BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)
Read the latest Why We Invested blog featuring our investment in Prelude. Our 2024-2025 internship applications close October 11th. Learn more about our portfolio company, Exum Instruments, in this month’s highlight along with our other portfolio companies who are making news. Check out open jobs at our portfolio companies, view the ecosystem’s upcoming events, and meet Venture Noire, an ecosystem builder who is closing the quality-of-life gap.
Newsletter Elements
- Cortado News
- Why We Invested: Prelude
- 2025 – 2026 Internship & Fellowship Programs Closing
- Founder Hour & Funder Founder Dinner Recap
- Portco News
- Portco Highlight: EXUM
- Portcos In The News
- Portco Jobs
- Ecosystem News & Events
- Builder Highlight: Venture Noire
- Upcoming Events
Cortado News
Why We Invested: Prelude
In our latest “Why We Invested” blog, we explore 19Days and Prelude, a Tulsa-based company that is redefining the death care industry. Prelude addresses critical challenges in the death care industry by offering a software solution that streamlines funeral pre-planning, providing both financial stability and peace of mind for families. Learn more about why we’re excited to invest in this customer-centric, tech-driven company.
Additionally, Funeral Director Daily recently highlighted our investment in Prelude, an innovative digital preneed funeral planning company. The article recognizes Prelude’s mission to transform the funeral pre-planning process by offering funeral homes and families a more personal, streamlined approach with AI-enabled software. Read the full article here.
2025-2026 Internship Applications Closing
Last call! Our 2025-2026 internship applications close in just 2 days – October 11! Don’t miss this chance to gain hands-on experience in venture capital, work alongside high-growth startups and learn from seasoned entrepreneurs. Whether you’re passionate about innovation or looking to make an impact, this is a unique opportunity to contribute to real-world projects. Click here to learn more and apply.
Founder Hour & Funder Founder Dinner Recap
We are excited to celebrate the success of two incredible events that brought together the brightest minds in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. From the insightful stories of successful entrepreneurs at Founders Who Flourish: A Look Inside the EIR Program to the dynamic networking and pitch sessions at our Funder Founder Dinner in Bentonville, AR, both events showcased the power of connection, innovation and community.
Thank you to our guest speakers Deb Moorad of CorriXR and Blake Bixler of Senslytics for sharing your journeys and insights. A big thank you to our Founders Who Flourish sponsors, McAfee & Taft and Regent Bank, and to our Funder Founder Dinner sponsors, McAfee & Taft and Gardner Tanenbaum, for their generous support in making these events possible. A special thank you to our wonderful host, Mansi Patel, for hosting Founders Who Flourish with passion and energy, and for helping create an inspiring atmosphere for all attendees!
Portco News
Portco Highlight: EXUM Instruments
This month, we’re highlighting EXUM Instruments, a company that builds instruments and software ecosystems to increase the speed of development and discovery, offering easy access to high-performance at a low-cost. EXUM strives to give scientists and professionals the tools and experience they deserve by leveraging new technologies with modern design sensibilities to change the scientific instrumentation market. Learn more about EXUM.
Portcos In The News
Boddle Named as Finalist for $500,000 Yass Prize
Boddle Learning, has been named one of four finalists for a $500,000 award from The Yass Prize for Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding, and Permissionless education! This recognition highlights their innovative work in expanding educational opportunities across the country. The Yass Prize, now in its fourth year, celebrates top-tier education organizations and fosters partnerships that accelerate impact for students, parents, and teachers. A huge congratulations to the Boddle team and all other finalists for their inspiring work!
Wilder Systems Kicks Off STRATFI Phase II with Increased Funding
Wilder Systems, has executed a Sequential SBIR Phase II Other Transaction for Prototype (STRATFI) contract with the United States Air Force, valued at $30 million. This significant milestone reflects the Air Force’s confidence in Wilder Systems’ cutting-edge robotic solutions. As part of this four-year agreement, Wilder will deliver ten WS 5000 Agile Mobile Robots to Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City and develop additional robotic maintenance capabilities. Click here to read more about Wilder’s innovation and growth in the aerospace industry.
Apricot Technologies Utilizes Artificial Intelligence for More Efficient Nursing Documentation
Trent Smith, founder of Accentra Home Health and Hospice, launched Apricot Technologies, an AI-powered application that streamlines documentation, allowing nurses to complete their reports in just 15 minutes. Apricot not only reduces paperwork but has also eliminated turnover in Smith’s agency, where nurse retention previously exceeded 30% annually. Learn more about how Apricot is revolutionizing how nurses work, enabling them to focus more on what truly matters—patient care.
Safety Radar featured in ISS Source for Innovative Approach to Risk Management
Our portfolio company, Safety Radar, was featured in ISS Source for their innovative AI-driven approach to risk management. Safety Radar’s Live Risk Platform uses real-time data and AI technology to quickly assess potential hazards, allowing companies to spend less time reading reports and more time protecting their employees and assets. With over $1.5 million raised in seed funding, including from Cortado Ventures, Safety Radar is set to revolutionize safety practices in the workplace.
Portco Jobs
Boddle – Senior Software Architect
Drov Technologies – Quality Assurance Engineer
Lumata Health – VP of Clinical Operations
Lumata Health – Strategic Finance Analyst
Lumata Health – Enrollment Specialist (Outbound Sales)
Safety Radar – Implementation Specialist – SAFE AI
Volt – Sr. Account Executive
Volt – Head of Finance
Wilder Systems – Mechanical Engineer
Wilder Systems – Controls Engineer
Wilder Systems – Field Technician
Wilder Systems – Robotics Software Engineer
Ecosystem News & Events
Builder Highlight: Venture Noire
We’re excited to spotlight Venture Noire, an Arkansas-based organization on a mission to close the quality-of-life gap. By uniting high-potential founders and experts with top public and private corporations, Venture Noire fosters innovative projects that drive meaningful change. Their vibrant community, including Nobel Prize winners, activists, technologists, and business leaders, is focused on research, incubation, and the acceleration of new ideas.
Ecosystem Events
- October 10, 2024 – OKC Med Week: Understanding Business Funding
- October 11, 2024 – OKC Med Week: REI Oklahoma Business Resources Panel
- October 11, 2024 – OKC LUGNUTS
- October 15, 2024 – How I Learned to Code: Newbies vs. Oldies
- October 16, 2024 – The Chamber Forum
- October 16, 2024 – Virtual: Microsoft Word: Mail Merge & Advanced Formatting
- October 21, 2024 – The Verge’s Pizza and Pints
- October 23, 2024 – Innotech Oklahoma
- October 23, 2024 – Virtual: Microsoft Word: Leveraging Workflow Tools
- October 23, 2024 – Thunderplains
- October 24, 2024 – Tech Talk: Trade Secret Basics, Sponsored by OgleTree Deakins
- November 6, 2024 – Virtual: Microsoft PowerPoint: Leveraging Master Slides
- November 7, 2024 – OKC Women’s Business Breakfast
- November 12, 2024 – Cocktails and Collaboration with OKBioStart
- November 13, 2024 – 1 Million Cups OKC