As a community builder at Mozilla, I'm all about staying connected — whether that's producing community events to invite more people to our brand, or working directly with people to make sure our products actually help those who need it most. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with three amazing Chicago small business owners to explore how Solo, Mozilla's AI-powered website builder, can help them expand their online presence. Solo was designed to make building websites easy, but these sessions were about more than that – they were about creating new websites for these small business owners to share their stories and build stronger connections with their communities.
Each of these entrepreneurs had a unique vision of how they wanted to grow their business online. Here's how we worked together to bring their ideas to life.
Building a digital hub for the first-generation entrepreneur community
Jackson Flores runs DishRoulette Kitchen, an organization that supports first-generation business owners in Chicago's food scene. DRK already had a website, but they wanted to take things further. Instead of focusing solely on DRK, we decided to create a digital hub showcasing the many restaurants they help – many of which didn't have their own websites.
We've built a directory that brings these restaurants together in one place, making it easier for locals to discover new dining spots and connect with the people behind the businesses. Working with Jackson was inspiring – her passion for uplifting first-generation entrepreneurs shined through. The website we built reflects the great work DRK does in the community, providing greater visibility to the businesses they support. You can check out DRK's Solo website here.
Creating a digital space for a multifaceted career
Danielle Moore is the owner of Semicolon Books, an independent bookstore in Chicago with a strong fan base. Danielle's work goes far beyond books, she has also spent 15 years as a museum curator and recently launched her own whiskey brand. With all of these projects, Danielle needed a website that could tie everything together and present her full story in one cohesive place.
During our session, we built a personal website that allows her to showcase all aspects of her career – from books to art to whiskey. Now, her community can see the full scope of her talent, through a site that reflects the many passions that drive her. For Danielle, it was about creating a digital home in which her entire journey could come together, providing a complete picture of who she is and what she is building. You can check out Danielle Solo's website here.
Turning the long-awaited project into reality
Kevin is the founder of The Pop-Up, a streetwear company that curates unique pieces from independent brands. While his business was already up and running, he was working on a new in-house line called Digital Produce – a project he was passionate about but didn't have the time to take online. Between his full-time job, family, and running the business, creating a website for this new line kept getting delayed. When we sat down to work on it, it was as if the project was finally moving. In just an hour, we created a clean, functional website with Solo that showcases Kevin's designs, giving his community an easy way to explore his work. For Kevin, the goal was to finally bring his vision to life after months of delaying it, and give his brand the platform it deserves. You can check out Digital Produce's Solo website here.
Build connections, online and off
Equipping Jackson, Danielle, and Kevin with a powerful, free tool like Solo helped each of them find new ways to tell their stories and engage with their communities. With Solo, they've created digital spaces that have the power to foster relationships, raise awareness, and share their passions in ways that never existed before.
Community has always been at the heart of Mozilla products, from the early days of Firefox to the tools we create today. Our goal has always been to empower people to shape the Internet in ways that reflect who they are and what matters to them. Solo is part of that effort, giving small business owners the power to take control of their digital presence and build meaningful connections with the people around them.
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