gener8tor Collaborating With Local Partners to Launch gBETA Accelerator for Oklahoma City Startups
gener8tor Program Accelerator welcomes third cohort
Oklahoma City, Okla. – Global venture firm and startup accelerator, gener8tor, in partnership with Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, Inasmuch Foundation, American Fidelity, Square Deal Capital, Oklahoma State University, University of Oklahoma and Love’s Travel Stops, kicked off its third gBETA Oklahoma City cohort in October. The gBETA accelerator focuses on early-stage companies working in Oklahoma City.
gBETA Oklahoma City is a free, seven-week, no-equity accelerator program that provides startup founders with intensive concierge coaching and access to its national network of mentors, customers, corporate partners and investors. The programs are designed to set a path for startups to participate in equity-based accelerator programs and investment opportunities.
gener8tor recruited startups locally for the gBETA program in an effort to support homegrown companies in Oklahoma City.
“We are so excited to be a partner of gener8tor’s efforts in Oklahoma City. We’ve seen firsthand the impact of gBETA through the first two cohorts and we are really excited about the incredible startups in this new cohort,” said Tom Wavering, executive director of Tom Love Innovation Hub at the University of Oklahoma.
Together gener8tor, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, Inasmuch Foundation, Oklahoma State University, the University of Oklahoma, Love’s, Square Deal Capital and Cameron Ventures aim to bring economic diversity and job growth to Oklahoma City.
“I’m so excited about this diverse cohort,” said Elizabeth Larios, gBETA Oklahoma City director. “We’ve seen the incredible economic impact of the gBETA program in other parts of the country and we’re excited to bring that same impact to Oklahoma City.”
At the end of the gBETA program, startup founders will pitch their companies to investors, community partners and the public at a showcase event in 2023.
Startup companies and founders interested in learning more about gBETA’s programming and resources or applying to a future program are encouraged to visit the gener8tor gBETA website.
OKC Fall 2022 Cohort:
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Apexloads connects cargo owners with transporters to streamline the freight-truck matching process and facilitate faster payments through an online marketplace. Apexloads empowers 3rd Party Logistics (3PL) service providers to streamline their operations by allowing seamless coordination, visibility and harmonizing industry best practices. Apexloads has 2,164 user signups with 300-500 users in each of the four main logistics hubs in East Africa – Mombasa, Nairobi, Kampala and Dar es Salaam.
CEO: Charles Thuo, charles@apexloads.com
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Bab instills confidence in the online shopping experience through a universal shopping cart that allows users to add different items from different stores, all in one place, in a Big Ass Bag. Those making purchasing decisions can compare products, curate a collection and save selections when shopping online. Since launch in May 2022, Bab has organically acquired 75 beta downloads.
CEO: Jenae Goodin, bab@shoppingbab.com
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Gleu provides fashion retailers and brands with a B2B streamlined experience for managing their wholesale workflow. Gleu makes it easier for retailers and brands to connect, stay organized and handle the tedious, behind-the-scenes logistics of market and fashion week. Gleu was selected by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology for MVP development, which is ready to begin beta testing.
CEO: Alyssa Del Valle Bjora, alyssa@gleu.app
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LevlEd gamifies Digital Portfolio creation using a Learn to Earn platform that rewards member experiences and site engagement with scholarships, internships and mentorships. LevlEd Leaderboards rank member progress and allow for competitive transparency throughout the award journey. In November of 2022, LevlED will have more than 1,000 new signups through its university and nonprofit partnership.
Founders: Antonio Romero Solez & Casey Moore, antonio@levled.com & camoore@levled.com
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Sci-Lume Labs™ pioneers new biobased and biodegradable materials to replace traditional petroleum-derived plastics. Sci-Lume Labs’ is a hard science company, and our new plastic materials address the environmental concerns associated with plastics, without losing the magic (i.e. science) of traditional petroleum-based synthetics. Bylon™ is our high-performance, drop-in ready fiber product that has applications in fishing and apparel, and will finally offer the world truly circular plastics. Sci-Lume Labs' composition of matter patent will be converted in Q1 2023; our first fibers have mechanical properties that are already suitable for most apparel applications.
Founder: Oliver Shafaat, oliver@sci-lumelabs.com
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About gener8tor
gener8tor is a global venture firm and accelerator network that supports startups, founders, workers, employers, artists and musicians across race, place and gender. gener8tor partners with companies, governments, universities and nonprofits to operate programs in more than 41 communities across 22 states and two countries. Fast Company named gener8tor one of the Best Workplaces for Innovators in 2021 and 2022.
About gBETA
gBETA is a non-equity accelerator that facilitates the growth of early-stage companies through a network-driven program. This accelerator supports five startups per cohort and requires no fees for startups and takes no equity. Since launching in 2015, gBETA accelerator alumni have raised more than $530 million in capital and created more than 3,400 jobs across the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit gener8tor.com/gbeta.
