Oklahoma City raised $320M across 52 deals in 2025. Most capital went to energy tech, aerospace, and healthcare IT, driven by the oil and gas presence, Tinker Air Force Base, and growing biotech sector. The ecosystem is smaller than Austin or Denver but more accessible than people expect. You won't find 40 seed funds here, but the investors who are active understand energy infrastructure and enterprise software for traditional industries.
Quick list
Cortado Ventures (Oklahoma City): Led Love's Travel Stops innovation investments including $15M in logistics tech
i2E (Oklahoma City): Backed Paycom's early growth before $6B+ valuation
Oklahoma Innovation Fund (Oklahoma City): Invested $3M seed in OKC-based energy software startup in 2025
Atento Capital (Oklahoma City): Led $8M Series A for healthcare analytics platform
Chisholm Private Equity (Oklahoma City): Growth equity in profitable Oklahoma software companies
36 Degrees North (Tulsa, active in OKC): Portfolio includes multiple Oklahoma City SaaS startups
Valliance Bank (Oklahoma City): Debt and equity for established Oklahoma businesses
Endeavor Venture Capital (Oklahoma City): Local family office backing B2B software, $500K-$2M checks
Energy Capital Ventures (Dallas, scouts OKC): Strategic investment in Oklahoma energy tech
Wincubate Ventures (Oklahoma City): Seed stage, focuses on Oklahoma innovation ecosystem
SpringTime Ventures (Tulsa, covers OKC): Early stage Oklahoma startups with revenue traction
Why Oklahoma City works for energy and enterprise tech
Oklahoma City's ecosystem centers on three strengths: energy tech (Devon, Chesapeake, Continental Resources headquarters), aerospace (Tinker Air Force Base is the largest single-site employer), and enterprise software for traditional industries. The city saw $320M invested in 2025, up from $245M in 2024. Average seed round is $1.6M, lower than Dallas or Denver but adequate for the burn rate here.
The advantage is access to Fortune 500 energy companies and aerospace contracts without coastal competition or costs. Devon Energy, Chesapeake, and Continental Resources all pilot new technology locally. Tinker AFB provides defense contracts and aerospace partnerships. The disadvantage is limited investor depth - Oklahoma City has maybe 10-12 active seed investors, and most Series A capital comes from Dallas or Denver.
Most Oklahoma City VCs prefer B2B software and hardware for energy or aerospace over consumer apps. They'll fund companies selling to oil and gas operators or defense contractors all day but won't touch marketplaces or social apps. The pace is moderate, faster than traditional Midwest markets but slower than coastal hubs. Investors here want to see actual customer contracts, not just pipeline.
Picking the right Oklahoma City investor
Local presence matters significantly here. Oklahoma City investors can intro you to Devon Energy, Chesapeake, or Tinker AFB decision-makers - relationships that take outsiders years to build. Check their portfolio companies first. If they've backed Oklahoma City startups in energy or aerospace, they understand the local buying cycles. If every deal is coastal tech, they probably won't get your customer acquisition timeline.
Check sizes run $500K-$2M for seed, $5-10M for Series A. That's appropriate for the local market where $1.5M seed rounds last 18-24 months versus 10-12 months in SF.
Local network is valuable - Cortado Ventures and i2E can open doors at Devon or Love's Travel Stops that coastal VCs can't access. Those enterprise sales cycles require local credibility.
Communication matters when most growth capital comes from Texas. Use Ellty to share your deck with trackable links to Dallas investors. You'll see which sections resonate with out-of-state funds versus what confuses them about your Oklahoma market approach.
Follow-on capacity is mixed - Atento Capital and Chisholm can write Series B checks, but most growth rounds require Dallas or Denver lead investors. Plan to raise your Series A from the Tampa Bay Wave network or go to Atlanta/Miami for growth rounds. Stronger investor outreach skills help offset the smaller local pool.
How to approach Oklahoma City investors
Research local deals through i2E's portfolio announcements and Cortado's investment history. Past deal terms tell you which funds actually close versus those who just network. Cortado Ventures and i2E led 50%+ of Oklahoma City's $5M+ rounds in 2025.
Leverage local ecosystem through i2E's office hours, 36 Degrees North's OKC presence, and Stitch Crew events. Most Oklahoma City investors meet founders at these gatherings before taking formal pitches. The ecosystem values relationship-building over cold outreach.
Build relationships first - Oklahoma City investors want 2-3 meetings before term sheets. That's longer than Dallas but faster than traditional Midwest markets. They'll check with your pilot customers at Devon or Chesapeake before committing. Customer references matter more here than in consumer-focused markets.
Share your pitch deck through Ellty with unique tracking links. Oklahoma City investors typically respond within a week if interested, longer if they're validating your energy or aerospace customer claims. You'll see which slides they review and can adjust your narrative based on actual engagement.
Attend local events like OKC Innovation Week, i2E's annual meeting, and Cortado Ventures' founder events. Real intros happen at the receptions after panels. The annual Innovation Week in October is when most Oklahoma City investors actively scout new deals.
Connect with portfolio founders at i2E or through Cortado's network. They'll tell you which funds actually support companies post-investment versus those who write checks and disappear. Most Oklahoma City founders are direct about investor quality. Keeping your outreach focused, especially when managing large PDF sends streamlines follow-ups.
Organize due diligence materials in an Ellty data room before meetings. Oklahoma City investors move faster than traditional Midwest markets once they decide - having your customer contracts, financial model, and unit economics ready matters. They expect realistic projections based on actual sales cycles.
Understand local pace - deals take 90-120 days from first meeting to close. That's faster than Chicago or Minneapolis but slower than Austin. Oklahoma City investors want to validate your energy or aerospace customer relationships before term sheets. References from Devon or Tinker AFB accelerate deals significantly.
Oklahoma City-specific considerations
Oklahoma City investors strongly prefer B2B over consumer. Energy tech, aerospace, and enterprise software for traditional industries get funded easily. Consumer apps rarely get local capital unless they have Fortune 500 customers. Investors want to see customer contracts or advanced pilots, not just letters of intent. They understand long enterprise sales cycles to oil and gas companies or government contractors.
Timeline expectations reflect energy and aerospace procurement reality. Oklahoma City investors won't panic if your sales cycle is 12-18 months to land Devon or Continental Resources as customers. But they expect you to stay in Oklahoma City and build local enterprise relationships. Competition is lower than Texas or Colorado, but available capital is also limited. Most successful companies raise seed locally then bring in Dallas investors for Series A.
11 top investors in Oklahoma City
1. Cortado Ventures
Oklahoma City's most active VC, they understand energy tech and have direct relationships with Love's Travel Stops and major oil operators.
- Recent Deals: Love's Travel Stops logistics tech $15M (2024-2025), OKC energy software, aerospace partnerships
- LinkedIn: Michael Doss
- Sector Focus: energy tech, logistics tech, B2B SaaS, aerospace
- Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
- Office Location: Oklahoma City, OK
- Website: cortadoventures.com
2. i2E
They backed Paycom early and understand how to scale Oklahoma companies to national exits.
- Recent Deals: Multiple OKC portfolio companies reaching profitability (2024-2025), early support of Paycom before IPO
- LinkedIn: Stacey Slaughter
- Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, healthcare IT, energy tech
- Stage Focus: seed, Series A
- Office Location: Oklahoma City, OK
- Website: i2E.org
3. Oklahoma Innovation Fund
State-backed fund that co-invests with private capital in Oklahoma companies.
- Recent Deals: OKC energy software $3M seed (2025), state ecosystem investments, local B2B startups
- LinkedIn: [Contact through i2E]
- Sector Focus: energy tech, B2B software, innovation commercialization
- Stage Focus: seed, Series A
- Office Location: Oklahoma City, OK
- Website: Contact through i2E
4. Atento Capital
They focus on healthcare and analytics software, good for companies selling to hospital systems.
- Recent Deals: OKC healthcare analytics $8M Series A (2025), medical software, B2B healthcare tech
- LinkedIn: Ben Goossen
- Sector Focus: healthcare IT, data analytics, B2B SaaS
- Stage Focus: Series A, Series B
- Office Location: Oklahoma City, OK
- Website: atentocapital.com
5. Chisholm Private Equity
Growth equity fund that backs profitable Oklahoma software and business services companies.
- Recent Deals: Oklahoma B2B software growth rounds (2024-2025), profitable service businesses
- LinkedIn: Clay Taylor
- Sector Focus: B2B software, business services, technology-enabled services
- Stage Focus: growth, buyout
- Office Location: Oklahoma City, OK
- Website: chisholmpe.com
6. 36 Degrees North
Tulsa-based but actively scouts and invests in Oklahoma City startups, they understand the state ecosystem.
- Recent Deals: Multiple OKC SaaS portfolio companies (2024-2025), Oklahoma B2B software, state startup ecosystem
- LinkedIn: Brian Muegge
- Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, energy tech, Oklahoma startups
- Stage Focus: seed, Series A
- Office Location: Tulsa, OK (active in Oklahoma City)
- Website: 36degreesnorth.co
7. Valliance Bank
Provides debt and equity financing for established Oklahoma businesses with revenue traction.
- Recent Deals: Oklahoma City business financing (2024-2025), established company growth capital
- LinkedIn: [Contact through bank]
- Sector Focus: all sectors with revenue, established businesses
- Stage Focus: growth, debt financing
- Office Location: Oklahoma City, OK
- Website: valliancebank.com
8. Endeavor Venture Capital
Local family office that backs B2B software, they move slowly but write meaningful checks when committed.
- Recent Deals: OKC B2B software seed rounds (2024-2025), local SaaS startups, $500K-$2M investments
- LinkedIn: [Contact through local ecosystem]
- Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, enterprise software
- Stage Focus: seed, Series A
- Office Location: Oklahoma City, OK
- Website: Contact through i2E network
9. Energy Capital Ventures
Dallas-based but actively scouts Oklahoma City for energy tech and oil and gas software.
- Recent Deals: Oklahoma energy tech investments (2024-2025), oil and gas software, energy infrastructure
- LinkedIn: Adam Rogas
- Sector Focus: energy tech, oil and gas software, energy infrastructure
- Stage Focus: seed, Series A, strategic
- Office Location: Dallas, TX (scouts Oklahoma City)
- Website: energycapvc.com
10. Wincubate Ventures
Seed stage fund focused on Oklahoma innovation ecosystem and early stage software companies.
- Recent Deals: Oklahoma seed rounds (2025), state startup ecosystem, pre-revenue to early revenue software
- LinkedIn: [Contact through i2E]
- Sector Focus: B2B software, Oklahoma startups
- Stage Focus: pre-seed, seed
- Office Location: Oklahoma City, OK
- Website: Contact through local network
11. SpringTime Ventures
Tulsa-based fund that invests across Oklahoma, they prefer companies with revenue traction over pre-revenue startups.
- Recent Deals: Oklahoma early stage companies with revenue (2024-2025), B2B software, service businesses
- LinkedIn: Mike Schroeder
- Sector Focus: B2B software, technology-enabled services
- Stage Focus: seed, early growth
- Office Location: Tulsa, OK (covers Oklahoma City)
- Website: springtimeventures.com
Start tracking your Oklahoma City investor outreach
These 11 investors closed Oklahoma City deals in 2024-2025. Before you start reaching out to local funds, understand that this ecosystem values enterprise customer relationships and revenue traction over typical startup metrics. Your pilot with Devon Energy or contract with Tinker AFB matters more than your TAM slide.
Upload your deck to Ellty and create a unique link for each Oklahoma City investor. You'll see exactly which slides they view and how long they spend on your customer traction versus market size. Oklahoma City investors typically focus heavily on your enterprise customers and unit economics rather than growth projections.
When investors ask for more materials, share an Ellty data room with your customer contracts, pilot agreements, financial model, and reference contacts at energy or aerospace companies. Keep everything organized in one secure place with view analytics so you know what matters to each investor.
Common questions
Do I need to be based in Oklahoma City to raise from Oklahoma City investors?
Not technically required, but it helps significantly. Local investors want you building enterprise relationships with Devon, Chesapeake, Continental Resources, or Tinker AFB. Those relationships require local presence. Remote founders struggle to access the Fortune 500 networks that make Oklahoma City valuable.
How does Oklahoma City compare to Dallas or Denver for fundraising?
Oklahoma City has less capital available but also less competition and better access to energy customers. Dallas has 10x the investors but 20x the startups. Denver has more general software funds. If you're building for energy, aerospace, or traditional enterprise, Oklahoma City's customer access matters early. For consumer tech, go to Dallas.
What's the average seed round size in Oklahoma City?
$1.6M for seed, $5-8M for Series A. That's lower than Dallas or Austin but matches Oklahoma City burn rates. Most founders raise seed locally with Oklahoma investors, then bring in Dallas or Denver funds for Series A when they need larger checks.
Should I raise locally or go straight to Dallas?
Raise seed in Oklahoma City if you're building for energy or aerospace customers. The local investor connections to Devon, Chesapeake, and Tinker AFB matter for early pilots and references. Plan to bring in Dallas investors for Series A - Oklahoma City has limited follow-on capital for $10M+ rounds.
Do Oklahoma City investors expect in-person meetings?
Yes, at least 2-3 times before term sheets. The ecosystem is relationship-driven through local enterprise networks. Investors want to see you building relationships with Devon, Love's, or aerospace customers in person. Pure Zoom deals are rare unless you already have strong local customer traction.
What industries get funded most in Oklahoma City?
Energy tech dominates, followed by aerospace and enterprise software for traditional industries. B2B SaaS works if you're selling to energy companies, aerospace firms, or established enterprises. Healthcare IT gets attention because of hospital systems. Consumer apps almost never get funded locally unless they have enterprise customers.
How important are energy company customers for Oklahoma City fundraising?
Very important. Having Devon, Chesapeake, Continental Resources, or other oil and gas operators as customers or in advanced pilots significantly accelerates fundraising. Oklahoma City investors understand energy procurement cycles and value those relationships. Without energy customers, you're competing with pure software plays that might be better suited for Dallas or Austin capital.
