Oklahoma’s Top 10 Startup Accelerators & Incubators [2023]

Are you looking for capital and/or mentorship for your startup in Oklahoma? Beyond funding, Oklahoma’s startup accelerators and incubators also offer founders incredible valuable support for product development, sales and marketing.

Whether you are looking to find a co-founder, build your MVP and/or get the seed money you need to scale up, accelerators and incubators are the way to go!

In this article we have listed our top picks for the best startup accelerators and incubators in Oklahoma. So, if you haven’t yet started to apply, here is a good place to start learning about them.

This article is part of a series where we present you the top startup incubators and accelerators across the US. For the South West, check out our rankings for Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix and New Mexico.
Looking for Oklahoma's top venture capital firms instead? Check out our ranking here.

Top 10 Startup Accelerators & Incubators In Oklahoma

Here’s a summary of our top 10 picks for Oklahoma’s best startup accelerators and incubators (in alphabetical order):

Name	Accelerator or incubator?	Program length	Investment size	Sector focus
36°N	Incubator	Undefinite *	None	Technology
Betablox	Incubator	3-12 months	None	Sector agnostic
gBETA	Accelerator	7 weeks	None **	Sector agnostic
i3 (by i2E)	Accelerator	6 weeks	None	Sector agnostic
IDEA (by Builders+Backers)	Incubator	3 months	$5,000	Sector agnostic
iStart	Accelerator	4 months	None	Sector agnostic
Startup 405 (by Norman)	Incubator	Undefinite *	None	Sector agnostic
StitchCrew	Accelerator	3 months	None	Sector agnostic
The Forge	Incubator	None	None	Sector agnostic
Tom Love Innovation Hub	Accelerator and Incubator	N/A	Undisclosed ***	Student-Led

* The incubator does accept companies on a rolling basis and incubates them as long as needs to

** Startups have the opportunity to pitch to VCs and angel investors at the end of the program

*** Potential seed investment from the Startup Innovation Fund

1. 36°N

36°N is a startup incubator targeting businesses that focus on technology-enabled services or products. Since its inception, the startup incubator has remained committed to providing entrepreneurs flexibility and resources to scale their businesses.

Therefore, the startup incubator offers early-stage companies access to scalable working spaces suitable for teams of 2 to 40 people at affordable pricing. Besides, startup founders have the opportunity to meet and network with capital partners to help them fund their growth journey.

An additional benefit for joining their startup incubator is access to high-value advisory programs and exclusive networking events. The 36°N curated workshops introduce entrepreneurs to their peers and aid them with the support to grow their businesses,

Finally, 36°N is a state-certified startup incubator. Therefore, members are exempt from state income taxes for ten years. 

2. Betablox

Betablox is a startup incubator targeting businesses in various industries and helping the founders build sustainable enterprises.

Therefore, Betablox pairs founders with thriving entrepreneurs for one-on-one business coaching and mentorship. Ideally, The mentorship program provides experts from different business aspects, including fundraising, team building, technology, and management. Following the program, participating founders have the opportunity to infuse the right strategies into their company from the early stages.  

Finally, the incubator program creates networking opportunities where founders meet program alumni and like-minded entrepreneurs.

The participating founders pay 5% equity in exchange for a business growth platform by Betabox.

3. gBETA

gBeta is a startup accelerator program targeting nationally-ranked startups. The 7 weeks program provides participants individualized business coaching and mentorship. The one-on-one mentorship includes meetings with serial entrepreneurs, subject matter experts, and successful investors.

Besides, the participants attend the weekly lunch and learn event, which creates opportunities to choose a revenue model, market sizing, and pitching investors. The free events aim to equip entrepreneurs with relevant business skills, facilitating early take-off.

gBeta organizes a pitch night reception where founders pitch their ideas to an audience of entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors.

Finally, founders receive investments of up to $1M in deals and perks from leading technology companies.

4. i3 (by i2E)

E3 is a startup accelerator program sponsored by Innovation To Entrepreneurs (i2E). The program seeks to address the most critical factors in startup success based on experiences. The 6 weeks process aims to provide content through video, in-person workshops, and one-on-one calls.

Overall, the program offers participants new tools to evaluate, start, grow or expand their businesses. In addition, members have the opportunity to participate in a weekly one-on-one consulting with the early-stage business experts.   

Selected companies receive i2E recommended resources, programs, and potential funding sources that suit the business needs. Besides, entrepreneurs network with like-minded entrepreneurs and receive personalised feedback and guidance from startups.

5. IDEA (by Builders+Backers)

Idea Accelerator is a 90-day virtual program to help startup founders get their business ideas off the sidelines and into action. Therefore, the idea accelerator teaches founders how to run small concept tests at no cost.

To participate, founders should prove they have a bold, compelling, novel, and innovative idea. The participating members attend 1-2 hours sessions for self-paced learning modules. The initial term prepares builders to run their experiments. In the second term, the participants learn optional modules to provide additional insights and resources.

Each founder receives up to $5,000 in pebble funds, covering the cost of their experiments. However, founders must complete the 45 days training and experimentation modules to receive the rewards.

6. iStart

iStart business accelerator program targets entrepreneurs ready to take their idea off the ground. The program guides program participants through startup roadblocks while holding them accountable for weekly goals.

The 4-months program features weekly and bi-weekly meetings with mentors. Each weekly mentorship program focuses on predetermined goals. However, the overall goal is to facilitate the startups in achieving sustainable revenue generation.

The companies accepted into the program undergo training to develop a business plan, marketing strategies, technological solutions, and pitching investors to attract potential funding. To attract funding, the participants must attain the iStart defined Minimum Viable Product to attract financing. 

7. Startup 405 (by Norman)

Startup 405 is a Normans Certified Business Incubator focusing on helping startups grow, prosper, and develop. Therefore, the startup incubator program provides startups with the tools, resources, and technical support to help them grow sustainable businesses.

The participating startups access office space and meeting rooms. Besides, the portfolio companies enjoy high-speed internet and WiFi, shared workspace, printers, copiers, VOIP lines, and fax machines. Apart from the work tools, participants appreciate tailored assistance from mentors and successful program alumni.

Finally, the incubator program creates networking opportunities where startups meet clients and attend numerous networking events.

The applicants must be a startup enterprise with a developed product or service that fits the Startup 405 mission and their programmatic strengths to join the program. 

Successful businesses enjoy a five-year state income tax exemption, with an additional five-year exemption for companies that make most of their sales outside Oklahoma.

8. StitchCrew

Stitchcrew is an accelerator program sponsored by the Oklahoma City Thunder. The accelerator aims at helping entrepreneurs get their businesses into shape and grow them into successful enterprises.

Therefore, the 12 weeks program provides opportunities for entrepreneurs to meet investors and network with respected business leaders. Besides, entrepreneurs have office space and their state mentor network.

At the end of the program, the successful entrepreneurs have the opportunity to present their ideas to an invite-only audience composed of entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders. The founders become alumni and join the StitchCrew network.

9. The Forge

The Forge is a curriculum-based startup incubator program that accelerates innovative and high-growth startups. Since its inception, the startup incubator has helped entrepreneurs with proven business models and cultivated their business ideas into successful and scalable businesses.

Therefore, the startup accelerator offers an ideal environment where startups work, learn, and build their competitive advantage alongside ambitious entrepreneurs. Besides, the program fosters a community of strategic connections with the local resources while promoting business collaborations.

The forge startup program will teach entrepreneurs how to craft viable business concepts and build a strong organisation. In addition, the program helps entrepreneurs to develop lasting client relations and to formulate profitable operations.

10. Tom Love Innovation Hub

The Tom Love Innovation Hub program, is an initiative of the University of Oklahoma and aims at fostering and growing entrepreneurial innovation among students and university affiliates. Tom Love Innovation Hub runs accelerator and incubator programs.

Their startup accelerator is an industry-agnostic 12 weeks program. The accelerator targets early-stage entrepreneurs and helps them conduct concept validation and rapid market testing. Participating companies get from the ideation stage to designing a minimum viable product.

The Tom Love Innovation Hub incubator program runs for a year, designed to grow entrepreneurial ventures. 

Therefore, the program runs on an adaptive curriculum to support technology commercialization, venture management, and startup growth.  

The selected members are eligible for a $50,000 pitch competition at the end of the startup acceleration.