What’s up with Tulsa? Actually a lot… 👀
On the road, part 1
Flying into Tulsa, Oklahoma last Tuesday evening, I didn’t know what to expect. The last time I visited was over seven years ago while playing volleyball for Rice University against the University of Tulsa. All I remembered was the impressive, massive Donald W. Reynolds Center. This time around, I was completely blown away by the entrepreneurial energy pulsing through the city as my co-GP, Joe Alalou, and I attended Midcon Venture Summit 2025.
We’d heard great things about Tulsa’s startup ecosystem through founders we knew there (shout out to Dr. Pinkey Patel of women’s health company Myri Health) and from recently attending a NYC book signing for “Reinventing the Heartland” by Nicholas Lalla. Through pouring rain and packed subway cars, Joe dragged our team to this book signing in the east village. Despite being drenched, meeting Nicholas was absolutely worth it. Hearing how he spearheaded Tulsa’s innovative overhaul and offered a compelling roadmap for other cities perfectly aligned with our thesis at Daring Ventures: great talent and opportunities exist everywhere, not just on the coasts. When given the right resources, places across the heartland can thrive. For America to maintain leadership in bleeding-edge innovation, we need more than just Silicon Valley and New York City.
Day One: Authentic Connections
After touching down, we quickly checked into our hotel and headed straight to the Welcome Mixer. Immediately, I felt a sense of community unlike anything I’ve experienced at events in NYC, SF, or LA. People were genuinely friendly and authentic, caring more about who you are as a person rather than what you do for a living. It was refreshingly different from the typical transactional small talk that’s become the norm in major coastal hubs. Whether you were the mayor of Tulsa, the former head of NASA, or a first-time founder, everyone made time for each other. Low egos and close-knit family vibes defined the entire Midcon Venture Summit experience.
Day Two: Immersion into Tulsa’s Transformation
Rather than following a typical conference format, Cortado Ventures (the “OG” VC firm in Tulsa) shook things up. Day two immersed us in the history, culture, people, and latest entrepreneurial developments of Tulsa. It was the perfect way to understand where the city has been, where it stands now, and its vision for the future—from its rich history in oil and gas, aviation, and defense to the latest innovations in life sciences, biotech, aerospace, and autonomous technology.
The arc of Tulsa’s transformation over the last five years is truly impressive, and I’m excited to see what’s possible not just for Oklahoma but for other overlooked regions across the country. When Nicholas Lalla first started revitalizing Tulsa’s entrepreneurial spirit in 2020 by founding Tulsa Innovation Labs (TIL), there was only one other VC in town. Fast forward to today: over ten VC firms now call Tulsa home, alongside state funding programs like the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) and accelerators including Techstars, W.E. Build, Gener8tor, and Oklahoma Farm Bureau. This showcases the power of economic development through strong collaboration across private and public organizations.
These efforts haven’t just attracted VC funding and entrepreneurs—they’ve generated the infrastructure necessary to support long-term entrepreneurship. The crown jewel is the Gradient Co-Working space, where day two activities took place. Located in the beautifully restored OTASCO (Oklahoma Tire and Supply Company) warehouse, this historic landmark features sleek, modern industrial design that fosters community and collaboration. It felt strangely familiar, and I later discovered from CEO Devon Laney that it shares the same designer as NeueHouse in NYC—where Daring Ventures is headquartered! Small world.
Throughout the day, people held meetings, explored different offices, and attended workshops covering everything from startup basics to fundraising strategies. From fostering relationships with local VC firms like 46 Capital to having casual “pitch & sit” sessions with the Techstars team, we gained valuable insights into the Midcon entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Key Differences from Coastal Hubs:
Investors take a more pragmatic, conservative approach (modest round sizes, saner valuations)
More collaborative deal participation—driven by a “rising tide lifts all boats” mentality rather than coastal protectionism
Angel investors typically invest in post-revenue Seed rounds rather than pre-revenue and pre-seed
Founders build first and strive for self-sufficiency because outside funding isn’t guaranteed—they do more with less
Education on startups, entrepreneurship, and VC investing is a continuous community-wide process
Day two wrapped up spectacularly as we moved from Gradient’s casual community vibe to the official summit reception at the Mayo Hotel’s Crystal Ballroom. This restored historical hotel provided the perfect backdrop as we heard from Mayor Monroe Nicholas (Tulsa’s first elected Black mayor), Josh Pherigo from SVB with insights on VC activity in the Midcon region, Malachi Blankenship of Tulsa Innovation Labs, and Jim Cantrell of Phantom Space Corporation discussing the future of space tech—which honestly felt like a scene straight out of Star Trek.
Day Three: Building Momentum
The summit’s third day at OKPOP Museum followed a more traditional conference format with panels, pitch competitions, and a keynote from Jim Bridenstine, Former NASA Administrator (and fellow Rice alum!) now serving as Managing Partner of the Artemis Group. Every interaction Joe and I had was warm and energizing. It felt like a small town where everyone knows everyone—not just in Tulsa but across surrounding areas like Kansas City, Bentonville, Oklahoma City, and Dallas.
We concluded the summit at
an investor-only dinner hosted at the gorgeous Harwelden Mansion. Among 30 investors, LPs, and ecosystem leaders, the conversations flowed as easily as the delicious food prepared by Chef Justin Thompson. By night’s end, I could feel how much pride and love people have for Tulsa and Oklahoma broadly—something I came to understand deeply during my brief visit.
The Takeaway
I’ve come away from Midcon Venture Summit with tremendous appreciation for Tulsa and can see why people are relocating there from cities like NYC. I learned so much about Tulsa’s history and what makes it special. It’s definitely not a “flyover state”—it’s so much more.
The Cortado Ventures team organized an unbelievable summit that ensured everyone had a positive experience. A HUGE shoutout to Matt Waraich, who was the most gracious host to Joe and me. If you want to master the art of networking, he’s your guy—we met countless incredible people thanks to his efforts.
My verdict on Midcon Ventures Summit? A must-attend event for anyone who wants to be at the forefront of budding innovation. Joe and I will definitely be back, hoping to serve as strong partners and social connectors between the coasts and the heartland.