Our Team
Who We Are
Founded in 2020, Main Street Assembly exists to advance economic justice and opportunity through entrepreneurship and small businesses development—the backbone of local economies and one of the most powerful, yet underinvested, pathways to shared prosperity. We believe entrepreneurs deserve the resources to grow with dignity, agency, and access to opportunity.
Our work centers entrepreneurs, small business owners, and the other half of the workforce—the managers and frontline teams who make Main Street run. By expanding equitable access to emerging technologies, skills, and ecosystem support, we help entrepreneurs build stronger businesses, create better jobs, and ensure the benefits of growth are shared across their teams and communities.
Main Street Assembly operates with an extended bench of specialists
AI experts
Economic development strategists
Instructional designers
LMS experts
Industry advisors
Our Leadership
Zahra Amanpour
FOUNDER & CEO
Zahra Amanpour is an economic development strategist and social entrepreneur with over two decades of experience designing and leading initiatives that strengthen local economies, expand access to opportunity, and support entrepreneurs navigating change. Her work spans ecosystem building, small business development, workforce innovation, and the practical application of emerging technologies to real-world economic challenges.
As a builder across sectors, Zahra has partnered with cities, nonprofit institutions, funders, and private-sector leaders to translate complex challenges into clear, actionable strategies—bridging policy, practice, and on-the-ground implementation. She is known for her ability to convene diverse stakeholders, align fragmented efforts, and turn ambitious ideas into durable programs that deliver measurable outcomes for communities.
As Founder and CEO of Main Street Assembly, Zahra brings this experience to building more coordinated, resilient entrepreneurial ecosystems—grounded in equity, community, and shared prosperity.
Let’s Build Together
Whether you're designing a statewide AI initiative, launching a new entrepreneurship program, or strengthening an existing ecosystem, we can help you build solutions that are equitable, scalable, and impactful.