How Oklahoma Leading the Charge in Innovation and Entrepreneurship

In this special edition of the "Innovate That" podcast, recorded at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, OCAST’s host, Jennifer McGrail and guests from Gradient (Tulsa) and The Verge (Oklahoma City) discuss Oklahoma’s rich legacy of innovation and its thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.

They highlight the state’s historic inventions, community-driven support for startups, and strategic focus on sectors like energy, aviation, and life sciences. The episode showcases how collaboration between urban and rural communities, and organizations like Gradient and The Verge, are positioning Oklahoma as a welcoming, innovative hub for entrepreneurs locally and globally.

Timestamps:

Oklahoma’s Innovation Legacy (00:00:00)

Host introduces the episode, Oklahoma’s history of innovation, and notable inventions from the state.

Tulsa’s Gradient and Local Entrepreneurship (00:01:36)

Wade Dunn discusses Gradient’s historic building, Tulsa’s entrepreneurial legacy, and Oklahoma’s tech contributions.

Oklahoma City’s Community Resilience (00:03:21)

Kristen Garcia shares about The Verge’s new location, the Oklahoma City bombing’s impact, and community support for businesses.

Building Inclusive Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (00:05:03)

Speakers discuss making entrepreneurship accessible, inviting diverse founders, and fostering community across Oklahoma.

Rural Entrepreneurship and Statewide Success Stories (00:06:03)

Highlighting rural innovation, statewide business growth, and examples like Sonic, QuikTrip, and Love’s.

Oklahoma’s Strategic Innovation Pillars (00:07:38)

Overview of Oklahoma’s focus areas: aviation, life sciences, and oil and gas, and their impact on the state’s economy.

Energy Innovation and Accelerator Programs (00:09:13)

Gradient’s role in energy sector innovation, accelerator programs, and Oklahoma’s unique support for energy startups.

Entrepreneurs as Global Diplomats (00:10:59)

Entrepreneurs’ global impact, success stories like Synthetics, and Oklahoma’s supportive ecosystem for tech and energy.

Conference Reflections and Global Connections (00:12:47)

Takeaways from the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, shared challenges, and the importance of entrepreneurship for communities.

Episode Wrap-Up (00:13:03)

Host summarizes key insights and closes the special edition episode.