A great achievement for Tulsa was announced in October 2023 when the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) designated Tulsa a “Tech Hub” as part of a historic $500 million investment in U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.

Tulsa’s proposal, the Tulsa Hub for Equitable & Trustworthy Autonomy (THETA), will advance the development of autonomous technologies, such as uncrewed aerial systems, drones, cybersecurity and generative artificial intelligence. THETA was led by Tulsa Innovation Labs — an initiative of the George Kaiser Family Foundation — and coalition members the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma State University, Tulsa Community College, Black Tech Street, Madison Strategies Group, PartnerTulsa and Tulsa Economic Development Corporation.

The entrepreneurial ecosystem in Tulsa is also growing at an exponential rate with new and larger Venture Capital funds like Hurricane Ventures, 46VC, Cortado, Boyd Street Ventures, Atento Capital, VestHer and Accelerator programs like ACT House, Techstars, StitchCrew and the NEST Collective providing entrepreneurs with unprecedented access to support and early-stage capital. It is a great time to be an entrepreneur in Tulsa!

The city of Tulsa has been immersed in efforts to establish itself as a leader in the region for entrepreneurial activity, a goal that is getting a significant boost from a new endeavor in The University of Tulsa’s Collins College of Business.

TU announced the establishment of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, with a goal of raising $10 million to help the campus community commercialize intellectual property, create new ventures and attain venture capital funding. The university aims to provide seed capital for the next 100 companies started by TU students, alumni and faculty.

The University of Tulsa’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship is excited to announce the launch of Hurricane Ventures. This new initiative, in partnership with 46 Venture Capital, is designed to be a funding catalyst for TU student, faculty, staff and alumni startups.

Leveraging the resources and knowledge network of the university, Hurricane Ventures is seeding early-stage companies to drive real impact across the economy and further the mission of TU’s Collins College of Business and the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Launched in early 2023, Hurricane Ventures has already raised $2 million – well on its way to a $10 million goal – to commercialize intellectual property, create new ventures and attain venture capital funding. The university aims to provide seed capital for the next 100 companies started by TU students, alumni and faculty.

Launched in Fall 2023, this transformative 12-week hybrid program is designed to overcome systemic challenges such as limited access to capital, mentorship, and networks.

With $10,000 non-dilutive seed grants from the Cherokee Nation, personalized mentorship, and a culturally relevant curriculum, the program fosters entrepreneurial leadership, innovation, and deeper connections to Cherokee heritage.

A powerful collaboration between UTulsa, the Cherokee Nation, and the ayana Foundation, the AcceleratHER Fellowship has supported 15 Cherokee women founders, selected from a competitive pool of 250+ applicants across Oklahoma, Arizona, Michigan, and Texas.

The program blends live virtual workshops, in-person cultural experiences, and a culminating business showcase, where Fellows pitch their ventures to industry leaders, mentors, and investors.

The initiative is building a sustainable foundation for long-term success. The impact of the AcceleratHER Fellowship extends beyond 12 weeks through an active alumni network supported by Resolute PR, ongoing collaborations with the Cherokee Nation, and long-term accountability partnerships.

UTulsa’s CIE was named Outstanding Emerging Entrepreneurship Center among schools with fewer than 7,500 students during the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers’ (GCEC) 2024 conference held Nov. 14-16 at Babson College in Boston, Massachusetts. GCEC conferences bring leading university programs together to celebrate creativity and innovation in university-based entrepreneurship education. This prestigious accolade, awarded in the “small university” category, highlights the CIE’s remarkable accomplishments since its launch in February 2023.

UTulsa’s CIE has been honored as a finalist for the USASBE Model Emerging Program Award. This prestigious recognition celebrates colleges and universities that have developed outstanding nascent entrepreneurship programs demonstrating significant progress and student impact within their first three years. UTulsa’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurial excellence has positioned it among the leading institutions in this category.