View the 2021 OVF Awards Video.

2022 OVF Awards

Oklahoma Venture Forum will host the OVF Awards ceremony on May 18th, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Oklahoma Hstory Center.

This year’s award ceremony features special guest Governor Kevin Stitt, followed by a fireside chat discussing "Collaboration for Innovation".

The OVF Awards incorporate some of the most prestigious recognitions a company can receive because they represent the triumph of the entrepreneurial dream and spirit. Evaluation criteria for the Economic Impact Award, the Venture of the Year Award, and the Most Promising New Venture award are based on: product or service innovation, market potential, potential economic impact, and more. OVF is partnering with Oklahoma Innovate Technology Alliance (OITA) to present the Entrepreneurial Champion Award. This award will recognize 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.

“Each year we are impressed by the submissions and look forward to the interview process where we dig deep to learn of each company’s achievements and to get a glimpse at what future innovations they have planned. It is exciting to see impressive new innovations from right here in Oklahoma. Each year the selection process reveals a new group of entrepreneurial pioneers who deserve to be publicly recognized for their achievements. OVF is proud to be the organization who gets to highlight these talents.” explains Che’ Loessberg, Executive Director of Oklahoma Venture Forum.

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 live ceremony will be held at the Oklahoma History Center in the Chesapeake Event Center. 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.

ATTEND

Nominees 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 20, 2022, 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.

APPLY OR NOMINATE ONLINE

DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION/NOMINATION PACKAGE

Nominees 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

Nominations/applications must be completed and returned by January 20, 2022, 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.

APPLY OR NOMINATE ONLINE

DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION/NOMINATION PACKAGE

Economic Impact Award

Venture of the Year

Most Promising New Venture

& Incubator Tenant Award

Entrepreneurial Champion Award

Support the OVF Awards

Last Year's Award Winners
Economic Impact Award

PPP.Bank

The Oklahoma Venture Forum is honored to recognize PPP.Bank for its dedication to small business, and its economic impact in Oklahoma. PPP.Bank is a free, secure resource for small businesses, non-profits, and sole proprietors across the United States who received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and are now applying for forgiveness.

When the US Small Business Administration unleashed new loan programs to support small businesses, Jill Castilla and the team at Citizens Bank of Edmond became a loud advocate for connecting and expanding resources to areas of greatest need.

The 120-year-old community bank, based in Edmond, Oklahoma was able to help more than 540 small businesses with access to loans. By partnering a second time with entrepreneur Mark Cuban and Teslar Software they delivered a free digital PPP forgiveness application and calculator.

2021 Venture of the Year

Venture of the Year Winner

Skydweller Aero Inc. (OKC)- is a US aerospace company developing solar-powered aircraft solutions capable of achieving perpetual flight with unprecedented payload capacity.

2021 Most Promising New Ventures

Most Promising New Venture Winners

Watkins-Conti Products, Inc. (EDMOND)- a platform women's healthcare company developing affordable and effective solutions for taboo issues faced by women, specifically, with regard to pelvic health.

Drov Technologies (OKC)- utilized their years of expertise related to tire inflation systems to pivot from a tire inflation company to a technology company seeking to provide a full smart truck and trailer solution for the trucking industry.