TODAYS TOP STORIES
Oklahoma boasts innovative entrepreneurs
Oklahomans are inventing companies and jobs that have never been created before. They're young entrepreneurs with huge dreams, and one Oklahoma business is willing to invest thousands of dollars to give them a shot at making it. "We invest in early-stage companies," says Kraettli Epperson, Managing Director of VentureSpur, a venture accelerator and seed capital fund. Epperson is in the business of making people's dreams come true. "We've got people here who are starting every type of company that you can imagine." Luke Simkins is one of those people. "Right now, we have a few small tech companies in Oklahoma City, but there are no gaming studios," he tells Fox 25's Kisha Henry. But, he has big plans to change that. He's the CTO of Goldfire Studios, Inc., one of the start-up companies VentureSpur is investing in through their 12-week acceleration program. "We have weekly milestone meetings, we have weekly workshops, and we have heavy-duty mentoring from mentors here in the state who have built large, successful companies from scratch," says Epperson, explaining the 12-week program. All of that hard work leads up to a pitch day, in which each of the companies will pitch their ideas to venture capitalists and angel investors, in hopes of being able to take their companies to the next level. VentureSpur expects to have at least one-billion dollars in investable capital to be represented in the room on Pitch Day. Simkins says he's excited to pitch his real-time, social gaming company. "FarmVille, or anything of that nature; we kind of make games like that. (But), we are actually taking this to a completely different level, and taking this to real-time gaming, so players can actually both jump into the browser and play real-time with each other." Brady Deaton is also excited to pitch his company, idefi Music. "It's the world's first all-access record label," says Deaton. "It's an independent, online music label that is a zero-risk label," adds Epperson. "Artists always get paid. The company always gets paid." "The way it works is, an artist can go onto our site, create a profile about themselves, upload their music, and put it up for sale," says Deaton. "What really makes us different is that each time an artist makes a sale, they not only get paid, they also earn points, and those points add up and we do more and more for them. It's really a way for an artist to earn their way into what a regular record label would do for them, with no contracts." With regular record labels, Deaton says the artists don't get paid until the record label gets paid back for all of the invests they've made into the artist. Deaton's company changes that. "It's open to everyone," he says. "Everyone gets a chance, everyone gets a shot. It's really about how hard you're willing to work on it, how much you want it." If you would like to check out idefi, visit:
Devan Twyman is also excited to pitch her company, Raise More. "We've developed a technology that empowers an organization to be able to socially broadcast their fundraising events with the ultimate goal to raise more awareness, donations and enhance the experience of that event," she says. "Our technology allows a continuous loop from the organization, the participant and also the donor through our mobile application and our interactive map."
Twyman's concept can be used for events like fundraising races, such as Race for the Cure or the annual Turkey Trot. It allows the participant to be able to display their journey during the event, post pictures, and it allows the organization and the donor to interact with the participant by sending encouraging messages and uploading photos, as well.
"These organizations spend a lot of time and energy creating these events, so what we want to do is take that event and broadcast it to the general public, so if they're not able to be there, they can still feel like they're part of it."
To check out Twyman's app, visit: http://pigeonme.com/.
Chuck Shirley, CEO of MesoBio is also ready for Pitch Day. "MesoBio is the producer and manufacturer of the world's only 100-percent accurate micro-RNA. Micro-RNA is used by researchers to discover therapeutics for cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and other genetic diseases."
Shirley says there are other companies like his, but his is the only that's 100-percent accurate. "When researchers get ahold of our product, it's more efficient for them to do their research and they can find these cures in a more timely and less costly manner."
All four companies say VentureSpur has been an invaluable resource. "They have brought in mentors and entrepreneurs and leaders from around the community to train us up to get ready to run a successful business," says Simkins.
The companies will make their pitches _________________. VentureSpur expects the room to be filled with venture capitalists and angel investors who are ready to invest at least one-billion dollars.
"I really want to get in front of the crowd and show them just how amazing our company is," says Simkins.
Four new and innovative Oklahoma companies, with four very different goals, but all with one thing in common. "We believe in our product, we believe in what we're doing and we really believe it can make a difference and change the world," says Deaton.
Early next year, VentureSpur will choose their next group of companies to take part in their acceleration program. For more information, visit www.VentureSpur.com
Posted: Sunday, October 28 2012, 10:39 PM CDT
IN OKLAHOMA NEWS
Pace slows in testing after Tulsa health scare
May 24, 2013 12:51 GMT
TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Additional tests reveal no new cases of hepatitis or the virus that causes AIDS among patients of a Tulsa oral surgeon accused of running dirty clinics.
The pace of people seeking testing has slowed. About 3,900 patients of Dr. W. Scott Harrington have gone to state clinics for testing. In March, health departments urged testing for 7,000 patients. Just 54 patients sought tests within the past week.
Inspectors said they found unsanitary conditions inside Harrington's clinics at Tulsa and Owasso.
So far, 70 patients have tested positive for hepatitis C, five for hepatitis B and three for HIV, but there is no indication the diseases spread at the clinics. Health experts say the spread of disease in dental clinics is extremely rare.
Harrington is cooperating with the investigation.
OKLAHOMA HEADLINES
Pace slows in testing after Tulsa health scare
Mock drill in SD riles Keystone pipeline opponents
Business recovery center to open in Okla.
Hearing could resume in case of 4 Tulsa deaths
Okla. lawmakers work to adjourn 2013 Legislature
Safe room mandates remain rare in tornado states
Okla. grand jury returns new charges on ex-judge
Hearing stalls for pair accused in 4 Tulsa deaths
NATIONAL HEADLINES
Obama addressing Naval Academy graduates 2nd time
Jury foreman says Arias testimony didn't help her
Boston bombing suspect's hearing rescheduled again
Related Stories
VIDEO LIST
Sometimes the stories with the most impact come directly from the viewers. If you have a story that needs to be told, we want to hear it. Fill out the form below and let us know what stories need to be told.
OKLAHOMA WEATHER
From the FOX 25 First Forecast Center..
It's Friday and the weather is looking good for the holiday weekend. We can't rule out isolated to random showers and storms from time to time but nothing organized. ...Business News
Asia stocks extend losses after big sell-off
BANGKOK (AP) -- Asian stocks continued to retreat today after being routed the day before by unexpectedly weak Chinese manufacturing and fears the Federal Reserve will start withdrawing its monetary stimulus.
Consumer Info
BC-US--Dow Record-Three Personal Stories, 1st Ld-Writethru,1173
Dow Record: Three tales of ups, downs and changes
AP Photo FX102, FX103
Eds: With BC-US--Dow Record. Adds photos.
By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ
AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- When the Dow first crossed 14,000, investors were overjoyed. ...
Science/Tech News
IN THE NEWS: RESTAURANT FLAP LEADS TO INTERNET MELTDOWN
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- It isn't exactly to curry favor with your restaurant customers -- even if your specialty isn't curry.







