Applications close April 4. Apply today!
About Tulsa Idea Challenge
Have you ever had an idea but you’re unsure if it could be a business or what the first steps are? Whether you are new to entrepreneurship or want to refine your skills, this should be your next step.
Tulsa Idea Challenge is an entrepreneurial workshop and competition for Tulsans to learn how to collaborate and transform an idea into action in just two days. This isn't a hackathon or a pitch competition. It’s an entrepreneurial experience.
Why would I join?
Tulsa Idea Challenge will connect you with the resources and support necessary to kickstart your entrepreneurial journey.
During this event, you’ll be partnered with another Tulsan, learn how to define a problem and work out a solution through purposefully-crafted exercises.
Prizes will be awarded to teams in a variety of categories, ranging from best overall idea to the most collaborative team.
I'm up for the challenge!
You'll be partnered with another Tulsan to tackle a business problem, combine your perspectives, and find a solution together.
The days are full of guided exercises led by Builders + Backers. You'll learn how to generate first ideas and refine best ideas. Feel free to bring an idea, but keep an open mind. Together, you’ll agree on one idea to move forward with.
Through structured working phases, your team will learn the ins and outs of problem-solving. By the end of these two days, you’ll walk away with the skills and know-how to put your big ideas into action.
More detailed schedule coming soon
More detailed schedule coming soon
Check-in: Nametags + Welcome Gifts
Opening Ceremony: Agenda Overview + Orientation (TBD Fun Activity)
Lights snacks, water and drinks provided
We’ll start off the day strong, reiterating what was learned during Thursday’s orientation. You’ll meet your Tulsa Idea Challenge partner and we’ll have a quick ice-breaker before jumping into the day.
What’s the problem and why does it exist? We’ll provide guidance and a framework that helps you tackle the root causes of your problem before your team dives deeper into ideas.
Teams will meet to apply what was just learned. Mentors will be offering help.
Teams will meet in small groups with trained facilitators. Your team will share your thoughts and receives feedback.
Using poster-sized templates, each group writes out and posts the results of their morning work in a centralized place for all to see. Judges will be reviewing these posts.
Lunch will be provided
Back in the main auditorium, we’ll debrief what was learned in the morning session before shifting into ideation. You’ll learn the frameworks for turning first ideas into best ideas.
Partners will meet to apply what you just learned referencing digital content and using provided templates. This is where you’ll narrow in on one solution.
Lights snacks, water and drinks provided
Teams will meet in small groups with trained facilitators. You’ll share your thoughts and ideas for feedback. This will help you refine your idea.
You and your partner will publicly declare your chosen idea.
Group activity
Dinner will be provided
Returning to the main auditorium, we’ll...
You’ll meet with your partner to apply what you just learned by listing out the known facts and your assumptions. You’ll pinpoint the most important ones.
Groups of pairs will meet in small groups with trained facilitators to share thinking and ideas. Through the help of the facilitator and other teams, each pair will hone in on the most important assumptions to test.
Share your most important assumption on a public poster.
Closing remarks
A brief morning welcome in the main auditorium will be followed by an all-group activity.
Diving into Day 2, we’ll discuss why we experiment and what we mean (and don't mean) by experimentation. You’ll learn different types of experiments and what to measure.
Your team will rotate through multiple stations, each one focused on a different kind of experiment. You’ll get quick, real-world demonstrations and be shown tools and techniques.
You’ll grab a quick lunch and then meet with your small group. This will be an opportunity to discuss experimentation and what you learned up to that point. Your team will share what you think might be a fit for your project. Lunch will be provided.
After lunch, everyone will return to the auditorium to debrief the morning’s session. From here, you’ll learn about experiment outcomes, including metrics, evaluation, and next steps.
Here’s the really fun part! You and your partner will begin putting it all together. From problem and idea to the hypotheses and critical assumptions, you’ll select and design your experiment.
Lights snacks, water and drinks provided
You’ll meet in small groups to share your work and get feedback. Through the help of a trained facilitator and other teams, you’ll refine your experiments and gear up to finalize your plan.
It’s time to share your final work! Judges will review and make their selections.
As the event nears its close, we’ll gather again in the main auditorium to discuss the last two days.
As a group, we’ll reflect on how much has been learned and what next steps you might want to take after Tulsa Idea Challenge concludes.
Our judges will share their thoughts about the ideas before announcing the winning teams.
Celebrate all your hard work and learning from Tulsa Idea Challenge!
This event is for all adults (18+) who live and work in the Tulsa Metro area. You don’t need a college degree, a market-ready idea, or previous experience. All you need is a positive attitude and willingness to learn. All curious minds, business owners, students, executives, thinkers, and tinkers are welcome.
Ideally yes. A lot of our programming will be in the Cloud. However, tablets, Chromebooks and smartphones should work just fine.
Tulsa Idea Challenge is free to participants. Actually, we’ll pay you. We know that taking time away from work, kids and precious free time isn’t easy, so we’re giving all participants a $300 stipend to cover any expenses.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early. If we receive unprecedented demand, random selection will be used.
Our Early Application deadline will be March 21. All applications must be submitted no later than April 4.
There is no pitch competition requirement. You just need to be a Tulsan excited about entrepreneurship in order to apply.
Don’t see your question? Contact us at tulsaideachallenge@gmail.com.
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