The Rogers State University Innovation Center is a marketing partner for Oklahoma’s first Technology Ventures Summit to be held Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 20-21, at the Tulsa Downtown Doubletree Hotel. The summit includes a full day workshop that will feature nationally acclaimed training for entrepreneurs who are seeking to commercialize their ideas and technologies.
Local venture capital firm Oklahoma Equity Partners (OEP) and the Oklahoma Capital Investment Board (OCIB) designed the summit to answer many of the questions technology entrepreneurs have about business planning and investing.
The summit will include a workshop, produced by Development Capital Networks for the National Science Foundation’s Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR). SBIR will help participants decide which of their product or service ideas is the most promising, and help them build a master plan for commercializing their best ideas.
“Only one percent of formal product concepts become products, and only one percent of those products make money for their owners,” said Paul Huleatt, CEO of World’s Best Technologies and facilitator of the SBIR workshop. “Many entrepreneurs can articulate their ideas and technologies to peers, but get lost in the aspects of financing their venture and picking the best path to the market.” Huleatt says the methods used in the intense day-long workshop have delivered results to hundreds of companies.
“The workshop is only a part of the Technology Venture Summit,” said Devon Sauzek, President of the OCIB, a founding sponsor of the summit. “Entrepreneurs and venture and angel investors seeking to finance their innovative ideas will want to attend the second day of the summit to hear marketing presentations from some of Oklahoma’s leading technology startups, many with roots at the state’s universities and private institutions.”
Rich Karlgaard, publisher of Forbes Magazine is the keynote speaker for the luncheon to be held on the second day of the summit. For more information and to register for the summit call (405) 848-9456 or visit www.ocib.org/tvs.
The Standard registration fee is $275 per day or $400 for both days. After Wednesday, Jan. 31, the registration goes up to $325 per day or $500 for both days.
About Oklahoma Equity Partners
Oklahoma Equity Partners (OEP) was formed with the goal of seeking superior risk adjusted returns for its investors while expanding the supply of professionally managed equity capital available to businesses in Oklahoma. OEP invests in operating companies that offer the potential for exceptional performance and long-term financial success.
About Oklahoma Capital Investment Board
The Oklahoma Capital Investment Board Oklahoma’s institution for building the private venture capital industry in the state. Since 1993 the board has supported investment in 16 venture capital funds, which in turn have attracted investment of over $100 million to Oklahoma projects. In addition, the board has supported over $38 million in development loans to more than 1,300 small Oklahoma companies.
About Rogers State University’s Innovation Center
The Innovation Center at Rogers State University is charged with fostering economic development and addressing the educational needs of area business and industry. Established in 2002, the center provides a technology and business incubator, entrepreneurial training, small business counseling services and economic, demographic, and social research related to economic development. The Innovation Center also offers assistance to entrepreneurs and companies looking to submit SBIR grants.