.png) | Welcome to oklahoma venture forum |
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May 18th, 2023 | 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr, Oklahoma City, OK
Keynote Speaker
Mike Beckham
Chief Executive Officer
The Oklahoma Venture Forum, to recognize successful Oklahoma businesses' achievements, has produced these awards biennially since 1989. The OVF Venture of the Year, Most Promising New Venture, Entrepreneurial Champion Award, and the Award for Economic Impact are four of the most prestigious recognitions a company can receive.
The awards represent the triumph of the entrepreneurial dream and spirit in Oklahoma.
OVF Awards honor those who do more than run a business. They celebrate the achievement of industrial progress or potential balanced with innovation, compassionate leadership, and honor those who emphasize investments in the human spirit and the bottom line.
The Award for Economic Impact is bestowed by the OVF Award Selection Committee and recognizes an individual or an organization for exceptional contributions to the Oklahoma economy. The Oklahoma Venture Forum’s Award for Economic Impact has been bestowed to many impactful organizations including The Oklahoma Thunder, Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, and The Chickasaw Nation.
The Venture of the Year award recognizes the top company in the category who has shown material economic impact or innovation within its market. Past winners in this category include DROV Technologies, Watkins+Conti Products, SendaRide, Speirs New Technology and Moleculera.
The winner of the Most Promising New Venture must demonstrate the viability of its primary product/service, which may be shown through capital raises/grants, sales revenues or potential economic impact or innovation. Past winners in this category include Skydweller Aero, Galvanic Energy, Plasma Bionics, Exaptive and Tailwind.
The newest award category is the Entrepreneurial Champion award that recognizes an Oklahoma Legislator distinguishing themselves as an entrepreneurial champion supporting and growing opportunities, ecosystems, and growth potential for IT & Technology small business and economic entrepreneurship within Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma Venture Forum is a non-profit organization formed in 1987. OVF is dedicated to supporting entrepreneurial ecosystems and economic development in Oklahoma. The organization provides opportunities for investors, entrepreneurs, and others to exchange business ideas and experiences to foster growth of new and existing small businesses.
The event is open to OVF members and sponsors and guests, with limited capacity. Please register online through the website: www.ovf.org and please invite a guest.
For inquiries about the awards event, please contact Che’ Loessberg at che@ovf.org.
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Qualifications
Venture of the YearNominees for the Venture of the Year Awards must have (1) launched its primary product/service within the past ten years, (2) generated sales revenues of $1.0 million or more in its last fiscal year, and (3) shown material economic impact or innovation within its market. Capital raised can be considered and should be noted on the application. All nominated companies must be independently owned and operated (not a division, subsidiary, or controlled affiliate of another company) and headquartered in Oklahoma. Evaluation criteria for the Venture of the Year Award will be based on: product or service innovation revenues and capital raised profitability management quality market penetration and growth economic impact industry and community reputation The award winners will be selected by judges from the OVF membership. The judges will review the information on the forms and may request additional company and financial information. All information will be kept confidential. Nominations/applications must be completed and returned by January 26, 2023, to the Oklahoma Venture Forum at the address on the form. APPLICATION & NOMINATION WINDOW IS CLOSED | Most Promising New VentureNominees for the Most Promising New Venture Award (1) must have begun development of its primary product/service within the past three years; and (2) must demonstrate the viability of its primary product/service, which may be shown through capital raises/grants, sales revenues or potential economic impact or innovation. All nominated companies must be independently owned and operated (not a division, subsidiary, or controlled affiliate of another company) and headquartered in Oklahoma. Evaluation criteria for the Most Promising New Venture Award will be based on: product or service innovation minimum viable product actual or potential revenue growth sales backlog over next few quarters funding leadership/management quality market potential potential economic impact industry and community recognition The award winners will be selected by judges from the OVF membership. The judges will review the information on the forms and may request additional company and financial information. All information will be kept confidential. Nominations/applications must be completed and returned by January 26, 2023, to the Oklahoma Venture Forum at the address on the form. If you have any questions concerning the awards, please contact OVF Executive Director, Che’ Loessberg at (405) 604-4775 or che@ovf.org. APPLICATION & NOMINATION WINDOW IS CLOSED |
The Oklahoma Venture Forum, as a means of publicly recognizing the achievements of successful Oklahoma businesses, has produced the awards biennially since 1989. There are a variety of ways to support these important recognitions. Use the button below to view the options. 2023 Sponsors |
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A Look Back at the 2022 OVF Awards
Economic Impact Award WINNER
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Entrepreneurial ChampionOklahoma Senator Jessica GarvinSenator Jessica Garvin was first elected to the Oklahoma Senate in 2020 to represent Senate District 43, encompassing communities in Garvin, Grady, McClain, and Stephens counties. |
Incubator Tenant Award
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