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Coco Noir Wine Shop & Bar Where AI Meets Lifestyle ✨
Exploring AI, technology, travel, hospitality, wellness, culture, entrepreneurship & unforgettable experiences. coconoirwine.com

Inspiring curiosity through storytelling, innovation & authentic experiences. We are scheduled to open in the mid to late summer of 2022. You can shop our online wine shop at www.

How do you help a team move from having AI tools to actually using them?Today at Data in the D in Detroit, I explored th...
10/18/2026

How do you help a team move from having AI tools to actually using them?

Today at Data in the D in Detroit, I explored that question during my first solo AI conference talk, “Culture Eats AI for Breakfast: Building Teams That Actually Use the Tools.”

I shared five habits leaders can put into practice:

• Listen before you launch.
• Bring people into the build.
• Show the win in their workflow.
• Grow champions, not mandates.
• Measure use, not licenses.

My approach draws on years of leading projects, training teams, and managing change across large organizations and my own businesses.

Through CoCo Noir Labs, I bring that experience to organizations in healthcare, public sector, hospitality, education, and beyond.

Thank you to the Data in the D organizers and everyone who joined the conversation. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share work I care deeply about.

Alicia Kidd, Founder & CEO, CoCo Noir Labs.

If your team needs help turning AI interest into everyday practice, let’s connect.

www.coconoirlabs.ai

Building useful AI solutions starts with understanding the communities and organizations they serve.That’s why we’re exc...
10/14/2026

Building useful AI solutions starts with understanding the communities and organizations they serve.

That’s why we’re excited to share that CoCo Noir Labs founder Alicia Kidd has been accepted into the 2026–2027 Leadership Oakland program, presented by the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce! 🎉

For more than 35 years, Leadership Oakland has brought people together to deepen their civic knowledge and community involvement. At orientation at Bardo Lounge & Supper Club, Alicia connected with fellow participants from business, nonprofits, government, and education.

These connections matter to our work. Public agencies need accountability. Healthcare organizations need trust. Educators need practical support. Nonprofits need solutions that respect limited resources.

CoCo Noir Labs helps organizations address those needs through AI strategy, integration, implementation, responsible AI, and governance.

Alicia brings a Master’s in Public Administration, 20 years of project and training management experience across healthcare and the public sector, and firsthand entrepreneurial experience. She also serves on the Chamber’s Small Business Committee.

We’re excited to bring what she learns throughout this program into thoughtful, practical work for our clients.

Where could your organization use more support with AI: developing a strategy, implementing tools, or establishing clear policies?

From Oakland Tech Week to SF Tech Week: Innovation, Collaboration & Building What Comes Next. 🚀At CoCo Noir Labs, we bel...
10/13/2026

From Oakland Tech Week to SF Tech Week: Innovation, Collaboration & Building What Comes Next. 🚀

At CoCo Noir Labs, we believe the future of AI isn’t simply about developing more powerful technology. It’s about helping people and organizations use it effectively, responsibly, and with purpose.

Our Founder & CEO, Alicia Kidd, spent Friday and Saturday immersed in conversations and hands-on innovation during SF Tech Week.

Friday’s highlights:

🔹 Women in AI Coffee, Breakfast & Chat: Connecting with women shaping the future of artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and emerging technology.

🔹 Is Japan the Next Strategic Capital Hub?: Exploring Japan’s ambitious investment strategy across 17 sectors, including AI, healthcare, semiconductors, and robotics. One particularly relevant discussion focused on expanding government procurement opportunities for startups and building international partnerships.

🔹 Women Shaping the Next Wave of AI: Hearing from researchers and leaders across Google, Salesforce AI Research, Microsoft Research, UCLA, and other organizations about the challenges of deploying reliable AI systems.

A particularly important takeaway was the gap between an AI prototype that performs well in a demonstration and an AI agent that can reliably operate within complex enterprise workflows.

AI agents must account for permissions, organizational policies, human oversight, and real-world uncertainty.

Saturday was about putting innovation into practice.

Alicia participated in RoamHer’s Build For Her Women’s Social Impact Hackathon and worked on an AI application called LIV.

This followed CoCo Noir Labs’ own Women Build Oakland event, where women explored how to turn ideas into working applications using AI-powered development tools.

Our biggest takeaway:

Responsible AI implementation requires more than technology. It requires organizational readiness, governance, practical use cases, and people who understand the environments where these systems will operate.

We’re excited to continue building partnerships across government, healthcare, workforce development, education, and entrepreneurship.

Learn more: www.coconoirlabs.com

COCO NOIR LABS: CONTRIBUTING TO OAKLAND’S AI COMMUNITYOakland Tech Week ended with a meaningful moment for CoCo Noir Lab...
10/05/2026

COCO NOIR LABS: CONTRIBUTING TO OAKLAND’S AI COMMUNITY

Oakland Tech Week ended with a meaningful moment for CoCo Noir Labs founder Alicia Kidd: joining fellow event hosts on stage at HiiiWAV Fest to receive recognition for helping bring the week’s programming to life.

Alicia participated in the planning committee and hosted “Women Building AI in Oakland: From Idea to App in One Day,” sponsored by Lovable.

The event reflected a growing focus at CoCo Noir Labs: help women gain practical experience with AI, connect with other builders, and see new possibilities for their ideas and businesses.

The closing celebration at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts brought that community spirit into a broader setting.

The evening included Mayor Barbara Lee, music from Kev Choice, hackathon awards, and performances from Soundtrack of Safety songwriting finalists. LaRussell spoke with Bosko Kante about independent artistry and technology. Red Lotus performed, and E-40 & The Soul Slappers delivered an unforgettable finish.

For CoCo Noir Labs, the week was also an opportunity to build relationships across public service, business, technology, and the arts.

Thank you to Oakland Tech Week, HiiiWAV, the City of Oakland, the Kapor community, Lovable, and every host, sponsor, and volunteer who contributed.

We’re proud to help expand who gets to participate in building with AI.

What would you like to see in a future CoCo Noir Labs workshop: AI for business, app building, or responsible AI in the workplace?

BUILDING COCO NOIR LABS THROUGH COMMUNITY IMPACTThe next chapter of CoCo Noir Labs is taking shape through hands-on work...
10/05/2026

BUILDING COCO NOIR LABS THROUGH COMMUNITY IMPACT

The next chapter of CoCo Noir Labs is taking shape through hands-on work, new partnerships, and conversations about where AI can help.

On October 3, founder Alicia Kidd participated in Oakland Tech Week’s 10X Hackathon at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts. The event brought participants together around housing, homelessness, and employment challenges from Alameda County and the City of Oakland.

Alicia joined three women she met that day to develop and pitch The HUB: Habitable Units, Built Together.

The team’s concept supported case managers coordinating permanent housing referrals. An AI-assisted connector would help search opportunities across participating departments, housing agencies, providers, and landlords, reducing the need to work through disconnected information.

Their design also addressed an essential governance requirement: protect existing referral priorities. An urgent request should not move someone ahead of a resident already appropriately waiting.

The HUB considered pathways for seniors, youth, and people affected by encampment closures, while acknowledging that a technology platform cannot independently solve insufficient housing supply.

Although the team did not receive a prize, the experience delivered valuable stakeholder feedback, new connections, and an opportunity to apply responsible-AI principles to a public-service workflow.

Thank you to Alicia’s teammates, fellow participants, judges, volunteers, Oakland Tech Week, and the County and City representatives.

CoCo Noir Labs is growing with a clear purpose: help organizations use AI thoughtfully and expand opportunities for women and underrepresented builders to participate.

Where does your organization face the most friction: finding information, coordinating services, or following up?

Oakland Tech Week continues to demonstrate what happens when technology + culture + community + capital are in the same ...
10/03/2026

Oakland Tech Week continues to demonstrate what happens when technology + culture + community + capital are in the same room.

Tonight’s conversations moved across two generations of the technology ecosystem.

First: Women Changemakers in Tech, with Amy Miller of Scientific Adventures for Girls and Nikki Parsons of Akamai Technologies.

The conversation explored early STEM exposure, representation, mentorship and what it takes to help girls see themselves as builders and technologists.

CoCo Noir Labs founder Alicia Kidd asked another question:

Are we introducing girls not only to careers in technology, but to entrepreneurship and ownership in technology and AI?

Later, former NBA player, entrepreneur and investor Baron Davis joined venture investor Erik Moore for a conversation spanning technology investing, the creator economy, culture, media and ownership.

Alicia’s question shifted from access to economics:

When creators and their communities generate cultural and economic value, what deal structures ensure they participate in the long-term ownership they help create?

The takeaway from the evening:

Access matters.
Representation matters.
Capital matters.
But ownership matters too.

From Oakland classrooms to venture capital and the creator economy, the next generation shouldn’t simply participate in technology.

They should have opportunities to build it, govern it and own it.

That’s a conversation CoCo Noir Media will continue covering.

In September, I attended an Oakland Metropolitan Chamber member event, “Investing in Talent: How Philanthropy and Techno...
10/02/2026

In September, I attended an Oakland Metropolitan Chamber member event, “Investing in Talent: How Philanthropy and Technology Can Build the Workforce of Tomorrow.”

One question stayed with me: How do we make sure the future of work is built with communities—not simply delivered to them?

The conversation highlighted the importance of connecting education and training to real jobs and career growth; protecting workers’ privacy as AI tools enter the workplace; and investing in foundational skills like literacy, communication, and critical thinking alongside AI literacy.

I was also struck by the emphasis on long-term, local collaboration. Oakland’s workforce strategy should reflect the strengths and needs of Oakland—not rely on a one-size-fits-all approach.

As I represent CoCo Noir Labs, I’m reflecting on how responsible AI governance can help turn these ideas into practice. Technology should serve people and expand opportunity.

I attended an Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce event to hear what’s happening in our city, and one topic kept br...
10/02/2026

I attended an Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce event to hear what’s happening in our city, and one topic kept bringing the conversation back to a bigger question: How can Oakland embrace AI while making sure the community benefits?

Chuck Baker, introduced at the event as Oakland’s Assistant City Administrator, spoke about AI as both an economic opportunity and a responsibility. Oakland is developing guidance for how city employees use AI and has piloted secure tools, with an emphasis on protecting city information rather than putting it into public systems.

The conversation also went beyond software. AI infrastructure—like data centers—can bring investment and jobs, but it can also raise real questions about electricity, water, noise, and environmental effects. The point was not simply “bring it in” or “keep it out.” It was to understand what’s being proposed, measure impacts, involve the community, and ask what local jobs and workforce opportunities could come with it.

I appreciated the focus on preparing people for change, too. The discussion emphasized reskilling workers to use AI as a tool—and recognizing the value of human creativity.

As a member of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and founder of CoCo Noir Labs, I value being in rooms where these important questions are discussed. Chamber events help local businesses stay connected to the issues shaping our city and hear different perspectives firsthand.

What do you think Oakland should prioritize as AI grows: workforce preparation, environmental safeguards, local jobs, or all three?

Last month, I attended The Build: Black Business. Economic Power. Community. I went to connect, build relationships, and...
10/02/2026

Last month, I attended The Build: Black Business. Economic Power. Community. I went to connect, build relationships, and listen—and I left thinking about what it takes for our businesses and communities to thrive for generations.

The conversations touched on protecting community legacy, choosing to support Black businesses, building strong relationships, and getting the basics in place to pursue new opportunities. One message that stayed with me: preparation matters. Whether you’re pursuing contracts or growing your business, having your paperwork, plans, and partnerships in order can open doors.

At CoCo Noir Labs, I think about how those same questions of readiness and ownership apply as businesses adopt AI: What are we building? Who benefits? And how do we move forward responsibly?

Grateful for the conversations and connections. What does building lasting economic power look like to you?

What does it take for a small business to win a big contract? Preparation, relationships, and access to the right inform...
10/02/2026

What does it take for a small business to win a big contract? Preparation, relationships, and access to the right information.

I attended Small Business, Big Contract during Oakland Tech Week and heard from community organizations, public agencies, and corporate representatives about certifications, procurement pathways, and the importance of being ready before an opportunity appears.

A few useful examples from the conversation: California’s state contracting program includes goals for small businesses and disabled veteran business enterprises; EBMUD described a bid evaluation preference for eligible small businesses; and the Port of Oakland explained how its certified business database can help connect firms to opportunities. Speakers also discussed technology and AI readiness, along with the ongoing challenge of access to capital.

At CoCo Noir Labs, we help businesses, public sector organizations, and educational institutions navigate AI through implementation, integration, governance, and strategy.

Let’s keep sharing knowledge and building a stronger, more connected business community. What’s one resource or relationship that has helped your organization move forward?

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