A Hub of Ideas: Jeff Seymour Talks Innovation at OVF Awards
by Dennis Spielman
As the keynote speaker for the upcoming Oklahoma Venture Forum Awards, Jeff Seymour brings a wealth of experience in economic development and a deep passion for community-driven innovation. His leadership at the Oklahoma City Innovation District reflects a vision that aligns closely with OVF’s mission to foster entrepreneurship across the state.
Seymour has built a strong career in economic development, with nearly two decades dedicated to shaping communities through business strategy, relationships, and public policy. Early on, he worked in small towns, immersing himself in the complexities of attracting and sustaining growth beyond simply landing large employers. Influenced by mentors who encouraged him to combine business acumen with economic principles, Jeff learned to build stronger communities.
Before leading the Oklahoma City Innovation District, he served in a regional economic development role at the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. There, he identified systemic gaps in the local economy, including the need for stronger startup ecosystems, better access to capital, and enhanced research capacity. His insights and leadership now position him to guide the Innovation District in tackling these challenges, aligning strategies with community-driven solutions for long-term impact.
“I think I saw that the Innovation District as an entity had room in its core mission to help make progress on some of those goals,” said Jeff Seymour. “I found myself drawn to the thing that got me excited about economic development in the first place—being able to solve needs that were very human, very community-focused, and being able to connect a lot of dots where we could see progress on things, even if it was incremental, that it built over time and it created more momentum and more success.”
The Innovation District actively drives economic growth and community development in Oklahoma City by connecting research, industry, and entrepreneurship within a 1.3-square-mile hub in Northeast OKC. The team leads strategic efforts across four key pillars: enhancing the built environment with essential spaces like labs and incubators, hosting inclusive programs and events that foster innovation, guiding industry cluster development to attract investment and talent, and expanding workforce training to ensure residents can thrive in future-focused careers. Through these initiatives, the Innovation District creates meaningful opportunities, builds bridges between sectors, and ensures that progress benefits the entire community.
“We try to be thinking about how those four pieces work together and what our role is to push and to convene and to lead in certain ways on behalf of the region to help make sure that as Oklahoma City grows, we’re not only prepared for growth, but we’re connecting our residents to that future as well.”
Seymour recognizes the Oklahoma Venture Forum (OVF) as a long-standing pillar of support for innovation and entrepreneurship in the state. He appreciates how OVF has consistently created space for thought leadership, collaborative conversations, and meaningful connections that drive Oklahoma’s business ecosystem forward. To Seymour, the Forum plays a vital role in uniting leaders, residents, and partners to imagine and design the state’s future together. He also values the importance of the OVF Awards—not only as a way to honor outstanding leadership but also to inspire others and celebrate the collective success of the community.
“I love how much of a position they’ve taken to create space for thought leadership conversations that then allows others to come along and help fulfill and support in a way that… we wouldn’t be having some of the conversations we’ve been having over the last, you know, 30, 40, 50 years… without their work.”
Join OVF on May 15, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center, located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr, Oklahoma City. The awards celebrate the triumph of entrepreneurial dreams and spirit in Oklahoma.
“This is one of those opportunities to pause your nine to five and celebrate success that’s happening,” said Seymour. “A lot of it sometimes behind the scenes… It’s a chance for us to celebrate that success but also to continue to think about what’s next.”
Register to attend the 2025 OVF Award Event
