Gradient Opens Its Doors to Tulsa for Global Entrepreneurship Week

PR Newswire

TULSA, Okla., Nov. 3, 2026

Five days of free programming, November 16 to 20, celebrating the spirit of entrepreneurship in Tulsa

TULSA, Okla., Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Gradient, recently named the world’s top Global Entrepreneur Support Organization by the International Business Innovation Association (INBIA), will open its doors November 16 to 20 for Tulsa’s Global Entrepreneurship Week. More than 20 sessions are free and open to the public, bringing together founders, students, creatives, investors, and anyone with an idea. Registration is open now at joingradient.com/gew.

Gradient Global Entrepreneurship Week Tulsa Panel

“Every big idea starts somewhere, and you don’t have to figure it out alone. Bring your questions, pick a session, and jump in. Global Entrepreneurship Week at Gradient is your invitation to connect, explore ideas, and discover what’s possible, wherever you are on your journey,” said Devon Laney, President and CEO of Gradient.

Sponsored by Microsoft, the week is expected to draw more than 1,000 attendees to Gradient, 12 North Cheyenne Avenue. Programming spans every side of entrepreneurship. Highlights include:

Monday, Nov. 16: Opening breakfast at 8:30 a.m. with a proclamation from Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols; STARTedUP Foundation founder Don Wettrick and Tulsa Public Schools on entrepreneurship in the classroom; business finance; Campus to Company, 1 Million Cups Tulsa’s university pitch competition; raising smaller checks; and CO.STARTERS Intro to Entrepreneurship.
Tuesday, Nov. 17: An Open House across the whole building; design and Canva classes; AI and automation tools; small business banking with Bank of Oklahoma; and Meet the Incubator.
Wednesday, Nov. 18: Morning yoga; Substack writer Hunter Harris, former NPR leader Doug Mitchell and Tulsa Local News Initiative CEO Ziva Branstetter on the future of media; producers from the FX series The Lowdown on building a film industry in Tulsa; intellectual property with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; and the Tulsa Entrepreneurship Town Hall, where State Representative Ronald Stewart and City Councilor Laura Bellis take audience questions.
Friday, Nov. 20: The week closes in the evening with a 10-year celebration on the Garden Deck.

“Great entrepreneurial communities are built by the people who show up, share ideas, and take action. Global Entrepreneurship Week is our chance to bring Gradient’s global recognition home and invite all of Tulsa to be part of the momentum,” Laney said.

Tulsa’s program is part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, held November 16 to 22 in about 200 countries under the theme Entrepreneurs Thrive Here. It also falls in Gradient’s 10th anniversary year.

Registration and full schedule: joingradient.com/gew

About Gradient

Gradient is Tulsa’s hub for innovation and the sixth-largest tech and innovation hub in the country, with roughly 4,500 members spanning founders, investors, operators, and partners. In 2026, Gradient was named both Technology Entrepreneur Support Organization of the Year and Global Entrepreneur Support Organization of the Year, INBIA’s highest honor. Now in its 10th year, Gradient reports $1.76 billion in regional economic impact since 2021. Learn more at joingradient.com.

About Global Entrepreneurship Week

Global Entrepreneurship Week is a campaign to celebrate and empower entrepreneurs in every country and community around the world, especially those who face structural barriers or may have never considered launching a startup. Each November, 10 million people in 200 countries take part in tens of thousands of activities, competitions and events. Now in its 19th year, GEW is led by the Global Entrepreneurship Network and powered by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Learn more at genglobal.org/gew.

Gradient GEW Lunch