New mentors enhance Oklahoma's entrepreneurial environment

Two such organizations, Blueprint for Business and VentureSpur, are modeled on the best practices from nationally recognized entrepreneurial accelerator programs, offering rigorous business development programs.

Their programs are highly selective, using written applications and personal interviews to attract the best of the best. They offer a great next step for Governor's Cup Business Plan competition participants. Two of the 2012 Governor's Cup companies, MaxQ (Blueprint for Business) and MesoBio (VentureSpur), have been accepted.

Blueprint for Business and VentureSpur also accept applicants from other states and countries; however, all participants must come to Oklahoma City for the duration of the program — approximately three months.

This borderless cross-pollination is ideal for building a more diversified exchange of entrepreneurial ideas and a national network of relationships.

It is also a wonderful way to showcase Oklahoma's advantages — our business-friendly policies, low cost of living, solid work ethic, and eager support of startup companies — to entrepreneurs who may not realize just how great a place Oklahoma City is to start a company.

Blueprint for Business and VentureSpur both provide a depth of expertise in software and mobile applications.

And they understand that entrepreneurs, by nature and necessity, are very committed to their products and services — sometimes to a fault; each accelerator program is proactive about the importance of entrepreneurs going out and talking with real customers.