• Innovative Ideas Competition• Up to $15,000 in cash prizes to competitive

proposal• Collaboration between university, economic

development authority and financial institutions

Success• Provides local

entrepreneurs an outlet for funding• Exposes their story

to the entire region• In year 2 with double

competitors from the inaugural year

Origins• Local Economic

Development Authority initiated as an outlet to fund entrepreneurs in a competitive format

• 1st year winners – artisan goat cheese

Collaborations

• Local support• Collaborations between finance, higher

education, economic development, regional chambers and SourceLink Tulsa

• Funding thru Innovation Center via an Economic Development Grant

Resource Partner Assistance

• Consistently promoted the competition via emails to the entire Tulsa region

• Shared the competition on all social media outlets