-business owners can apply for the pilot directly through the Foundation.