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i2E's 20th Anniversary

1998 - 2018

Over i2E’s 20-year history, our nationally recognized services have provided business expertise and funding to over 700 of Oklahoma’s emerging small businesses. 

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OUR MISSION

“Investing in Entrepreneurs to build successful high growth companies in Oklahoma.”

i2E, Inc. is a nationally recognized private not-for-profit corporation focused on growing innovative small businesses in Oklahoma and making a positive impact on the state’s economy.  i2E receives state support from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology and is an integral part of Oklahoma’s Innovation Model.

ABOUT i2E

Venture Advisory Services

We have experienced Venture Advisors who engage Oklahoma entrepreneurs through a team-based approach, providing comprehensive business guidance and coaching.

Access to Capital

We have built a reputation for being a primary source of concept, seed stage and start-up capital for Oklahoma’s emerging businesses.

Entrepreneurial Development

We work with state and local governments, chambers, business associations, foundations and universities to help residents tap their entrepreneurial potential.

Want to know more about our investment funds?

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Venture Advisory Services

  • What we do
  • Our Venture Advisors
  • Client Portfolio
  • SBIR/STTR Funding Programs
  • Grant Funding Services
  • Venture Assessment Program
  • Evaluate the potential of new concepts through a rigorous venture assessment process to determine product-market fit
  • Assist with development of business plans, evaluation of marketing plans and assessment of capital needs
  • Provide guidance in building a management team, choosing an optimal business structure and creating financial forecasting
  • Assist with developing an effective investor presentation
  • Assist in obtaining non-dilutive funding through federal and state funding sources or private investment
  • Work with universities to encourage commercialization of university-based innovation
  • Provide assistance in raising capital
  • Make equity and near equity investments to help start new companies and grow existing companies

Our venture advisors who collaborate with and mentor entrepreneurs are central to i2E’s mission. These experienced professionals work closely with each client, coaching them from initial technology development, business planning and positioning for funding, all the way through to company launch and growth.

i2E Venture Advisors:

Mark Lauinger– SVP, Client Services

Carol Curtis | Rick Rainey | Malachi Blankenship | Stacey Brandhorst

i2E has provided its services to more than 700 Oklahoma-based startups from a variety of industries.

Our CLIENT PORTFOLIO has attracted $812 million in private investment from banks, venture capital funds, angel investors and other strategic investors.

The Oklahoma Small Business Research Assistance (SBRA) program offers the best resources in the nation to help you successfully compete for SBIR/STTR funding.

Each year the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding programs award approximately $2.5 billion in non-dilutive funding to small, high-tech, innovative businesses.

i2E works closely with the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) who administers the following state grant programs:

Oklahoma Applied Research Support (OARS) Grant
The Oklahoma Applied Research Support program helps universities, foundations and businesses fund cutting-edge research that will benefit Oklahoma’s economy.

Oklahoma Health Research Program (OHR)
The Oklahoma Health Research Program competitively awards seed funds for research projects related to human health to Oklahoma universities and colleges, non-profit research foundations and commercial companies in Oklahoma.

And OCAST provides both financial support and expertise to help qualifying firms develop their federal proposals through its SBIR/STTR support program:

Small Business Innovative Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR)
SBIR and STTR are competitively awarded federal programs designed to stimulate technological innovation and provide opportunities for small businesses.

The Venture Assessment Program (VAP) helps entrepreneurs perform market analysis and investigate the commercial opportunity of their business. This is a three week program designed to investigate the product-market fit and business opportunity of a startup including:VAP-300x227-compressor

  • Assessment of market needs
  • Determination of potential market(s) and market size
  • Identify market barriers
  • Identify preliminary distribution channels
  • Identify market trends and competitors
  • Estimate preliminary profit potential
Our Services

Do you have an innovative idea?

Contacting i2E is the first step down the path to unlocking your potential as an entrepreneur.

We have the right people with the right tools and connections to guide you on your journey.

Contact us and get started today!

LC19

FEATURED PUBLICATION

i&E 2019 Love's Cup Edition

Read the i&E Magazine

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Clients Served

"i2E also helped us with advice and getting closer ties to the community. That is a benefit that is worth as much as the investment."

Dirk Spiers
CEO, Spiers New Technologies
 

“A great deep dive that early stage startups should consider before asking for funding.”

Brent Wheelbarger
Co-Founder, Viribus VR Labs
 

“VAP gave my company the tools to succeed in a supportive & entrepreneurial environment."

Carey Flack
Co-Founder, BLOOM
 

“The i2E VAP was a very introspective look at our business path and allowed us to benefit from a critical assessment of our place in our space.”

Mark McGuire
President & CEO, Openhouse
 

“The VAP is a very thorough program/process to help a business or potential business determine its viability in the marketplace.”

Chuck Lamson
Part-owner, Spring Deck
 

“The i2E VAP helped us further develop business model and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for our customers.”

Bob Eskew
Co-Founder, Viribus VR Labs
 

"We look at i2E as being a great resource for information and connections to help us accomplish our goals in continuing to innovate our products."

Mark Farrow
President & CEO, Compression Solutions
 

"i2E will meet ventures wherever they are in their development, whether it’s an idea on the back of a napkin or a profitable venture."

David King
Founder & CEO, Exaptive
 

"i2E has been invaluable for us. The team in Tulsa that we work with is always good to help with contacts and information. They will dig up things for us if we need it. They are supportive, but not invasive."

Mike Haines
Founder & CEO, Well Checked Systems
 

"Even the challenging questions that we get from i2E have helped us really dig into our business plan and think about how we are going to grow the business."

Danny Maloney
Co-founder & CEO, Tailwind
 

"The relationship has been invaluable to our company. As soon as we realized that i2E was there to help we readily utilized their services and took advantage of the opportunities. We would have not raised over half a million dollars without this relationship."

Aravind Seshadri
President, Roll-2-Roll Technologies
 

"Working with i2E has been very beneficial through their contacts with other business leaders in Oklahoma and as a source of funding. We also appreciate their guidance and business counsel in areas that we simply had not taken the time to focus resources toward…the process that i2E invokes creates credibility and legitimacy in the investor marketplace."

Brian Carpenter
CEO, 4D Sales
 

"The VAP experience helped us understand that limiting our focus to just one vertical would allow us to put all our efforts into excelling in that space, differentiating ourselves from other companies and offering a superior product fit for that specific market."

Laura Fleet
CEO and Co-Founder, SendaRide
 

"i2E has been a valuable partner for me and for WeGoLook. Not only did they provide vital direct investment at an early stage, but they have also continually challenged us to refine and improve our business strategies as we have grown."

Robin Smith
CEO & Co-Founder, WeGoLook
 

"I cannot think of a better investment partner than i2E. They have given us room to learn and grow but certainly ensured investors interests were always protected along the way."

Ryan Dennis
Founder, Linear Health Services
 

"i2E was instrumental in helping us shape our pitch deck and eventually raising $1M. Those funds allowed us to grow the business from about $1M/year to $7M/year and led to a 4X exit for those early investors."

Michael Elts
President & CEO, Weather Decision Technologies
 

Managed Funds

Oklahoma’s Source for Investment Capital

The State of Oklahoma, through two funds managed by i2E, helps companies bridge the investment gap and leverage other private and institutional sources of capital. i2E teamed with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the U.S. Treasury Department to expand the access to capital sources offered to Oklahoma entrepreneurs with the Accelerate Oklahoma Fund.

Our Investments

Accelerate Oklahoma! Fund

As a part of the federal States Small Business Credit Initiative, this U.S. Treasury funded initiative offers funds that provide critical capital and co-investment for Oklahoma entrepreneurs at specific stages of their companies’ lifecycles. Investment terms are typically convertible debt or preferred equity.

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Oklahoma Seed Capital Fund

The Oklahoma Seed Capital Fund is a state supported investment fund that provides concept, seed and start-up equity investments to the state’s innovative businesses. The fund looks for opportunities that show promise of rapid growth in terms of revenue, increased employment and increased private investment capital.

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SeedStep Angels

SeedStep Angels is a wide network of accredited angel investors that provide capital, strategic advice and mentoring to emerging growth companies to help them achieve market leadership. This network can expose entrepreneurs to a wide set of potential investors, and the process facilitates efficient investment decisions.

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  • RT  @OKBio : OMRF lab tackles complex mysteries of anthrax  https://t.co/q1IbOzy2na 
    @i2E_Inc
    2 days ago
  • RT  @OCAST : Oklahoma startup aims to change creative collaboration  https://t.co/6IBUgqqpxG   @cageapp   @i2E_Inc   https://t.co/QWhg6U7qA6 
    @i2E_Inc
    2 days ago
  • New blog post from Ascend BioVentures CEO Elaine Hamm, Ph.D.: The case for virtual drug development. Post #2…  https://t.co/srnmY8zKgi 
    @i2E_Inc
    2 days ago
  • From i2E's Scott Meacham: Oklahoma startup  @cageapp  aims to change creative collaboration  https://t.co/WJ8TPHxaLX   https://t.co/nbzk65iJo8 
    @i2E_Inc
    3 days ago
  • RT  @OKBio : Scientists share research, tour cancer center at OKC conference  https://t.co/HqCnxQgduK 
    @i2E_Inc
    3 days ago

Entrepreneurial Development

Building tomorrow's business leaders...

i2E provides several programs aimed toward strengthening talent and enhancing skill sets to develop more serial entrepreneurs.

  • Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition
  • Office of Entrepreneurial Development
  • Educational Events
Our Programs

Scroll to Meet our Team

  • Scott Meacham

    President and CEO
  • Rex Smitherman

    Senior VP of Operations
  • Sarah Seagraves

    Senior VP of Marketing
  • Mark Lauinger

    Senior VP of Client Services
  • Ryan Cargill

    Vice President & Director Investor Relations
  • Judy Beech, CPA

    Director of Finance
  • Richard Rainey

    Venture Advisor, Director of SBRA Program
  • Carol Curtis, PhD

    Vice President & Director of Investments
  • Stacey Brandhorst

    Venture Advisor, Director of Business Development
  • Darcy Wilborn

    Client Engagement Director
  • Malachi Blankenship

    Venture Advisor & Business Development Manager
  • Melissa Kempkes

    Investment Portfolio Manager
  • Cindy Henson

    Senior Underwriter & Investment Compliance Officer
  • Katelynn Henderson

    Event Specialist
  • Shaun O’Fair

    Underwriting Specialist
  • Jennifer Buettner

    Executive Assistant
  • Sally Skaggs

    Staff Accountant
  • Natalie Greer

    Tulsa Office Administrator

Featured Article

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Latest Entrepreneurial News

Find out what's happening in Oklahoma's business community and other interesting entrepreneurial ventures.

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Let's Work Together

To start the process of possibly becoming a client, please complete this on-line inquiry.

On-line inquiry

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Oklahoma City Office

840 Research Parkway, Suite 250
OKC, OK 73104
PHONE 405/235-2305
Click HERE for printable map with directions.

Tulsa Office

618 E. Third Street, Suite 1
Tulsa, OK 74120
PHONE 918/582-5592
Click HERE for printable map with directions.
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