Tulsa has been named one of just 12 regions to receive federal Tech Hub funding, backed by a $51 million grant through Tulsa Innovation Labs.
The South is having a moment, and it's been a long time coming.
The South is having a moment, and it's been a long time coming. The Southeast deployed $7.1 billion in venture capital in just the first half of 2025, a 33% jump year-over-year, with full-year deployment projected to hit $12 billion. Cities like Austin, Atlanta, and Miami have evolved from regional business centers into legitimate startup ecosystems, and it's no accident. Some of the most iconic American companies were built in the South: Dell in a University of Texas dorm room, Mailchimp in Atlanta without a dollar of venture funding, Home Depot, UPS, Delta, and Coca-Cola all headquartered below the Mason-Dixon line. Today, eight of twelve top-tier large metros in Milken Institute's 2026 Best-Performing Cities index are in the South, and Tulsa has been named one of just 12 regions to receive federal Tech Hub funding, backed by a $51 million grant through Tulsa Innovation Labs.
The momentum is real, but so is the funding gap. Founders from underrepresented backgrounds still receive a fraction of total VC funding, and too many of the South's most promising builders are overlooked before they ever get a shot.
That's why we're thrilled to announce that applications are now open for the second cohort of Blueprint: Tulsa, a 10-week program built for overlooked, early-stage founders based in Tulsa and across the South.
Blueprint: Tulsa is a partnership between Visible Hands and Build in Tulsa designed to meet pre-MVP founders exactly where they are, working on launching tech-enabled solutions, securing first customers, and developing a functional prototype. Selected founders will receive $10,000 in non-dilutive funding plus an additional living stipend, along with hands-on workshops, weekly office hours, mental and physical well-being sessions, 1:1 coaching, and a community of peers who understand the journey.
Twenty founders from Tulsa or Southern regions in the U.S. will be selected to join the cohort.
Apply now →Applications close April 12th.
When we launched the inaugural Blueprint: Tulsa program in 2025, we set out to prove something we've always believed: that the best solutions come from those closest to the problem. Twenty founders from Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, and California spent 14 weeks building, iterating, and growing together, and the results exceeded our expectations.
70% of founders advanced their product stage during the program, moving from research to beta, from prototype to deployed pilot, and in some cases all the way to product launch. 55% increased their customer or pilot traction, and 85% refined or confirmed their revenue models. Every single founder connected meaningfully with at least one other founder in the cohort, a stat that speaks to the kind of community this program creates.
The program earned a Net Promoter Score of 95, and the feedback from founders told us everything we needed to know about what we built:
"This program has truly changed how I see myself as a founder."
"It was everything I needed at exactly the right time! I'm so grateful to you guys."
"I've had to invest in my own dreams for the longest and it means the world for you all to believe in me and be willing to do the same."
Founders didn't just build products. They made strategic pivots, discovered new markets, and developed the storytelling and customer-discovery skills that will carry them well beyond the program. Several founders are now considering relocating to Tulsa to stay embedded in the ecosystem they joined.
Blueprint: Tulsa is structured to give you the tools, funding, and support to go from idea to functional prototype, and beyond. Here's what the program includes:
Funding: $10K in non-dilutive capital plus a living stipend so you can focus on building
Workshops: Weekly hands-on sessions covering prototyping, branding, customer discovery, and business fundamentals
Coaching: Dedicated 1:1 time with prototyping and investor-readiness coaches who are invested in your product and your growth
Community: A cohort of peers building alongside you in a non-competitive, supportive environment, plus access to the broader Visible Hands network.
Well-being: Sessions designed to support you as a whole person, not just as a founder
Blueprint: Tulsa is for early-stage, pre-MVP founders who are building tech-enabled solutions or venture-backed ideas. Founders who apply should be based in Tulsa or the Southern U.S., and should be ready to put in the work. This program moves fast, and it's designed for founders who are serious about turning their ideas into real products with real customers.
If that sounds like you, we want to hear from you.
Apply to Blueprint: Tulsa → Applications close April 12th.