Building a business from the ground up takes serious grit, and right here in Tulsa, we have an incredible community of determined, diverse entrepreneurs proving that world-class innovation is thriving right in our city.
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Building a business from the ground up takes serious grit, and right here in Tulsa, we have an incredible community of determined, diverse entrepreneurs proving that world-class innovation is thriving right in our city. Having analyzed well over 300 startups, evaluated close to half a billion dollars in total deal flow, and invested in two unicorns during my previous role as an analyst for a $100M+ Bay Area fund, I’ve spent years looking at exactly what it takes to transition a company from the early idea stage to a dominant market leader. Bringing that institutional data-driven lens to our work at Build in Tulsa, it's clear that for local businesses to truly maximize their potential, they need more than just great ideas and solid mentorship—they need the right kind of financial backing at the exact moment they are ready to scale.
By looking closely at business data and listening to our community, Build in Tulsa spotted a clear opportunity to back our local talent. Many founders who finish local startup training programs are ready to scale rapidly, but there is often a timing gap before traditional investors step in with capital. Build in Tulsa is bridging that gap. We contribute to our community by delivering the exact funding and strategic support these businesses need to make the leap from a promising startup to a dominant market leader.
This is exactly why we focus on providing funding that doesn't take a piece of the company. For a growing business, selling away parts of your company too early just to pay for a major product order, upgrade your software, or hire key staff can limit your long-term potential. By offering funding that preserves their equity, Build in Tulsa allows founders to keep full ownership of their hard work. We are investing in their future success, targeting high-potential companies that are ready to accelerate, and giving them the financial fuel to turn that ambition into reality.
To push this momentum forward, we created the BOOST Award. The BOOST Award is a premium $50,000 funding initiative engineered by Build in Tulsa to speed up the growth of founders who are dedicated to building their headquarters and creating jobs right here in Tulsa. We deliberately updated this program to focus on businesses that already have real momentum and are ready for a major breakthrough.
Our data shows that this $50,000 funding makes the biggest impact when paired with companies that already have steady customers and proven traction. When Build in Tulsa evaluates applications, we look for companies ready to hit the gas pedal in four main areas: growing their revenue, bringing on more customers, preparing for future investors, and hiring local talent. Ultimately, we pour this funding into businesses that already have a proven track record so we can amplify the success they've already built.
The proof of how Build in Tulsa fuels success is in the numbers:
This is the standard of support we deliver to Build in Tulsa founders. We believe the funding needed to scale a business should be accessible right here in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and our priority is to help founders stay ahead of the game. For companies with real traction that are ready to become leaders in their industries, we want to fuel your momentum. Let's capture that new market share, maximize your returns, and keep building the future right here in Tulsa.