OU Entrepreneurship Expo on Nov. 15 to Showcase 39 Products by Oklahomans of All Ages
The inaugural Entrepreneurship Expo at the University of Oklahoma is officially a full-fledged community event, open to the public with complimentary admission. Hosted by the Michael F. Price College of Business’s Tom Love Division of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development at OU’s Tom Love Innovation Hub, the event is scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, to coincide with Global Entrepreneurship Week, slated for Nov. 12-18. The Tom Love Innovation Hub is located 201 David L. Boren Blvd., on OU’s Research Campus in Norman.
The OU Entrepreneurship Expo is a trade show for learners of all ages, local business owners and entrepreneurs to exhibit their goods, services and concepts in an open forum, with opportunities to meet with potential investors, generate leads and sales, and build new business relationships. The community is invited to see what new products and services fellow Oklahomans may be launching in the near future.
Visitors will have the chance to meet local entrepreneurs offering everything from jewelry to hiking shoes, chicken wing spinners to push mower bags, and flat pack furniture kits to bike racks. Digital offerings like online software platforms and smart phone apps also are par for the course.
“As an economic engine for Oklahoma and beyond, OU plays an important role in ensuring our enduring global competitiveness by connecting people and opportunities in a shared innovation ecosystem,” said Daniel Pullin, dean of the Michael F. Price College of Business. “OU’s Tom Love Innovation Hub and Entrepreneurship Center create the physical and programmatic environment for people and ideas to change the world.”
After an initial call was announced for entrepreneurs in the area to participate, nearly 40 exhibitors have been selected to showcase their products and services. Those who answered the call include Norman middle and high school students, OU alumni and entrepreneurs of all ages and experiences in-between.
“We are excited to bring together the entrepreneurial community by hosting the Entrepreneurship Expo, where entrepreneurs from the University of Oklahoma and the community will set up booths to showcase their ventures to potential customers and investors,” said Denise Parris, assistant professor of entrepreneurship. “The Expo is a campus and community-wide entrepreneurship initiative to build an ecosystem that enables and encourages the launching of successful ventures. The OU Entrepreneurship Expo is the place to get inspired and ignite your entrepreneurial spirit.”
Among those who were selected for exhibition are Real Kitchen Salsa, a new company started by Norman middle school students through Loveworks; Cloud Patrol, a radar system designed to improve drone safety, created by Sooner Innovation Fund students utilizing Radar Innovations Laboratory technology; From Seed to Spoon, a mobile app with 60,000 installs that guides users through growing their own foods, which originated from the Tom Love Innovation Hub; Overworld, and an online augmented reality platform connecting sports fans and teams, founded by Sooner Launch Pad students in the Gene Rainbolt Graduate School of Business.
A full list of exhibitors and additional information about products and services is available on the Price College of Business’s website at price.ou.edu.
Exhibitors will be divided into three categories: New Venture Concept, which is for entrepreneurs with a strong idea and possible prototype, but not a full company with customers; First Customer, which is for founding teams that are testing and refining their business model and product concept, but have yet to scale or obtain investment; and Young Startup, which is for businesses less than 3 years old that may or may not have investors, are selling product and are seeking funding to grow.
The Entrepreneurship Expo is supported by Startup 405, BancFirst, Republic Bank and Trust, and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce.
Additional information is available through Jane Stancliffe by email at jstancliffe@ou.edu or phone at (405) 325-1638.
