e3 explores the product/market fit of a new business concept and helps an existing business scale and find new customers.  To enhance your learning experience, this 6-week process provides content through video, in person workshops, and one-on-one calls.

The program condenses a process that could take a business up to 6 months to complete into a 6 week program which requires commitment from the entrepreneur to do the following:

1. Review the pre-class videos
2. Attend the weekly 2-hour in-person workshop either in OKC or Tulsa location
3. Participate in the weekly 30-60 minute one-on-one phone calls with i2E Program Director
4. Complete all assignments associated with the program, including customer discovery calls

Following completion of the program, each company receives a recommendation report with next steps for their venture. After the course, i2E will recommend resources, programs and potential funding sources that will best suit the needs of the startup, including a possible client and/or funding relationship with i2E.

The cost is $375. Should the company be approved to become an i2E client following the assessment process, the $375 fee will be applied to the $2,000 client fee.

Not sure if e³ is for you?

• Are you an Oklahoma resident?
• Do you have a new business idea, product, or service?
• Is the business or idea for profit?
• Are you creating new solutions to a market problem or disrupting an existing market?
• Are you wanting to expand your business and customer base?
• Are you and your team committed to the success of the venture?
  
• Do you or your team have industry experience relevant to the new business?

If you answered yes to all of the above, we’d love for you to submit an application!

Ideal Businesses fit into one of the following categories:

• Concept – An idea for a business with no current revenue or customers
• Proof-of-concept – A business with a few initial customers or a company with a prototype
• Established Business – A business earning revenue and seeking growth

And often possess these distinctive qualities:

• Growth Oriented- A business that can eventually employ multiple people
• Experienced- An entrepreneur or team with industry experience relevant to the business/concept
• Innovative- A business that is creating a new solution to a market problem
• For-profit- A business that will generate revenue and jobs

Types of companies that may be better served by other programs:

i2E serves a specific type of entrepreneur and business. We refer the following applicants to our network partners: Residents outside Oklahoma, Franchises. Oil and Gas Production, Real Estate, Movie Production, Herbal Remedies, Multi-level Marketing, Consulting and Coaching, Financial Services, Retail Business Establishments and Restaurants, and businesses in the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Gaming Industries.

*Note: Technology for the above industries would be considered.

Dates are subject to change.  For more information, contact Darcy Wilborn at dwilborn@i2E.org.

General Questions: 

1. What exactly is the e3?
   e3 is designed to explore the product/market fit of a new business concept or help an existing business scale and find new customers. Each program includes four two-hour, in-person workshops, with outside activities to be completed by the participating company/entrepreneur.
2. What types of participants are right for the e3?
   Ideal e3 Participants Meet the Following Guidelines:
   A resident of the state of Oklahoma
   Commitment to the success of the business
3. What type of companies and concepts are right for the program?
   e3 businesses fit into one of the following categories:
      Concept– An idea for a business with no current revenue or customers
      Proof-of-concept – A business with a few initial customers or a company with a prototype
      Established Business – A business earning revenue and seeking growth
   And often possess these distinctive qualities:
      Growth Oriented– A business that can eventually employ multiple people
      Experienced– An entrepreneur or team with industry experience relevant to the business/concept
      Innovative– A business that is creating a new solution to a market problem
      For-profit– A business that will generate revenue and job
4. What type of companies and concepts aren’t right for the program?
   i2E serves a specific type of entrepreneur and business. There are certain types of companies that may be better served by other programs. We refer the following applicants to our network partners:
   *Note: Technology for the industries below would be considered.
   Franchises
   Oil and Gas Production
   Real Estate
   Movie Production
   Herbal Remedies
   Multi-level Marketing
   Consulting and Coaching
   Financial Services
   Retail
   Business Establishments and Restaurants
   Businesses in the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Gaming Industries
5. Who is i2E?
   i2E, Inc. is an Oklahoma corporation with the statewide mission to invest in entrepreneurs to build successful, high-growth Oklahoma companies. i2E achieves this by developing and connecting entrepreneurs, providing advisory services and capitalizing ventures throughout the business life cycle.

Is e3 the right Program for me?

1. What can I expect?
   To look at your business from your potential customer’s point of view
   To network with other Oklahoma entrepreneurs
   Personalized feedback and guidance from startup experts throughout the program
2. Do I have to live in Oklahoma?
   Yes, i2E exclusively serves businesses with a majority of assets and operations in Oklahoma.
3. What if I haven’t started a business but have an idea?
   That’s okay! The business does not need to be fully planned out or have existing customers to participate.
4. What if I started a business, but don’t have any/many customers?
   That’s okay! The business does not need to have customers to participate.
5. What if I’ve been in business for a long time?
   That’s great! e3 is designed to help established businesses reach new customers or shorten the sales cycle with existing customers.
6. Does my company/concept need to be a certain size?
   No, your company can be any size, including a concept that hasn’t been turned into a business yet. For established businesses with more than 50 employees, we suggest sending a new concept or product through for validation, rather than trying to evaluate the whole business.
7. Do I have to have any business training ?
   No! We welcome entrepreneurs and business owners of all experience levels.
8. Why should I participate in e3?
   Under the guidance of startup professionals, this program offers more thorough content than the typical business workshop by providing the following:
   A comprehensive look at your company/concept and its customers
   New tools to evaluate starting, growing, or expanding a company or concept
   Opportunities to network with other businesses and entrepreneurs
   A structured method for customer discovery
   Weekly one-on-one consulting with early-stage business experts
   A non-threatening environment to share and grow business ideas
   Structure to keep you motivated and on-task
   Suggested improvements to your business model
   Real discussion of risks facing your business
   A customized report with next steps for your company
   An evaluation plan to help you seek possible investment
9. What specifically will I learn about my business?
    For All Companies:Customer Segments, Value Proposition, Risks, Milestones & Goals, Pitching your Business, How to reach customers, a path forward
    For Business Concepts: Find out who your market is and if they want what you’re selling
    For Existing Businesses: Discover new customers for your existing products or find and evaluate customer segments for a new product
10. What if I feel like I already know it all?
    Having tested this program with more than 140 companies, we’ve seen all levels of entrepreneurs. From college freshman starting their first company to an entrepreneur who took his previous company public, they have all learned something. We combine new methods in exciting ways to benefit all participants.

Program Questions:

1. What is the structure?
   e3 leads companies through an in-depth look at product/market fit during a 6 week program .  In order to accomplish so much during such a short time frame, there is approximately 5-10 hours of outside classwork per week.  Following completion of the program, each company receives a recommendation report with next steps for their venture. After the course, i2E will recommend resources, programs and potential funding sources that will best suit the needs of the startup.
2. What is the cost?
   The cost is $375 which will be due the first night of class. If the company continues forward in a client relationship with i2E, this amount is applied toward the $2,000 client fee.
3. Does i2E or e3 take equity in my company?
   No, neither take any equity in your company in order to complete the program. Should i2E eventually invest in your company, equity discussions are held at that time.
4. When is the next session?
   Please click the Schedule tab above.
5. What if I’m not available on the dates?
   This is a year-round program, and so, if these dates don’t fit your schedule you may apply to one of our later sessions.
6. What size is the class and who else will attend with me?
   The average class includes 4-6 companies. Programs are maintained at a relatively small scale in order to individually focus on entrepreneurs in the class. We encourage all the founders of a company to attend all workshops. We can accommodate up to 3-4 founders/employees per company.
7. What are the expectations for participants?
   We expect all participants to attend the 4 in-person workshops, participate in all appropriate follow up calls, and complete all assignments associated with the program.
8. What if I can’t attend one of the 4 workshops?
   Attendance is required for all four workshops, if you do not attend one or more workshops you will not be considered a graduate of the program and will not receive formal evaluation from i2E.
9. Should my co-founder or employees attend the workshops as well?
   Yes! We encourage all the founders of a company to attend all in-person workshops. We can accommodate up to 3-4 founders/employees per company.
10. How much work is involved?
    The program includes four in-person workshops, 2-3 phone calls, and 5-10 hours of outside work to complete the program.
11. What is the time commitment?
    The in-person workshops are two hours each, the phone calls are 30-60 minutes each, and the outside work usually takes 5-10 hours per week.
12. Does i2E or e3 provide funding or investment in my business?
    While participation in e3 does not guarantee investment, this program does introduce methods of generating capital outside of i2E funding. Additionally, i2E evaluates the investment potential of all participating ventures as a precursor to a client relationship.
13. Are there opportunities to network with other startups?
    Absolutely, there will be other like-minded entrepreneurs attending the workshops and an alumni group for graduates
14. How many companies have done the program and what do they say about it?
    The e3 (previously VAP) has served more than 150 companies to date. You can read their reviews of the program on the Testimonials tab.
15. Who is the instructor?  
    Darcy Wilborn, i2E’s Client Engagement Director.  If you have any questions contact Darcy at dwilborn@i2E.org

Application Questions:

1. When should I apply?
   The application is available year-round, so you may apply at any time. If you would like to see the current class schedules with deadlines to apply, please click the Schedule tab above.
2. How do I apply?
   Please fill out our online application.
3. Who sees my application?
   Your application is seen by i2E staff only.
4. How many companies are accepted to e3?
   The average e3 has 4-6 companies.
5. When will I know if I’m accepted?
   You will be notified of acceptance no later than one week before the start date of the first workshop.
6. What if my company isn’t selected?
   Unfortunately sometimes we receive more applications than we are able to accommodate. If your company or concept is not selected you will be notified by i2E staff to discuss opportunities for future sessions or a referral to a network partner.

Note: the e3 program was formerly named the Venture Assessment Program (VAP). You may see it referenced in the following testimonials.

Quote from Cohort 30 May 2020

“e3 is the founder’s map and compass: the program lets you confirm where you’ve gone in the right direction and provides the tools and guidance to help you reorient where you are off course.  In four weeks, you gain an understanding of how to go from good idea to a good startup and primes you to take your business to the next level.” Richard Jackson, ConnecTix

“The e3 program was incredibly helpful to us.  It forced us to reassess assumptions underlying our marketing analysis, as well as to refine our business model and launch strategy.” Jason Davenport, Imperial Bioworks

“The i2E staff did a great job of using their extensive knowledge and experience to guide us in a rigorous, but friendly, manor toward a better business design.” Jason Davenport, Imperial Bioworks

“The E3 program was a powerful distillation of the things we didn’t know we didn’t know.  It taught us to start asking the right questions, and where to look for the answers.  The E3 program has dramatically shortened our learning curve, sharpened our business acumen, and greatly accelerated our progress.” Jason Davenport, Imperial Bioworks

“We found the E3 process to be immensely valuable in moving our company forward. I was particularly impressed that the E3 process deals with specific methodologies to analyze the opportunity, not generalities! Additionally, it is real world, the i2E team had no issues challenging us along the way which demonstrated their commitment in getting it right. We thank the i2E team for their counsel, advice and personal interest in helping us move forward!”  Bob Chamberlain, MedTech Partners

“We had extensive research, documents, business details, potential customers, a great team and felt like we were moving along well. We could not figure out why we could not get any traction, until i2E walked us through their proven program. Their team walked us through precisely each step to take before bringing our product to market. Although we had most of the information their team was looking for, i2E completely organized us in a way we did not even know needed to be done. We now feel very confident going to market knowing we have a team of proven experts behind us.”  Devin Brown, NexMuv

“It has been such a learning experience for our entire team. This process has increased our confidence in being able to identify and market to our customers with precision.” Devin Brown, NexMuv

Previous Cohort Quotes

“See your business through investors eyes!”  Leon Fowler, Enfluencer

“This program helps you know for sure that your venture is worth your time, effort and money before you take the risk.”  Annie Bowles, Sugarfree Media

“Worth the time and money for any founder at any stage in their startup.  The class offers great framework to position you for success!”  Kate Birtch, Property Protect

“This program pushed me to think about aspects of my business I had not considered, allowing me to open my thought to much needed changes.”  Chantelle Loft, Concept C

“Be prepared to do your homework and spend the time required to complete the seminar.”  Debra Edwards, Concept C

“This program is densely packed with great information. It can feel overwhelming at times, but it teaches perseverance.” Lucy Kimani, Universal Cuisine

“This program is very organized and helps you to prepare and know the process and how to achieve a pitch and what to expect.”  Todd Nelson, Trakyr

“If you are going to find what you need, be prepared for a long road and a constant reality check.  This program is a great start.” Charlie Schmitz, Workour

“Customer discovery of paint identification are critical for the viability of a venture.  This program puts it front and center!”  Shoaib Shaikh, Chemexpose

“This class really helped my team reevaluate our customers and value proposition.  I would recommend any entrepreneur to take this class as it makes the chance of succeeding that much greater.” Beau Blanchard, Paldara Pharmaceuticals

“This class process gave me the road map and direction we needed at the critical conceptual phase of our business.”  Chris Hahn, Applique

“This class helped me hone in on my target market and gave me the tools to gather unbiased feedback.”  Jonathan Welliver, Lyfe

“I used to run a sales organization, and I would have hired Darcy to help train my sales people!”  Cameron Owen, Aevus Precision Diagnostics

“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 & Co-Founder, SendaRide

“i2E’s VAP is extremely valuable for businesses of all types to help owners focus. Focus on awareness, focus on customers, and focus on action. VAP gives you the tools to define your company’s core customers. Done properly, defining these customers allow business owners to find what truly motivates their early adaptors. VAP is not just a course, but a well-developed process that can be applied to any new project or business endeavor.” – Chris Wilson, When In Roam

“Working with i2E is like having NOS in your racecar.” – Casey Murray, Protosynthesis Design, LLC

“A great program for Oklahoma.” – Carter Wright, Protosynthesis Design, LLC

“The VAP will help you set the wheels in motion to getting your venture off the ground. This program allows you to narrow your focus so that you can become invest-able in a timely and efficient manner.” – Keinan Smith, Protosynthesis Design, LLC

“The i2E VAP helped me to identify and test the underlying assumptions that will make or break my business. I gained useful insights on the strengths and weaknesses of my business model. This will enable me to pivot or fix them before spending hundreds of thousands of dollars ineffectively.” – Donna Miller, PursePower

“As a technical person, this is an eye-opening experience to learn how to launch a new product and succeed at business. The entire learning experience is challenging but pleasant, very rewarding.” – Dr. Li Song, BENEFF, LLC

“I would recommend the Venture Assessment Program to any tech startup that is serious about building a successful company. The insights gained from their team of experienced professionals saves time, provides clarity of focus, and connects founders with the knowledge and resources needed to maximize the potential for success.”  – Johnathan Torkelson, Virtuoso Software

“I am very busy trying to build my business and so I was very concerned about the time I would have to invest in the VAP class. Now that was are done with VAP, I would say to any entrepreneur that they should make the investment. It was one of the most productive investments of time and money I have made since I started D6 Labs.” – Steve Montgomery, Digital Six Laboratories

“This is a tough-love class that is both supportive but also shares the reality of the path forward for a successful business. It’s definitely great to attend the earlier the better in starting any company.” – Rachel Hiraldo, Oct8ne

“Detail oriented and customer/sales driven despite the brevity (3 weeks) of the course schedule. Insightful and helpful; exercise that can help teams make a difference to their ventures.” – Sarah Jayauma, MaxQ

“The VAP program helps take your business and poke holes in it now so you can change to better your business. They beat you down now and build you back up before you become too invested and lose money.” – Scott Kincannen, MicroMeasure LLC

“Quick way to determine if an idea is capable of being a successful business. Full of experienced investors who have dealt with hundreds of businesses. They offer great guidance for any ambitious entrepreneur.” – Yusuf Surbaji, Splitico, LLC

“i2E’s VAP program taught me how to actually drill down to who is the real customer and how can my company best serve the customer. It is a very specific program that teaches tools I’ll be able to use in a variety of ways from business to community volunteering to educational support. Thanks!!!” – Cindy Convery, Raw Space For Rent

“Makes you face your greatest fears, but also makes you face/see the possibilities. If you want it, go get it.” – Aubrey Jones, Zipcode Lenders

“As someone that has not been in the startup space for very long, I was intimidated but hopeful to learn. This class was very informative, helped me find the direction and focus I needed. Great for any level. Thanks i2E!” – Ashleigh Denton, Repair Cupid

“I really enjoyed the in person classes, specifically the opening conversations and hearing about other people’s companies and passions. I would recommend this class to anyone in the early stages of a startup.” – Nick Brekke, Soc Nano

“The VAP is great for any Oklahoma company looking for guidance and help with their company! It is a must when starting a new venture!” – Erin Hines, ThinkTune, Inc.

“The VAP is a great (and safe) way to challenge your assumptions in a constructive manner. Important for all start-ups…at all stages!” – Brek Wilkins, AmbreHealth Technologies

“For anyone who has a new business concept, but is afraid to take the first step…spend $375 and see where the journey takes you! Best money spent.” – Andrew Jenkins, AUXI

“i2E helped us identify our customers, refine our business model, and learn more about our company and the industry we compete in.” – Yonatan Max Schmidt, Travli

“Helps push you to spend the effort needed to identify customers and market fit…things that too many startups avoid or don’t spend enough effort on.” – Kirk, VestFront

“This program can help students better organize their early-stage start-ups with research, planning, organizing, and execution.” – Nasir Malik, Splitico LLC

“A great program for an early stage company, refreshing and insightful.” – Balayi Jayakumar, MaxQ

“VAP allowed us to put more emphasis on our market, which better identified where we should focus our efforts.” – Andrew Willis, Gameday Edge

“The value came from doing the homework assignment and taking them seriously.” – Ben Woods, GameDay Edge

“Outrageously excellent!” – Emily Wallace and Robert Kurtz, Videomodify

“It’s a great way to open your eyes to problems in your business and your sector.” – Juan Hiraldo, Oct8ne

To apply for e3, submit your application by clicking on the button below.

Supplemental Videos (200 videos, mostly 1-2 minutes long; highly recommend first 100, especially for first time entrepreneurs)

Read recent news about e3 .

• i2E asks ‘why not?’ and rolls out e3 class for entrepreneurs during pandemic
• e3 Goes Virtual
• Entrepreneurs, Cowboys and the ability to execute a plan
• Take your Startup to the Next Level
• Businesses adapt amid pandemic
• Q&A: i2E entrepreneur class goes virtual