In Focus: Some initiatives, schemes, grants & resources for women entrepreneurs in Oklahoma
#OklahomaBusiness #WomenEntrepreneurs #StartupSupport #InnovationLeaders #OKWomenInBusiness #WomenInBusiness #OklahomaEntrepreneurs #WomenEmpowerment #StartupGrants
What’s impressive is that Oklahoma is a state in USA that fosters innovative ideas and a pioneering spirit. Much like the state’s own humble beginnings, it has created an environment where entrepreneurship is celebrated and cultivated. They have grown by investing in new businesses and industries.
How do we do it? Oklahoma, popularly known as the “Sooner State”, is home to diverse co-working spaces, incubators & business accelerators. But new businesses can’t really take off with just an office space. Entrepreneurship is all about connecting with investors, to arrange for funding necessary to move ideas forward.
Oklahoma’s Women Entrepreneurs: Driving Innovation with State Support
For women entrepreneurs in Oklahoma, the state offers a wealth of resources, schemes & grants – designed to help turn their business dreams into reality. From state-backed initiatives to private sector support, Oklahoma’s vibrant ecosystem is dedicated to nurturing women-led startups. Programs such as the Oklahoma Women’s Business Center provide mentorship, training, and access to crucial networking opportunities.
Moreover, grants like the Oklahoma Business Incentive Program and the Oklahoma Seed Capital Fund offer financial support tailored to the needs of women entrepreneurs. With these resources, women in Oklahoma are breaking barriers, driving innovation, and contributing significantly to the state’s economic growth. Read on – to explore the range of opportunities available for women entrepreneurs in Oklahoma, so that they can discover how to build successful businesses.
Oklahoma Government Agencies
> Oklahoma Secretary of State – Business Division
The business division of the Secretary of State’s Office assists business owners organize & register their business.
What the Business Filing Department does is that it processes corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, certificate of partnership fictitious name for general partnership, trade name, and trademark registration filings. Such filings include – new registrations, amendments, mergers, dissolutions and withdrawals for both domestic and foreign entities.
https://www.lisamasiello.com/oklahoma-women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business
> Oklahoma Department of Commerce
The Oklahoma Department of Commerce is totally committed to helping local businesses succeed & grow.
Business services include – Export Services to expand your global market access, Workforce Development to take advantage of workforce training programs, Women-Owned Business Certifications & Minority-Owned Business Information to support minority entrepreneurs.
Resources are available to help guide your business idea – from inception to implementation. They include areas such as – How to Start a Business, Business Licensing and Operating Requirements, Business Incubators, and Venture Capital and Private Equity Funding.
> Oklahoma Small Business Administration (SBA)
The Oklahoma Small Business Administration (SBA) is supported by a main district office in Oklahoma City. They provide services including – funding programs, counseling, federal contracting, certifications, and disaster recovery. Plus they can also connect you to partner organizations, lenders, and other community groups that help small businesses succeed.
The real picture is that the Oklahoma City office serves all 77 counties in Oklahoma.
https://www.lisamasiello.com/oklahoma-women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business
Oklahoma Agencies & Non-profit Organizations
> REI Women’s Business Center
REI Women’s Business Center is a non-profit organization that focuses passionately – on advancing the expansion of women businesses. They operate Oklahoma’s statewide Women’s Business Center.
REI WBC provides facilities such as – quality business training opportunities, one-on- one business counseling, access to capital, referrals and technical assistance – including marketing, bookkeeping, business management and more.
The REI Women’s Business Center (REI WBC) has already made a significant impact on a huge community of entrepreneurs – providing them with top-notch training workshops, business consulting and valuable networking opportunities.
Serving as Oklahoma’s only state-wide Women’s Business Center, it is more than just a center; it’s a community where women find the support, encouragement, strength and answers needed for their entrepreneurial journeys. The REI WBC takes real pride in being the ‘go-to hub’ for women in business & it looks forward to continuing its special service – to Oklahoma’s enterprising women in the years to come.
Established through a cooperative agreement with the SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership, the mission of REI Women’s Business Center is – to assist Oklahoma’s entrepreneurial women in exploring the opportunities of starting or expanding a business. The Women’s Business Center’s services are available statewide and have three office locations: Durant, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. If you are at a stage where you’re contemplating starting a business or already have one in motion – REI Oklahoma’s Women’s Business Center offers workshops tailored to your needs.
Topics include but are not limited to: Marketing; Strategic Planning; Comprehensive Quickbooks®; Social Networking; Employment Issues; Business Tax Basics; Entrepreneurship 101 & much more…
Additionally, the Women’s Business Center supports women-owned businesses in navigating the Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) self-certification process.
https://www.reiok.org/programs/rei-womens-business-center/
> SCORE Oklahoma
SCORE helps you with free mentoring and low-cost training, whether you are in the planning stages or you are ready to go to the next level. Volunteers can meet with you at convenient locations across Oklahoma.
Here’s a reality check about SCORE. People planning to start a business are the largest segment of SCORE clients. However, some clients seek advice on buying or selling a business and some others want advice on managing their businesses. And, businesses seeking advice from SCORE vary in size from single-owner sole proprietorships to corporations with 200 employees.
No matter where you are on your entrepreneurial journey, SCORE mentors are ready to assist.
> Oklahoma Small Business Development Center (OKSBDC)
Oklahoma Small Business Development Center – OKSBDC assists small business owners and new entrepreneurs – by providing no charge, one-on-one business management advising, business management workshops, and business technical assistance.
Besides, they also provide information on:
– Agri-business
– Obtaining business financing
– Business startup
– Cybersecurity
– Government contracting
– E-commerce
– Human Resources
– Market and industry research
– Business disruption management
– Business training
– Buying or selling a business
– Financial analysis and cash flow management
– International trade
– Strategic planning
https://www.lisamasiello.com/oklahoma-women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business
Funding – State & Federal Sources
> U.S. Small Business Administration – Funding Resources
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps small businesses get the funding they need. And, the funding resources include:
Loans: Start or expand your business with loans guaranteed by the SBA
Investment capital: Find an investor for your business. Investors make both debt and equity investments
Disaster assistance: Get help after a disaster with low-interest disaster loans
Surety bonds: Protect your work and your client with an SBA-guaranteed surety bond
Grants: Look for government grants that help businesses do scientific research and development.
> i2E – Access to Funding
Starting from the big idea to enterprise – i2E helps build, launch & grow great ideas of Oklahoma entrepreneurs into high growth ventures.
The company’s investment arm, Plains Ventures – has more than $100 million of investment capital under management and serves Oklahoma companies in all phases of the business life cycle, from startups looking for their first round of capital to established businesses seeking funding to expand their markets or products.
i2E provides access to – pre-seed financing and early-stage risk capital to help Oklahoma companies prove new products and processes. Investment funds are based on achieving set milestones and can be used for proof-of-concept, market validation, business planning, critical equipment purchase, staffing & other business needs.
https://www.lisamasiello.com/oklahoma-women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business
> OKC Women in Business
OKC Women in Business, a powerful and inspiring Women’s Networking organization empowering women entrepreneurs in the Oklahoma City area. Founded by Meagan Veoukas and led by Rebecca Bates, Amber Hopfer, Brenna Stanford, Sara Golding, Cori Maag, Caren Banda, Rocio Valesquez, Liliana Provincial, Renita Ejiofor, and Kate Chastain – all small business owners in the community – this group offers women of all backgrounds the support and mentorship they need to reach their business goals.
OKC Women in Business is a community dedicated to empowering women in the OKC Metro – to thrive in their business endeavors through collaboration, networking & educational opportunities.
This community is a space for – sharing knowledge, insights & experiences that can help women succeed in their careers and businesses. They cover a wide range of topics, from leadership and entrepreneurship to marketing and finance.
https://www.okcwomeninbusiness.com
> Oklahoma Small Business Development Center (OKSBDC)
This organization is perfectly suitable for women looking for affordable educational opportunities. Growing a business takes a lot of hardwork, but the SBDC is there to help women streamline their efforts.
> Small Business Administration (SBA) Oklahoma District Office
This resource is recommended for any woman, who is struggling to get a foothold in their industry. This center can also be used wisely – to help expand a business by obtaining additional funding and training.
> Oklahoma Department of Commerce
This department is meant for entrepreneurs interested in – connecting with resources such as businesses, organizations, grants, training, or any other necessary means to grow a business.
> WomensNet – Oklahoma
This resource is right for women who aren’t sure which grants they’re eligible for or how to apply. This group will help women navigate this complex world to come out ahead. The Amber Grant is available to women from any industry who shows sufficient promise.
https://startupsavant.com/womens-business-resources-oklahoma
Avtar Madan
Himanshu
Shree Lahiri
