Gradient, a downtown Tulsa innovation hub, will throw open its doors November 16–20 for a week of free programming tied to Global Entrepreneurship Week. The event is designed for founders, students, creatives, investors and anyone with an early idea, and organizers expect over 1,000 people at 12 North Cheyenne Avenue. Microsoft sponsors the week, and sign-up is open at joingradient.com/gew.

What does the week cover?

Attendees can choose among themed tracks: local and national policy, leadership and sales skills, startups and emerging tech, funding and partnerships, retail and hospitality, and creative businesses. Organizers describe the sessions as hands-on rather than lecture-style.

Announced highlights include:

  • Monday, Nov. 16: A breakfast at 8:30 a.m. where Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols issues a proclamation, plus a talk on teaching entrepreneurship in schools with STARTedUP Foundation founder Don Wettrick and Tulsa Public Schools, and a university pitch contest run by 1 Million Cups Tulsa.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 17: A building-wide open house, classes on design and Canva, guidance on automation, a banking session with Bank of Oklahoma, and a chance to meet the incubator.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 18: Morning yoga, a panel on the future of media, a discussion with producers of the FX series The Lowdown about building a film scene in Tulsa, trademark and patent advice from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and a town hall with State Representative Ronald Stewart and City Councilor Laura Bellis.
  • Friday, Nov. 20: An evening tenth-anniversary gathering on the Garden Deck.

Why you should go

  • No cost: The organizer is providing over 20 sessions at no charge to the community.
  • Useful basics: Topics run from business finance and banking to intellectual property and AI tools.
  • People to meet: The week is built for finding mentors, partners and peers at a similar stage.
  • More than business: Yoga, media and film conversations, and a student pitch competition widen the draw.
  • A milestone: The closing party marks ten years for a hub that reports $1.76 billion in regional economic impact since 2021.

What to know before you go

The Tulsa program runs November 16–20 inside Global Entrepreneurship Week, which takes place November 16–22 in roughly 200 countries under the theme "Entrepreneurs Thrive Here." Gradient sits at 12 North Cheyenne Avenue in downtown Tulsa. The brief gives no ticket prices beyond calling the sessions free; check joingradient.com/gew for the full schedule and any registration steps.

FAQ

When is the event in Tulsa?

It runs November 16–20, 2026, at Gradient, 12 North Cheyenne Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Do I need to pay or register?

The organizer says more than 20 sessions are free and open to the public. Registration and the schedule are at joingradient.com/gew.