OU’s Price College of Business recognized for entrepreneurship studies

The University of Oklahoma’s Michael F. Price College of Business is more than an educational institution. It’s the epicenter of a dynamic world of learning, research and innovation. The college was recently recognized by Princeton Review’s and Entrepreneur Magazine’s annual ranking of top schools for entrepreneurship studies. The college was ranked No. 12 nationwide for graduate programs and No. 45 for undergraduate programs.  

A major factor in the school’s entrepreneurial success is the Tom Love Innovation Hub, a cutting-edge facility that opened in 2016. Designed as a collaborative and inspirational space, the I-Hub welcomes students, faculty and entrepreneurs from the wider community. It provides the ideal setting for brainstorming sessions, offering resources for developing business plans, pitching ideas to potential investors, prototyping products and ultimately launching them into the market. 

I-Hub has grown into an entrepreneurial support organization that works across OU, the state of Oklahoma and beyond. The organization inspires, trains, launches and supports current and future innovators and entrepreneurs through five main programs: 

Creator Labs – OU’s experiential learning labs provide physical and software prototyping and content production services to emerging startups, small businesses and other organizations.  

Startup OU – Startup OU is an entry point into OU, state and regional startup ecosystems; a connection point for founders, university resources and talent; and a launch point for university-affiliated and Norman startups into the state and regional economies. 

Canopy HealthTech – Canopy HealthTech, a strong collaboration among Oklahoma’s leading academic research institutions, fast-tracks early-stage virtual health concepts into life-improving products and startups through nondilutive funding, training and expert mentorship.  

Oklahoma Biotech Startup Programs – The program brings together key partners across academia, investors, corporate, government and entrepreneurial support organizations to build and grow a vibrant biotech startup community across central Oklahoma and share best practices. 

OK Catalyst – OK Catalyst utilizes a holistic approach to inspire, guide, launch and grow scalable technology-based startups through all aspects of securing and managing federal funding.  

Innovation Hub Executive Director Tom Waverly said I-Hub’s efforts have “inspired thousands, launched dozens of companies, and generated an economic impact exceeding $400 million.”  

While other universities offer similar makerspaces and entrepreneurship programs, the I-Hub distinguishes itself by offering an inclusive, fully staffed and free-to-use environment, catering specifically to Oklahomans. 

Waverly expects I-Hub to have a profound impact on students, faculty and the broader community. He said one of his favorite projects to come from the I-Hub is Raven Space Systems, a startup focused on printing hypersonic and space vehicles. Another company, Helion Illuminations, is developing the world’s brightest remote control drone light. Its three founders met at an I-Hub social event. 

I-Hub is accessible to all faculty, students and community members at no cost, except for any materials required for projects. As the hub expands its programs, it is set to have more than 20 full-time staff members, further enhancing its capacity while programs continue to grow.