Tulsa Innovation Labs

We’re thrilled to welcome Malachi Blankenship as TIL’s new Director of Capital & Entrepreneurship! Malachi is a seasoned founder, investor and managing partner at ACT House and ACT Ventures, where he’s helped raise over $5M to support underestimated founders. With a focus on SaaS, Digital Health and more, he’s worked across Oklahoma’s startup ecosystem — from investing at i2E/Plains Ventures to co-founding a hospitality tech startup. He holds a degree and MBA from The University of Tulsa and is an active angel investor, community volunteer and mentor. In his role at TIL, Malachi will oversee our programs and initiatives that support a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region.

We're lucky to have teammates like Simba Gandari at TIL! Simba's research on community colleges using labor market data to align programs with future job needs was recently published in The Project on Workforce at Harvard — an incredible achievement ?? Understanding employment trends and evolving skill demands empowers colleges to shape courses that prepare students for tomorrow’s opportunities. As we work to build a labor market observatory right here in Tulsa, Simba’s expertise will be invaluable in bridging the gap between employer needs and workforce development.

Test your #UAS technology in Tulsa!

Fighting to fulfill my potential since the early 90s ?? Regardless of how that goes, I can officially say I am now a Harvard published researcher ??????. Excited that my work alongside Courtnei Sanders Ramiro A. Hernández, Ed.M and Arnold Lopez was published last week by The Project on Workforce at Harvard. **Community colleges are an underutilized resource in education and we are excited to spotlight them in our research. To read our case study visit here: https://lnkd.in/ez8t_Acj Thank you Kerry McKittrick Amanda R. Holloway, M.Ed. Joseph (Joe) Davis, Mary Sauer Axim Collaborative for helping through this process. And a special thanks to Dr. Mordecai Brownlee Bobby Pace, Ana Martin Mejia, Jim DeLung, Ed.D. and countless others for your time these last couple of months. Your time, support and honesty helped bring these case studies to life. #highereducation #hpow #communitycolleges #casestudies #labormarketinformation #bighead

?? Calling all Oklahoma startups! Ready to tap into national security and defense tech markets? The Catalyst Accelerator Colorado Springs and Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute at The University of Tulsa are hosting a free, two-week boot camp in Tulsa to help Oklahoma-based startups position their business for success in partnering with the public sector. ? Hands-on training for government contracts ?? Expert mentorship and insights from industry leaders ?? FREE program with lodging & meals included ?? A supportive community of fellow founders Spots are limited for this opportunity. Apply by March 5: https://bit.ly/41iFbEO Gradient: Tulsa's Hub for Innovation i2E, Inc. Rose Rock Bridge Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute at The University of Tulsa #StartupSuccess #Entrepreneurship #TulsaInnovation #CatalystAccelerator

Looking to expand, innovate, or boost production? The Oklahoma Innovation Expansion Program (OIEP) is back, offering existing manufacturers funding to offset capital investment costs. ? Lower new equipment costs ? Strengthen your supply chain ? Expand production & reach new markets ? Create & support Oklahoma jobs ?? Applications open March 31 through April 11, 2025 The Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance will help you develop a plan and work through the application process. Drop us a note at [email protected] The program is administered by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Development Finance Authority. More information here: https://lnkd.in/dzfTmtz

We're excited to welcome two new team members to Tulsa Innovation Labs, Shanese Slaton and Clayton Kindred! ?? Shanese Slaton joins us as the Director of Place and Infrastructure, overseeing our work with partners in the realm of physical assets, traditional infrastructure and innovation-focused facilities that drive growth in our region. Prior to joining TIL, Shanese was the State Manager of Community Relations at Oklahoma Natural Gas, building relationships within communities and supporting local nonprofits. She has managed projects for 36 Degrees North, Mother Road Market, and MidAmerica Industrial Park, focusing on community engagement and space activation. Shanese is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and serves on the boards of River Parks Authority, NAIOP, and First Tee of Tulsa. Clay Kindred joins us at the Manager of Marketing and Communications, helping share our region's story of transformation into a tech hub where innovation thrives. Clay is a marketing leader with over 20 years experience in strategic marketing, brand management, and marketing automation and analytics. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri with an M.B.A from Oklahoma State University.

?? A vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem is vital to adding new jobs and businesses to the Tulsa region. We work with our partners to foster access to capital and support resources that fuel entrepreneurial activity — whether you're an established business looking to expand your innovative technology, an emerging startup hoping to scale in Tulsa, or a company interested in relocating your operations. Connect with our team to learn more! https://lnkd.in/gfSUFr_f Rose Rock Bridge EIC Rose Rock #CapitalandEntrepreneurship #InnovationEconomy #TulsaInnovationLabs #TechHubTulsa

Hey #Oklahoma #Entrepreneurs!!! The Catalyst Accelerator Colorado Springs and Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute at The University of Tulsa have partnered to bring a 2-week Government Business Boot Camp to Oklahoma to support Oklahoma small businesses! If this sounds of interest to you, and/or you have questions, register today for our virtual Ask Me Anything session being hosted tomorrow at 1000MT! You must register at this link to join: https://lnkd.in/dHhfkGyu Partnering with the amazing #InnovationEcosystem in Oklahoma has been the highlight of this experience! We hope to see Oklahoma #TechCompanies come together with the fantastic resources offered in the state! See everyone online tomorrow and in-person in early June! Shae Thomas I Allison Boothe I Alex Webb I Catalyst Accelerator Colorado Springs | Dawn Conley I Catalyst Campus, Colorado Springs I David Keely I Ryan M. I Adrienne Yandell I Rose Gamble I Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute at The University of Tulsa | Tulsa Innovation Labs | Chad Raduege

Interested Oklahoma tech startup Boot Campers, join us at 11:00 AM CST Thursday (tomorrow)!