OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (OBV) – The Startup OU Idea Accelerator, powered by the OKC Innovation District, has officially wrapped its inaugural summer program, graduating its first cohort of early-stage founders and adding fresh momentum to Oklahoma’s startup ecosystem.
The four-week program, held at Innovation Hall, guided participants through the critical early stages of launching a business. Founders explored customer discovery, market sizing, value propositions, and problem definition while receiving mentorship and feedback to sharpen their ideas.
Participants’ ventures ranged from dissolvable eco-friendly confetti to technology designed to streamline restaurant operations. Despite their different industries, the founders shared a common goal: testing assumptions, learning quickly, and building businesses with clarity and confidence.
“The biggest thing I noticed was a mindset shift,” said Aaron Latham, Startup OU Program Coordinator and lead instructor. “We tried to give them a structured way of thinking in an otherwise unstructured environment. Ideas can feel huge and unclear—our goal was to help reframe assumptions, test them early, and make better decisions faster.”
Cohort member Kimberly Jaworski, a longtime video producer developing dissolvable confetti, said the program gave her the tools to move from dream to execution. “I feel a lot more confident about my next steps with what I want to pursue with my business and my product,” she said. “It’s helped me home in on what I need to do next.”
Another participant, Dominique Phillips, founder of two startups in the program, said the accelerator helped her refine her pitch and focus. “I walked away thinking differently—less buzzwords, more clarity,” she said. “Even the way I pitch my idea is more focused now. I found a community, and I also found a better starting point.”
For Latham, the first cohort underscored the importance of accessibility and process. “Everyone came in with different life circumstances, and yet they all made consistent progress by sticking to the process,” he said. “Whether you’re in week one or year six of a business, verifying your assumptions and making informed decisions—that’s what sustains growth.”
Dr. Keith Brigham, Interim Executive Director of OU’s Tom Love Innovation Hub, emphasized that the accelerator aligns with the university’s broader mission. “At Price College, our mission goes beyond educating students—it’s also about serving Oklahoma,” he said. “This program reflects that commitment by using our strengths to support entrepreneurs and help grow Oklahoma’s innovation economy.”
The Startup OU Idea Accelerator is part of a larger initiative by the OKC Innovation District to cultivate a diverse and sustainable innovation pipeline in the state.
