BUILD UP Tech 2026 is a hands-on, readiness-focused four-week program for very early-stage founders who want to move from “I think this could work” to “I have evidence that this should exist.”
BUILD UP Tech 2026 is a four-week series of workshops in March 2026. It's where ideas get tested, shaped, and prepared for what comes next. This program is designed for people who are curious about building a tech-based startup, even if they don’t speak the language yet.
👉 Apply to BUILD UP Tech 2026 by February 22, 2026
This program is for you if:
You do not need:
BUILD UP helps you build toward those things — the right way.
BUILD UP is not an accelerator.
It’s not a pitch competition.
It’s not about scaling or fundraising (yet).
Instead, BUILD UP focuses on:
Think of BUILD UP as the step before the step everyone rushes into.
By the end of BUILD UP Tech 2026, most participants will have:
This is progress you can point to — not just ideas you talk about.
Theme: Getting Clear on What You’re Actually Building — and For Whom
This week is all about slowing down before you build — so you don’t build the wrong thing.
Theme: Turning Insight Into Something You Can Test
Now that you’ve talked to real people, it’s time to shape the solution.
Theme: Understanding How This Could Become a Real Business
This week focuses on the practical stuff founders often avoid — but shouldn’t.
Theme: Showing Progress, Telling the Story, and Planning What’s Next
This isn’t about winning a pitch — it’s about being ready to pitch when the time comes.
BUILD UP Tech 2026 intentionally centers:
No. Build in Tulsa is committed to giving you the tools you need for success. From workshops to mentors to networking activities, we will do our best to open doors for you. But it is up to you to walk through them. We will introduce you to partners, potential customers, and investors. But there are no guarantees. Again, you will get out of this program what you put into it. We will be cheering you on and monitoring your progress. Build in Tulsa does have a competitive process for post-accelerator support that includes free office space and extended housing stipends, but eligibility for this program will be determined based off of several factors including your participation in the program, economic viability, and commitment to Tulsa.
Yes, but we encourage you to spend as much time in Tulsa as you can. The founders who get the most out of their accelerator experiences are those who truly connect with the city, its people, and our partners. And to do that you have to be in Tulsa consistently.
While there may be some extracurricular/fun activities on the weekends, your weekends are mostly your own. We strongly encourage you to attend as many events as you can. You will get out of this experience what you put into it. The more you engage with the Build in Tulsa network the greater your chance of success.
W.E Build provides a housing stipend of $1,000 per month (for a total of $4,000) to help you make ends meet while you are in the program and focused on growing your business. Build in Tulsa does not provide housing to founders in the W.E. Build program. We can provide you with some recommendations on where to live, but housing is up to you.
We will host workshops every Wednesday from 10am-12pm featuring a variety of topics designed to help you grow and scale your business. The program will also offer financial literacy modules weekly. W.E. Builders will present weekly updates on their progress to their cohort and select mentors and advisors. There will also be office hours with mentors and investors as well as other fun activities offered throughout the 12-week program. We expect W.E. Builders to commit 30 hours a week to the program. While some extracurricular programming will occur outside of business hours and is often not required, we strongly encourage you to attend as many of these activities as your schedule allows. This will help build your social network and expose you to as many people as possible that can be helpful to your journey.
The W.E. Build program will begin in Tulsa, OK on Monday, July, 8th 2024. The program will end on Oct 16, 2024.
W.E. Build is designed as a comprehensive program designed to mitigate the barriers to your success. We provide stipends to help cover the cost of your housing and child care or health care while you are in the program. W.E. Builders will receive $1,000 a month for housing and $1,000 a month for child care or health care. You will receive the stipends monthly through our service provider, Plann.ly.
W.E. Builders will receive their award in three payments. On July 22, 2024, the first portion of the payment ($8,333) will be issued, and On Aug 29, 2024 , the second portion of the payment ($8,333) will be issued. The last installment ($8,334) will be paid on Oct 11, 2024.
It’s not ideal. We expect you to put in 30+ hours a week into this program. This is a big commitment and we fully expect you to give it your all, be present, and fully engaged.
Look, Sis, we can’t tell you what to do for you and your family. But we expect you to put in 30+ hours a week into this program. This is a big commitment and we fully expect you to give it your all, be present, and fully engaged. Again, the more you put into this experience the more you will get out of it.
Unfortunately, no. But we hope to enroll a second cohort. Please sign up for the Build in Tulsa newsletter to be alerted when the next cycle opens.
Please complete the application by Mar 16, 2024 at 11:59:59 pm (CST). Finalists will be interviewed twice. The first round will be in mid-March and the second round in mid May-April you will be notified by May 30th of our decision. We will have a founder orientation by July 8th and the program will begin on Jul 15, 2024.
W.E. Builders are high-growth companies that are hoping to be VC-backed by the end of the program. We are looking for companies that are tech, tech-enabled, operating in the beauty and wellness space, or high-growth professional services.
The deadline to apply for the program is March 16, 2024.
Yes, we are committed to building in Tulsa, the home of historic Black Wall Street. To be accepted into the W.E. Build program, you will have to move to Tulsa for the three months of the program.
No. Build in Tulsa doesn’t take any equity in your business. The $25,000 is a non-dilutive business award provided to help you grow your business.
We are looking for founders that have the ability to execute on strategic plans, are flexible and adaptable, learn and listen well, implement feedback, ready and willing to experiment with new strategies, and are open to change.
Yes. We do prefer founding teams, because it helps share the workload. That being said, we’re evaluating you, your business and your potential for success post-program.
