On April 17, 2026, Missouri State University held the 33rd Annual Frank Einhellig Graduate Interdisciplinary Forum, showcasing graduate student research and creative work across a wide range of disciplines. Among the presenters was Kamrunnahar Happy, whose research explores AI solo entrepreneurship and how artificial intelligence can help solo entrepreneurs better serve their customers.

The Research

Kamrunnahar’s study focuses on the role of AI in supporting solo entrepreneurs, particularly in customer-facing interactions. Early-stage ventures often operate with limited resources, making it difficult to maintain consistent, responsive, and personalized customer engagement. Her research examines how AI-enabled tools can help bridge that gap, giving small business owners the ability to scale their customer relationships without sacrificing quality.

Navigating the Challenges

The research required drawing from two distinct fields, entrepreneurship and service research, and weaving them into a cohesive framework. One of the central tensions Kamrunnahar had to work through was balancing AI’s clear efficiency benefits against its potential drawbacks. When implemented without care, AI risks stripping away the human touch that customers often value most, particularly in small business settings where personal connection is a competitive advantage.

Looking Ahead

Kamrunnahar plans to deepen her investigation into how different levels of automation shape customer perceptions, trust, and overall service experience. Her focus going forward is on identifying that optimal balance between human involvement and AI support in small business contexts, a question with real implications as more entrepreneurs turn to AI tools to grow their ventures.

Why It Matters

This research offers something entrepreneurs can actually use. Specifically, rather than treating AI purely as an efficiency tool, Kamrunnahar’s work encourages small business owners to think strategically about how AI can help them build and sustain meaningful customer relationships, even when working alone and with limited resources.

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