Tulsa’s entrepreneurial landscape is flourishing, thanks to a variety of initiatives designed to support and empower local business owners. These programs provide essential resources, mentorship, and funding opportunities, fostering a dynamic environment for startups and established businesses alike.
W.E. Build: Accelerating Women Entrepreneurs
W.E. Build is a comprehensive business accelerator tailored for women entrepreneurs, particularly those with limited access to resources and funding. This full-time, in-person program in Tulsa focuses on helping founders who are already generating revenue and are ready to scale their businesses. Over three months, participants work on closing more sales, defining their ideal customers, refining financials, and building systems to support significant growth. Benefits include a $25,000 non-dilutive business award, business training, mentorship, legal consultation, and more. The program requires a full-time presence in Tulsa during its duration. Learn more about W.E. Build.
ACT Tulsa: Cultivating Underestimated Founders
ACT Tulsa is a six-month accelerator program aimed at driving innovation among underestimated founders in Tulsa and beyond. The program includes three months of incubation, focusing on team cohesion, product development, business development, and customer development, followed by three months of implementation, covering go-to-market plans, capital planning, pitching, and sales targeting. Participants receive milestone-based, non-equity, non-recourse repayable concept awards of $70,000, along with access to mentors and launch resources. The program is designed to equip founders with the skills, tools, and network to accelerate their companies’ growth. Discover more about ACT Tulsa.
TEDC Creative Capital: Flexible Lending Solutions
TEDC Creative Capital is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides access to non-bank funding for various business needs. As a flexible lender, TEDC helps create pathways for underestimated entrepreneurs with bold ideas. Their lending programs are geared toward startups and scaling small businesses ready to borrow, offering several loan options designed to help businesses start, sustain, or expand. Explore TEDC’s lending options.
Meta’s $1 Billion Investment in Tulsa
In a significant boost to the local economy, Meta has broken ground on a new data center in Tulsa, representing an investment of over $1 billion. This project is expected to support more than 1,000 construction jobs at its peak and create approximately 100 operational jobs once completed. Additionally, the project includes over $25 million in local infrastructure improvements, such as upgrades to roads and water systems. Meta prioritizes sourcing labor and materials locally, further amplifying economic benefits across the region. Read more about Meta’s investment.
These initiatives and investments underscore Tulsa’s commitment to fostering a robust and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem, providing valuable support to local businesses and contributing to the city’s economic growth.