Innovate That Podcast

Duncan Machine Products

In this episode of the Innovate That podcast, Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell sits down with Chris & Teri Billings, co-founders of Duncan Machine Products, in Duncan, OK. They will share their story of growth and innovation in Oklahoma manufacturing.

From humble beginnings to becoming a leader in precision manufacturing, the Billings discuss the challenges they’ve overcome, the values that drive their company, and how they continue to invest in people, technology, and community.

As part of our October spotlight on Oklahoma manufacturers, this episode shines a light on the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit that keeps our state moving forward.

Tune in for insights on leadership, innovation, and building a legacy in Oklahoma.

OCAST

Hosted by Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell, this episode features Jennifer McGrail, Executive Director of OCAST, as she shares how Oklahoma is building a future-ready economy through innovation.

From supporting high-growth startups to creating high-paying jobs and attracting national investment, OCAST is powering scalable success across the state.

🎧 Tune in to hear how innovation is shaping Oklahoma’s next big chapter—and why it’s not optional, it’s essential.

How is Oklahoma Transforming into a National Hub for Entrepreneurship?

This special episode of "Innovate That," recorded live at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, spotlights Oklahoma’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. Jennifer McGrail, Wade Dunn (Gradient, Tulsa), and Kristin Garcia (The Verge, Oklahoma City) discuss statewide collaboration, resources, and programs supporting startups—from coworking and accelerators to funding and mentorship.

They highlight the Oklahoma Commercialization Network (OCN) and the involvement of universities, investors, and global partners. The episode celebrates Oklahoma’s growing national and global presence, emphasizing a spirit of innovation, inclusivity, and optimism for the state’s entrepreneurial future.

Timestamps:

Introduction & Setting the Stage (00:00:00) Live from the Global Entrepreneurship Congress; overview of Oklahoma’s unique entrepreneurial ecosystem and collaboration.

Oklahoma Commercialization Network (OCEAN) Launch (00:01:27) Introduction of OCEAN, its partners, and its mission to connect founders, investors, and policymakers statewide.

Gradient’s Impact in Tulsa (00:03:30) Description of Gradient’s innovation hub, economic impact, partnerships, and support programs for entrepreneurs at all stages.

The Verge OKC’s Offerings (00:05:35) Overview of The Verge’s coworking, incubator, accelerator, and university partnerships in Oklahoma City.

Mentorship, Advisors, and University Connections (00:06:27) Discussion of mentorship, legal resources, and student involvement through university partnerships.

Community Development & Philanthropy (00:07:32) Role of foundations like Inasmuch in supporting entrepreneurship and community development in Oklahoma City.

Venture Capital & Accelerator Partners (00:08:12) List of VCs, accelerators, and financial supporters involved with Gradient and The Verge.

Acast’s Unique Role & Statewide Programs (00:09:29) Acast’s direct programs, matching grants, and STEM intern industry program for Oklahoma startups.

Expanding Talent Pipeline & Student Opportunities (00:10:42) Expansion of internship eligibility to career tech students and the importance of growing local talent.

Prototype & Manufacturing Support (00:12:06) Resources like Inventors Assistance Service and Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance for prototyping and manufacturing help.

Federal Funding & SBIR Programs (00:12:40) OK Catalyst’s support for federal SBIR awards and an example of dual-use technology commercialization.

Rural Innovation & Farm Bureau Accelerators (00:14:00) Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s rural accelerator programs and partnerships supporting rural entrepreneurs.

Venture Capital Funds & Rural Funding (00:15:08) Explanation of Oklahoma’s fund of funds, rural-specific VC, and loan programs for startups.

Resource Directories & Where to Find Help (00:16:31) Websites and directories for finding entrepreneurial resources across Oklahoma.

The Future of Innovation in Oklahoma (00:17:00) Speakers’ visions for Oklahoma’s future: AI, tech hubs, collaborative spirit, and growing national recognition.

Boomerang Oklahomans & Quality of Life (00:19:41) Return of former residents, affordable living, and new cultural and tech developments in Oklahoma.

Global & National Partnerships (00:21:22) Involvement of major brands like Microsoft and Google in Oklahoma’s innovation ecosystem.

Closing Remarks (00:21:41) Oklahoma’s bright future on the global stage; invitation to join the state’s innovation journey.

The Heart of Innovation: Exploring Oklahoma’s Thriving Startup Ecosystem

In this special episode of "Innovate That," recorded at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, host Jennifer McGrail spotlights Oklahoma’s vibrant innovation scene. Joined by Wade from Gradient and Kristin Garcia, they discuss groundbreaking startups such as Cube Nexus and Apricot Health AI, which are revolutionizing spatial data and healthcare.

The conversation also honors pioneering founders, including those behind You Need A Budget and Next Thought. Together, they challenge misconceptions about Oklahoma, highlighting the state’s supportive, humble, and rapidly growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, making an impact locally and globally.

Timestamps:

Introduction and Oklahoma Innovation Misconceptions (00:00:00) The hosts introduce themselves, the podcast, and discuss the misconception that Oklahoma lacks innovation.

Founder-First Philosophy and Unique Oklahoma Founders (00:01:04) Discussion of Brad Feld’s “founder first” approach and a prompt to highlight unique Oklahoma founders.

Cube Nexus: Organizing Spatial Data (00:01:34) Wade introduces Cube Nexus, a company that organizes spatial data for better decision-making.

AR/VR and Spatial Data Applications (00:03:01) Kristen discusses the importance of spatial data in AR/VR and how Cube Nexus addresses integration challenges.

Startup World Cup Regional and Apricot Eye (00:03:31) Kristen highlights Gradient hosting the Startup World Cup and introduces Apricot Eye, an AI-driven healthcare startup.

Apricot Eye’s Impact on Home Hospice Care (00:03:56) Details on Apricot Eye’s AI solution for home hospice, improving nurse efficiency and patient care.

Ecosystem Collaboration and Talent Development (00:06:10) Kristen describes collaboration in the Oklahoma startup ecosystem and talent development through programs like OK Coders.

Encouragement to Explore More Oklahoma Startups (00:06:41) Jennifer encourages listeners to explore more Oklahoma startups via the Innovate That podcast.

Highlighting OG Oklahoma Startups: You Need a Budget (00:07:10) Wade discusses “You Need a Budget” (YNAB), an Oklahoma-based remote-first company with a large following.

YNAB’s Growth and Remote Work Culture (00:08:13) Further details on YNAB’s growth, remote work history, and its supportive community at Gradient.

Oklahoma’s Humble OGs and Ken Parker (00:09:39) Kristen highlights Ken Parker, founder of Next Thought, as an influential but humble Oklahoma tech leader.

Ken Parker’s Community Engagement and AI in Education (00:10:10) Details on Ken Parker’s work in AI for education and his deep community involvement.

Oklahoma Humility and Closing Remarks (00:11:27) Reflection on Oklahoma’s humble culture and encouragement to discover more local startup stories.

How Oklahoma Leading the Charge in Innovation and Entrepreneurship

In this special edition of the "Innovate That" podcast, recorded at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, OCAST’s host, Jennifer McGrail and guests from Gradient (Tulsa) and The Verge (Oklahoma City) discuss Oklahoma’s rich legacy of innovation and its thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.

They highlight the state’s historic inventions, community-driven support for startups, and strategic focus on sectors like energy, aviation, and life sciences. The episode showcases how collaboration between urban and rural communities, and organizations like Gradient and The Verge, are positioning Oklahoma as a welcoming, innovative hub for entrepreneurs locally and globally.

Timestamps:

Oklahoma’s Innovation Legacy (00:00:00)

Host introduces the episode, Oklahoma’s history of innovation, and notable inventions from the state.

Tulsa’s Gradient and Local Entrepreneurship (00:01:36)

Wade Dunn discusses Gradient’s historic building, Tulsa’s entrepreneurial legacy, and Oklahoma’s tech contributions.

Oklahoma City’s Community Resilience (00:03:21)

Kristen Garcia shares about The Verge’s new location, the Oklahoma City bombing’s impact, and community support for businesses.

Building Inclusive Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (00:05:03)

Speakers discuss making entrepreneurship accessible, inviting diverse founders, and fostering community across Oklahoma.

Rural Entrepreneurship and Statewide Success Stories (00:06:03)

Highlighting rural innovation, statewide business growth, and examples like Sonic, QuikTrip, and Love’s.

Oklahoma’s Strategic Innovation Pillars (00:07:38)

Overview of Oklahoma’s focus areas: aviation, life sciences, and oil and gas, and their impact on the state’s economy.

Energy Innovation and Accelerator Programs (00:09:13)

Gradient’s role in energy sector innovation, accelerator programs, and Oklahoma’s unique support for energy startups.

Entrepreneurs as Global Diplomats (00:10:59)

Entrepreneurs’ global impact, success stories like Synthetics, and Oklahoma’s supportive ecosystem for tech and energy.

Conference Reflections and Global Connections (00:12:47)

Takeaways from the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, shared challenges, and the importance of entrepreneurship for communities.

Episode Wrap-Up (00:13:03)

Host summarizes key insights and closes the special edition episode.

Unveiling Oklahoma’s Thriving Innovation Scene: Insights from the Global Entrepreneurship Congress

This special episode of "Innovate That" was recorded live at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Indianapolis. Jennifer McGrail is joined by Wade Dunn from Gradient in Tulsa and Kristin Garcia from The Verge in Oklahoma City.

Together, they discuss Oklahoma’s rapidly growing startup ecosystem, share insights from the global event, and address common misconceptions about innovation in their state. Highlighting collaboration, community, and global connections, the episode showcases Oklahoma’s emergence as a vibrant hub for entrepreneurship and innovation, ready to compete on the world stage.

This episode explores how Oklahoma is making waves nationally in entrepreneurship and startup support. Tune in as these leaders discuss capital access, founder momentum, and what it takes to build thriving ecosystems from the ground up.

Introduction to the Podcast and Guests (00:00:00) Hosts introduce the special episode, the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, and guests Wade Dunn and Kristin Garcia.

Gradient Innovation Hub Overview (00:00:25)

Wade Dunn describes his role and explains Gradient’s mission, facilities, and partnerships in Tulsa.

The Verge Innovation Hub Overview (00:01:01)

Kristin Garcia introduces The Verge, its services, and its role in Oklahoma City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Oklahoma at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (00:01:34)

Discussion about Oklahoma’s presence at the Congress and its comparison to global innovation ecosystems.

Reflections on Oklahoma’s Global Standing (00:01:55)

Wade shares his impressions of Oklahoma’s progress and challenges compared to other global ecosystems.

Global Entrepreneurship Week and International Connections (00:02:57)

Kristin discusses her role in Global Entrepreneurship Week and the value of international networking.

Misconceptions About Oklahoma and Innovation (00:03:46)

The hosts discuss common misconceptions about Oklahoma, using sports analogies and recent events.

Changing Perceptions Through Entrepreneurship (00:04:50)

Kristin shares experiences of representing Oklahoma at national events and surprising others with the state’s innovation.

Personal Surprises and Growth in Oklahoma (00:06:02)

Wade and Kristin reflect on their initial misconceptions and the innovative reality they discovered in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma’s Tech and Startup Success Stories (00:07:07)

Wade highlights the diversity and success of tech startups in Oklahoma, emphasizing their growth and impact.

Native Oklahoman’s Perspective on State’s Reputation (00:07:59)

The host shares personal experiences with outsiders’ perceptions and the opportunity to showcase Oklahoma’s broader achievements.

WindShape

In this latest episode of Innovate That, Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell talks with Steve Cole, Director of the WindShape Test Facility in Tulsa, OK.

Founded by five engineers in Switzerland, WindShape is redefining drone testing by recreating real-world weather conditions like wind, rain, and lightning in a controlled environment—helping validate performance and safety like never before.

XploSafe

Lt. Gov Matt Pinnell sat down with Shoaib Shaikh, Co-Founder|CEO and Michael Teicheira, Chief of Operations at XPLOSafe, an Oklahoma company developing cutting-edge chemical safety and air monitoring tech — tools that are protecting lives on Earth and contributing to NASA’s mission in space.

Zeeco

Join Oklahoma Lt. Gov Matt Pinnell and Jenny Cochran of Zeeco, Inc. You will learn how Zeeco is innovating with its Advanced Research Complex (ARC), prioritizing sustainability, and benefiting from OCAST's Industry Innovation funding to lead in global impact and efficiency. 

Vigilant Aerospace Systems, Inc.

Listen to the latest Innovate That podcast with Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell and Kraettli L. Epperson, CEO of Vigilant Aerospace Systems, about the future of drones, aerospace innovation, and Oklahoma’s leadership in advanced air mobility.