August 28, 2019
i2E, Inc. and the Choctaw Nation provide intensive, one-day business assessment class to help small businesses validate concepts, expand market, capture new revenues
Contact: Darcy Wilborn,
(405) 813-2424
[email protected]
GrowOK, a free one-day venture assessment workshop designed to help rural and tribal entrepreneurs understand the markets they serve is returning to Durant and McAlester on September 25-26.
Presented by i2E, Inc., with support from seven state and federal partners, the GrowOK workshop helps participating entrepreneurs explore the ideal customer segment for their new business concepts.
The Durant workshop will begin at 9 am on September 25 at the Choctaw Nation Headquarters, 1802 Chukka Hina Dr., Room 1419.
The McAlester workshop will begin at 9 am on September 26 at McAlester Chamber of Commerce, 216 East Choctaw, McAlester, OK 74501.
Registration deadline is the week prior to the workshop, and is required to attend. Interested businesses or individuals can register at www.growok.org.
The intensive GrowOK workshop will lead participants to evaluate their customer segments, product/market fit, risks and competition, initial paths to market, ways to reach potential customers and much more.
GrowOK is ideal for businesses in the concept stage that may not have revenue or customers, as well as more established businesses that are seeking growth.
The GrowOK program was established to increase the number of successful businesses that create jobs in rural Oklahoma. The workshop is free to tribal citizens and residents of rural Oklahoma with a completed registration form.
“Choctaw Nation Small Business has been a proud partner in the i2E Grow OK Program over the last three years,” states Billy Hamilton, Director of Choctaw Small Business Development. “The Grow OK trainings have provided valuable information on market research and business development practices to our Choctaw Small Business clients and other business owners in our area. The Grow OK curriculum has helped entrepreneurs plan and grow their businesses within our communities of the Choctaw Nation.”
The GrowOK workshop will conclude at 4 p.m. each day, with follow-up activities to be completed by the participating entrepreneurs. Additionally, founders can opt-in to participate in weekly one-on-one meetings to receive individual feedback and direction for their businesses, and receive a recommendation report with next steps for their venture.
“This class greatly helped us refine our vision and our approach to the market,” said Trevin Cole, a GrowOK alumnus and founder of CliqFlik. “It is greatly helpful to young companies.”
The Choctaw Nation is a funding partner in the GrowOK workshop, as are the Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, along with the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST), the Oklahoma Business Roundtable and the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc., is a supporting partner.
“We are elated to be partnering with the Choctaw Nation and our other partners to bring this GrowOK workshop to Durant and Southeastern Oklahoma,” said Scott Meacham, i2E’s president and CEO. “Ultimately, we see this workshop helping rural Oklahomans and tribal citizens to grow successful ventures and create more jobs in their communities.”
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About i2E, Inc.: With offices in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, OK, i2E’s nationally recognized services include business expertise and funding for Oklahoma’s emerging small businesses. i2E has more than $60 million of investment capital under management. www.i2E.org
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