What is OKEMP?
There are outstanding resources that fuel the growth of Oklahoma's entrepreneurial and innovation-based economy — incubators, accelerators, co-working spaces, university-driven innovation centers, etc.
Amidst these incredible resources, however, there’s a gap — the opportunity for entrepreneurs to work directly with seasoned business executives in a structured, long term and unbiased mentoring environment. The purpose of OKEMP is to fill that gap while working hand-in-hand with other local resource providers to solidify a great multi-faceted pipeline to entrepreneur success.
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OKEMP
A Sister Program of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Venture Mentoring Service (MIT VMS)
OKEMP is a locally-operated program licensed from MIT’s Venture Mentoring Service (MIT VMS), which is recognized by Kauffman Foundation as the “Gold Standard” of entrepreneur mentoring programs. As with MIT’s VMS, OKEMP matches both prospective and experienced entrepreneurs with skilled volunteer mentors. We use a team mentoring approach with groups of 3 to 4 mentors sitting with the entrepreneur(s) in sessions that provide practical, day-to-day professional advice and coaching. OKEMP mentors are selected for their experience in areas relevant to the needs of new entrepreneurs and for their enthusiasm for the program. Entrepreneurs meet with their designated mentor team 3-6 times per year on a long-term basis.
Mentors are required to subscribe, in writing, to a Statement of Principles that govern their behavior, outline their responsibilities, guard against conflicts of interest, and control financial involvement with the entrepreneurs and their ventures. Mentors are matched with entrepreneurs based on the needs of the entrepreneur and the interests of available mentors.
OKEMP assistance is given across a broad range of business activity, including product development, marketing, intellectual property law, finance, human resources, and founders issues. OKEMP services are offered without charge, and are supported entirely by foundation grants, corporate sponsorships and private donations.
For more information about the program or for any questions, please contact our Ops & Program Director Stéphanie Coderre Porras Bell at stephanie@stateofcreativity.com.
Steering Committee
The entrepreneurs currently participating in OKEMP are:
Lisa Mullen
Drōv Technologies is a pioneering technology company leveraging its patented tire management solutions to create industry-leading smart trailer solutions through its sensor driven IoT platform. Smart trailer competitors emerging in the space are largely built on proprietary systems and not in the open, agnostic and flexible platform that sets Drōv apart as an industry leader. Drōv is partnering with multiple companies working on smart components and is positioned toward semi-autonomous and autonomous capabilities.
Jay Scambler
Fundamentals wants to provide customers with all the products they use (or should be using) on a daily basis. Our objective is to offer high quality, standardized products and services at direct to consumer prices.
Rick Stiles
Rick Stiles developed a biometric trigger lock for handguns that is easy to use and quickly removed in emergency situations, thereby reducing the number of unintentional gun-related deaths and injuries. ITOT’s fully functional prototype has been widely praised within the gun industry and has seen substantial interest from both gun owners and law enforcement.
Riley Benda
Whether at the office or at home, Lemonheads Mobile Detail brings affordable, convenient, and efficient detailing to you. Lemonheads is revolutionizing the industry with its unique esthetics and out of the box marketing. Personality and spunk brings this company to the forefront of the car washing biz, making the consumer’s experience one of a kind!
Trang Nguyen
Mimosa Health was established in May 2017 with a mission to provide expert advice on the use of medications by older adults. We have specialized knowledge in geriatrics and the unique medication-related needs of the senior population. We help seniors reduce medication-related problems, reduce healthcare costs, and improve their quality of life through our community medication education seminars and personalized senior health services.
Robert Gay
Otos is a machine-learning artificial-intelligence entity that analyzes financial statements. Your personal financial coach, Otos learns from your transaction record to support purchase decisions, budgeting, planning, investing, and saving. Otos presents as an animated avatar that displays complex data in an accessible way. Otos makes you money.
Chelsea Larsen
ParaNano Wound Care, LLC is advancing nanotechnology for next-generation wound care! Our mission and purpose is to provide diagnostic indications and bio-reactive wound treatment to reduce the development of sepsis by commercializing a flexible FDA Class II medical device that delivers FDA approved biocides as needed to prevent infection and heal acute, trauma, and chronic wounds.
Travis Hartfield
Qadosh Health and Wellness Experience works with employers and professionals to proactively addresses the negative effects from occupational burnout, impacting the retention of employees and the potential productivity losses that result.
Aravind Seshadri
Roll-2-Roll Technologies is a startup in the industrial manufacturing sector. It is founded and run by experts in the web handling field. Their experts are well versed in many web handling aspects including lateral dynamics (or web guiding), longitudinal dynamics (or web tension control), winding, rewinding and print registration control. Its technology is new and disruptive however most customers are very traditional and slow movers (later majority).
Morgan Jones
The STEAM Engine is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides out-of-school STEM and Arts education programs that build 21st century skills to develop a talent pipeline and close the STEM workforce gap. We encourage youth, particularly those from populations underrepresented in STEM, to pursue STEM education and related careers by helping them develop the skills they need to be successful.
Supporters
