Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF)
In this month’s Doubleshot Newsletter, you will find:
- Builder Highlight: OVRC on the Road
- Team Highlight: Spring 2023 Interns
- LP Highlight: Bond Payne and Renzi Stone
- Cortado News
- PortCo Updates
- Ecosystem News & Events
Special Message: On Friday morning, the startup and venture world was disrupted when Silicon Valley Bank, a prominent startup bank, failed and was taken over by the FDIC. On Sunday, it was announced that all SVB depositors would be made whole and would receive back 100%. It was a stressful weekend, and we want to send a shout out to all the gritty entrepreneurs who worked around the clock to set up new bank accounts and recalibrate their operating plans. This would be a great week to send your favorite entrepreneur a care package!
Builder Highlight: OVRC On the Road
We are excited to highlight the Oklahoma Venture Resource Council. OVRC exists to play a vital role in the Oklahoma venture ecosystem by proactively examining, proposing, and driving public and private sector changes that contribute to economic and entrepreneurial growth in the state of Oklahoma OVRC is currently co-chaired by our Managing Partner, Nathaniel Harding, and Jay Calhoun, Managing Partner of Apis Holdings.
Upcoming Event: Join OVRC in Ada, Oklahoma on March 23rd at 3 PM as it marks its 6th installation of OVRC on the Road. These events are a chance for founders, funders, policy-makers, and entrepreneurially-minded folks to network and discuss the evolving venture and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Come hear speakers at the Chickasaw Business & Conference Center and grab a couple drinks to talk shop with others invested in helping make entrepreneurship thrive in the state of Oklahoma. Register Here.
Team Highlight: Spring 2023 Interns
Cortado is proud to welcome to the team Zack Lissau (pictured left), Platform Intern and Divyen Patel (pictured right), Investment Intern for Spring 2023.
Zack Lissau is a senior graduating in May 2023 from the University of Oklahoma pursuing a B.A. in Public Relations with a minor in Political Science. With a proven track record of professionalism and experience in leadership roles in various organizations, Zack brings a detail-oriented approach and strong communication skills to our team.
Divyen Patel is also a University of Oklahoma student, pursuing an MBA with an emphasis in finance. Coming from a hospitality background, Divyen has gained valuable experience through various financial analyst internships with companies like CompSource and Baker Group.
We are thrilled to have Zack and Divyen as valuable members of our team. We are excited for them to be a part of our team!
LP Highlight: Bond Payne and Renzi Stone
This month, we are highlighting two Limited Partners, Bond Payne, and Renzi Stone. With their leadership, downtown Oklahoma City broke ground on the city’s newest skyscraper, The Citizen. Located on the western edge of OKC’s Innovation District, the $65 million project will be a significant development and includes 12 stories with 160,000 square feet of space. This will be a commercial mixed-use office building with a variety of non-office uses, including retail, restaurant, and hospitality. With anticipated completion in 2024, Cortado Ventures looks to make our new home at The Citizen. This announcement signifies the robust energy happening in Oklahoma City’s growing ecosystem. Thank you, Bond and Renzi, for leading the way.
Cortado News
Launch Party: The Verge OKC
The Verge OKC has made a significant impact in the Oklahoma City community. Highlighted in a recent article with The Oklahoman, the Verge OKC hosted its launch party bringing together state and local leaders, entrepreneurs, and partners. Attendees networked and and learned more about The Verge’s mission, vision, and programs to be the centralized entrepreneurship hub for central Oklahoma.
The event was covered by several media outlets, including KOCO, Journal Record, and OK Policy.org. The Verge’s launch received widespread attention, showcasing the need for an inclusive entrepreneurial community in Oklahoma City. Cortado Ventures is a proud member of the Verge. Visit their website for information about membership for yourself or business.
The Oklahoman: Why Oklahoma is fertile ground for entrepreneurs and innovators
Our Managing Partner Nathaniel Harding penned an opinion piece in the Oklahoman on why Oklahoma is the prime location for entrepreneurs and innovators. Read more by clicking here.
PortCo Updates
oPRO.ai: Intersection of AI and Heavy Industry
In his latest Medium post, our Managing Partner Nathaniel Harding reflects on Cortado’s recent investment into oPRO.ai and the intersection between artificial intelligence (AI) and heavy industry. Read the full article here.
19days: Vela
At Cortado Ventures, we’re proud to back Oklahoma’s first venture studio, 19days, in their mission to drive innovation by identifying and solving customer problems. We’re thrilled to see their approach yielding results, including the launch of Vela, a promising startup that aims to simplify the complex commercial lending process for banks.
Vela has the potential to revolutionize the industry, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for this innovative company. To learn more click here.
Ecosystem News & Events
Pitches, Pizza and Pints @ The Verge OKC
Join The Verge OKC community monthly for a chance to pitch your business and provide feedback in a informal yet safe space. Pitching your business can be tough, but practice helps your grow. 5 Minute pitches with limited slides. The next Pitches, Pizza and Pints event will be Monday, March 20th from 4 PM to 6 PM at Oklahoma Craft Nano Brewhouse Kitchen.
OKCID Symposium Series: Session #1
Oklahoma City Innovation District’s Symposium series is on Thursday, April 6 from 1:00-5:00pm at OSU Harold Hamm Institute for American Energy. Join us for an inspiring afternoon with the chance to hear from Oklahoma Experts in Science, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development. More info here.
OVF Power Pitch Lunch
Join Oklahoma Venture Forum for its monthly Power Lunch. For April, it will feature pitches from Oklahoma Founded startups including our very own portfolio companies, Pipedream Labs and Myri Health. Register Here