Oklahoma is a state that fosters innovative ideas and a pioneering spirit. Much like our own humble beginnings, the state has created an environment where entrepreneurship is celebrated and cultivated. We grow our own by investing in new businesses and industries.
How do we do it? Oklahoma is home to diverse co-working spaces, incubators and business accelerators. But new businesses can’t take off with just an office space. Entrepreneurship is all about connecting with investors to get the funding necessary to move ideas forward. Here state, education and private organizations get entrepreneurs in front of investors to fund startups and launch new products.
Oklahoma Entrepreneurship Successes
AAON
Paycom
Spiers New Technology
Cosmetic Specialty Labs
NORDAM
Hobby Lobby
Weather Decision Support Systems, International
BAMA Companies
Oklahoma Investment Link
Pitch your idea to investors from across the state and beyond through Oklahoma Investment Link.
Once a month, Commerce hosts a video call and invites a company and an investment fund to present their opportunities to accredited investors. Each presenter has 45 minutes to pitch their opportunities for investment followed by 15 minutes of Q&A. Accredited investors from across the state are invited to join the call, ask questions during Q&A and to reach out to the presenters afterward regarding potential investment. The next Oklahoma Investment Link call will be held Wednesday, March 24.
Accredited investors interested in joining the next Oklahoma Investment Link call should contact Melissa Houston at melissa@929strategies.com.
Resource Directory
From co-working spaces to funding and help with engineering and commercialization, Oklahoma has public and private resources to support new enterprises.
i2E – Innovation to Enterprise
i2E works directly with entrepreneurs, researchers and companies to help them commercialize their technologies, launch and grow new businesses and access needed capital.
OCAST – Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology
OCAST supports basic and applied research, provides seed capital for innovative firms, and helps small and medium-sized manufacturers increase productivity and modernize.
36 Degrees North
36 Degrees North is a high-quality workspace in the Tulsa Arts District. They focus on fostering community and connections to helpful resources so entrepreneurs can grow and create long-lasting, impactful businesses.
StitchCrew and Thunder Launch Pad
Twice a year, StitchCrew partners with the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA team to select and assist up to 10 startups. Selected startups go through an intensive 12-week program culminating with Demo Day, when founders present their company to a curated audience made up of investors, community stakeholders and business leaders.
Starspace 46 and Techlahoma
Starspace46 helps tech startups and entrepreneurs develop their businesses. They offer flexible coworking spaces, meeting rooms, and small offices for rent.
OK Catalyst
OK Catalyst helps science and technology-focused innovators solve our nation’s greatest challenges by leveraging the Small Business Innovation & Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs (SBIR/STTR) as tools to launch and grow small businesses. OK Catalyst is located in the Tom Love Innovation Hub at the University of Oklahoma.
Tom Love Innovation Hub
The Innovation Hub advances innovation and entrepreneurship across Oklahoma and launches new ventures through programming, supporting prototyping, events and coaching. The I-Hub includes a fabrication lab and OK Catalyst.
OSU Center for New Product Development (NPDC)
The NPDC offers a team of professional design engineers and undergraduate engineering students and connections to university faculty and resources. The center collaborates on projects to launch new products, create and retain jobs and increase innovation.
OSU Cowboy Technologies
Located in Stillwater, Cowboy Technologies is the accelerator for startups connected with OSU. They provide technical support and resources to take a company from idea to commercialization.
Francis Tuttle Innovation Center
Launch Pad FT is a certified business incubator serving entrepreneurs starting new ventures and owners of early-stage companies.
Tulsa Innovation Labs (TIL)
Through a diverse coalition of public and private partners, led by George Kaiser Family Foundation, TIL is creating economic development programs that seek to make Tulsa the nation’s most inclusive tech community.
