Startup support org you should know: OKEMP
Launched in 2019, Creative Oklahoma’s Oklahoma Entrepreneur Mentoring Program (OKEMP) offers start-up entrepreneurs free, unbiased and confidential team mentoring provided by seasoned business executives who volunteer their time to help the state’s start-up community succeed.
OKEMP is a licensed member of MIT’s Venture Mentoring Service network (MIT VMS), which is recognized by Kauffman Foundation as the “Gold Standard” of entrepreneur mentoring programs. As with MIT’s VMS, OKEMP uses a team mentoring approach with groups of 3 to 4 mentors sitting with the entrepreneur(s) in sessions that provide practical, day-to-day professional advice and coaching. OKEMP mentors are selected for their experience in areas relevant to the needs of our entrepreneurs and for their enthusiasm for helping strengthen Oklahoma’s ecosystem of entrepreneurial support. OKEMP entrepreneurs meet with their designated mentor team anywhere from once a month to 3-6 times per year on a long-term basis.
OKEMP mentoring assistance is given across a broad range of business activity, including product development, marketing, intellectual property law, finance, human resources, and founders issues. OKEMP services are offered without charge, and are supported entirely by foundation grants, corporate sponsorships and private donations. The OKEMP program is now providing mentoring to a diverse group of seven OKEMP entrepreneurs in various sectors like nanotechnology wound care, STEAM nonprofit, gun-safety, and senior health care & services. In September 2021, OKEMP will add 10 more entrepreneurs to its program and are currently recruiting new mentors to join. Applications for participation in the program are taken in the spring and selections and mentor pairing are completed in the summer/fall.
As a nonprofit endeavor, Creative Oklahoma & OKEMP are financially supported by Bank of the West, and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. The OKEMP Steering Committee includes Meloyde Blancett, Executive Director, Creative Oklahoma; Stan Chase, CEO, NvYA Technology; Justin Hazzard, Meridian Technology Center; Susan Moring, Cortado Ventures, Rex Smitherman, Senior Vice President, i2E; Thomas Wavering, Executive Director, OU’s Tom Love Innovation Hub, and is chaired by Doug Sorocco, Director, Dunlap Codding.
