Tulsa, OKC Mayors Talk Entrepreneurship Before OKC Thunder Game

The Thunder defeated the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday in a preseason game at the BOK Center.

But before the game, Oklahoma City and Tulsa's mayors took time to talk about entrepreneurship across our state.

Mayors G.T. Bynum and David Holt held a forum at the BOK Center, visiting with startups getting help from the Thunder Launchpad.

It's an exciting time for basketball and business at the BOK Center. As fans flooded to the court business owners got together to talk about innovation, entrepreneurship and Oklahoma's developing tech economy.

"QuikTrip started out as two guys with a store down on Brookside," said Mayor Bynum.

Mayor Bynum and Oklahoma City Mayor Holt answered questions and talked about the Thunder Launchpad.

"We have a lot of work to do. But I'm heartened and excited when I see stuff happen like what you've done with Launchpad," said Mayor Holt.

"The Thunder Launchpad is an opportunity for the Thunder to create a place and the conditions for success and for the next generation of workforce to develop, which we're all very passionate about," said Brian Byrnes the Senior VP of Sales and Marketing for the OKC Thunder.

As the Thunder teams up with StitchCrew to help give entrepreneurs the resources they need to start and grow their business, some are already seeing results.

"We take them through at 12-week curriculum, where we go from startup mechanics all the way to fundraising. And then at the end, in partnership again, with the Thunder, we introduce the founders to the community," said StitchCrew Co-Founder Erika Lucas.

One of those startups is the UTown app. Founded in Tulsa UTown shows everything going on around you in real time.

"Without this opportunity, who knows where we'd be. But we're on the right track to success," said UTown Founder and CEO Nick Salis.

If you're starting your own business and would like information on StitchCrew, just click here.