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Entrepreneurs are the drivers of this phenomenon we have branded Innovation to Enterprise. They prove concepts. They convince investors to invest. They convert the doubtful. They persuade first customers to take a risk on their new ideas. They encourage founding teams to stay the course on the darkest days. And entrepreneurs inspire. They show the rest of us what is possible and what is NOT impossible. Their inspiration is what the 2016 Oklahoma Entrepreneurial Summit and Who Wants to Be is all about.

Altimeter Software has a very straightforward elevator pitch: “Helping Your People Achieve Their Goals.” The startup’s mobile application software was developed by the information technology group at Oklahoma Christian University to help OC students keep track of their spiritual development goals. Using beacon-supported technology, students find and check into and out of events and monitor their progress against their goals.

For OU graduate student Amanda Curtis, the 2016 BIO show required some unique multi-tasking skills. Curtis greeted visitors to the Oklahoma exhibition booth, participated in Oklahoma Bioscience networking events and sat in on multiple partnering meetings with her colleagues from OU’s Office of Technology Development. All in a day’s work.

But the perception that the business sector wants people trained to do the technical aspects of their jobs misses what the business sector really needs. Businesses need people who have essential technical foundational knowledge so they can provide training for the specific technical requirements of the particular job. However, businesses also need something additional from the higher education system — graduates who possess critical thinking and problem solving skills, and have the ability to be strong communicators — verbally and in writing.

Ways to improve airline and back seats were the innovative entrepreneur ideas that took first and second place for East Central University teams at the 2016 Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Thursday, April 14.

The Legislature created OCAST, and when they did, as part of the enabling statue, they required OCAST to create something called the “commercialization center,” an entity required to be a private, not-for-profit company under the OCAST umbrella with the mission of providing commercialization services, attracting and retaining technology, and attracting capital to build high-growth companies in Oklahoma.

The impact of this competition on our state and its students has been too valuable and important to lose, so months ago, we undertook a search for the right strategic partner — an entrepreneurial Oklahoma company that would be willing to step in and continue the competition and take it to the next level, building on all that the Gov Cup has accomplished over the last 12 years.

More information about the 2016 graduate high growth finalists.

More information about the 2016 undergraduate high growth semifinalists

More informaton about the 2016 Small Business semifinalists.

Since we introduced the Donald W. Reynold’s Governor’s Cup collegiate business plan competition 12 years ago, more than 1,700 college students have taken the Gov Cup challenge. This year, 55 teams entered business plans. This competition involves college students across the state, with divisions for two-year and regional colleges, for research universities, and for graduate students.

A mobile application developed by University of Oklahoma graduate business students for the automotive industry is quickly gaining traction, after CNBC last month named it among the world’s 20 hottest startups of 2014.

The Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Plan competition isn’t really about how many companies get started. It’s about applied education.

Concepts proposing an innovative putter for golfers, an alarm for parents of children suffering from asthma and a mammoth shooting sports range all were recognized as top business plans the annual Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup.

The annual Who Wants to Be an Entrepreneur? workshop kicks off the Governor’s Cup season for Oklahoma college students.

Before he entered his first Governor’s Cup competition, Rocky Chavez already was a successful entrepreneur with Brickshaw Buggy business.

Timothy Harlin’s teams were winners in each of the three Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup competitions he entered as an OCU student.

For 2013, more Oklahoma college students than ever before will be offered the challenge of competing in the Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup.

Oklahoma is gearing up for the ninth year of the Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup collegiate business plan competition.

Serial entrepreneur Dr. Craig Shimasaki has shared his knowledge and experience in a book and with multiple Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup teams.