OMFA Pitch Night: Spotlight on BIPOC innovation in OKC

In a move to accelerate minority entrepreneurship in Oklahoma City, the OKC Minority Founder Accelerator (OMFA) is set to host its Initial Community Offering (ICO) Pitch Night on Thursday, January 18, at Civic Center Music Hall.

The event will showcase the OMFA Cohort 2 and introduce Cohort 3, with collaboration from Northeast OKC Renaissance Inc. (NEOKCR), i2E Inc. and the Oklahoma City Innovation District (OKCID).

OMFA, a 16-week program, aims to boost BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Color) founders in OKC by supporting high-growth startups and main street businesses. NEOKCR, i2E Inc., and OKCID join forces to bring community development, high-growth support and innovation under one umbrella.

This immersive 16-week experience demands dedication, with founders engaging in workshops, one-on-one meetings and mandatory events.

The format of this accelerator program offers two curriculum paths, one for early-stage founders with concepts positioning for rapid growth and the other for founders with existing “main street” businesses that are looking to improve their enterprise for higher profitability and sustainability.

Both paths encompass four sprints that delve into founder training, operational intervention planning and implementation support. The operational intervention involves pairing founders with industry experts, culminating in non-dilutive grants from the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City.

Eligible founders, meeting specific criteria, can receive grants to fund their business plans. The ICO serves as the program's growth, providing a platform for cohort founders to pitch their businesses to the community and potential investors.

To register to attend ICO Pitch Night, or learn more about the accelerator program, visit OMFA's official website. Don't miss the chance to witness innovation in action and connect with a community committed to entrepreneurship.