Endeavor’s Inaugural Heartland ScaleUp Panel Day

On October 4, participants of Endeavor’s inaugural Heartland ScaleUp cohort presented their businesses on Panel Day to a room of investors, press and entrepreneurial community in Tulsa.

Founders Maria Grimm (Relly), Wendy Song Dowling (Evolusen), Krystal Speed (Your HR Strategist), and Staci Taruscio (Rebellion Energy Solutions), participated in four months of programming focused on scaling their businesses. After months of weekly group sessions, mentor sessions and cohort retreats, the program culminated with each founder presenting a five-minute pitch of their business, followed by Q&A from a specially selected panel of investors from across Oklahoma and Arkansas. Panelists included Susan Spears (Atento Capital), Susan Moring (Cortado Venture), Chad Brown (Circumference Group) and Brad Henry (Natural Capital).

“After four months of being in the ScaleUp program, which has been incredible, I’m really excited to be able to present my business to investors as well as the greater Tulsa ecosystem, and about the growth I’ve experienced from being in the program.”

— KRYSTAL SPEED, YOUR HR STRATEGIST

Panelists deliberated and provided valuable pitch feedback to each of the founders after their pitch presentations. Audience members also had the opportunity to vote for their favorite pitch, identifying Wendy Song Dowling, Co-Founder and CEO of Evolusen, as the Audience Choice winner.

Prior to Panel Day, founders of the cohort and the Endeavor Heartland team traveled to Bentonville for a two-day closing retreat. Programming kicked off with rock climbing at Climb Bentonville, followed by a fireside chat on fundraising led by Meagan Bowman and Amanda Earhart at Thaden Field. Founders engaged in one-on-one pitch prep sessions with leadership coach Shana Gold and participated in an improv session focused on intentional communication and storytelling led by The Improv Lab founder, Stacey Mason.

Special thank you to the George Kaiser Family Foundation and Eldridge Brooks Partners for sponsoring Panel Day, and to Cabin Boys Brewery and Inheritance Juicery for their in-kind sponsorship.