Local entrepreneurs, Sean McCullough and Adam Duffy of Ping.fm are joining forces with Seesmic. Seesmic acquired Ping.fm and plans to integrate Ping.fm into all of its applications in the near future. Ping.fm is a status update services, which allows users to updates posts on over 50 social networks through SMS, mobile apps, IM services and third party applications that support the services.

“Ping.fm is a Tulsa start-up success story. They showcase that great ideas can be discovered and funded and location is not a deterrent for success. The Collaboratorium team and members are proud and wish them the best in the next chapter of the Ping.fm story,” said Sean Griffin, Collaboratorium Chair.

McCullough and Duffy have been members of the Collaboratorium, an entrepreneurial resource center located in downtown Tulsa since it’s opening in May 2009.

“The Collaboratorium played a critical role in our success. The dynamic and supportive environment allowed us to focus our business model and create greater value for our customers and investor. We look forward to giving back to the Collaboratorium and the City of Tulsa as we continue down our entrepreneurial journey,” said Sean McCullough, Ping.fm co-founder,

Ping.fm’s founders Adam Duffy and Sean McCullough will join Seesmic as full-time employees and continue to work on Ping.fm. For more information about Ping.fm and Seesmic, visit seesmic.com

Properties Plus announced the opening of the new corporate headquarters at 7040 S. Yale in Tulsa on Thursday, June 24th. The new headquarters is located at the NW corner of Yale Avenue and 71st Street and the 14,000 sq. ft. space reflects Properties Plus’ progressive culture from floor to ceiling, and offers the resources, amenities and real estate needed for future business expansion. (more…)

Over 85 submissions were made to this year’s business plan competition and the top 25 are announced. They will now submit their full business plan and have a chance to present a seven minute pitch on July 8th and 9th to the panel of judges, which is comprised of area business leaders and entrepreneurs.

After the pitches are presented, the judges will identify the 12 business models that will continue on to the semi-final round. The 12 semi-finalists will then coached by area business leaders and entrepreneurs, and connected to resources and expertise to help polish their business plan and pitching techniques.

“This year the quality of entrepreneurial and small business endeavors submitted is going to challenge the judges to identify a winner. It is exciting to see the diversity of business models starting up in Tulsa and wish everyone who made it to the Top 25 great success.” Sean Griffin, 2009 Mayor’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Award Chair and Judge said.

On November 17, Mayor Taylor’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Award winner will receive a check of $30,000, second place with $5,000 and third place with $2,500 each provided by SpiritBank. For more information about the Mayor’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Award sponsored by SpiritBank, please visit the website at www.tulsaspiritaward.com

Congratulations to the Top 25.
4BrooksDesign
Aeroleaf
Allen Athletic Consulting LLC
Beaute Purpose
Blue Label Bartending
Bootcamp Tulsa / JJC Enterprises
Cog Togs Inc.
Diaper Departure LLC
Elote Cafe & Catering
Filters4Me.com
Green Growers, Inc
Guru-YOU!
HOAtoday
Inventory Optimizations
iParkFree.com
Kids on the Clock
LTC Education Station
MintJar LLC
Mr. BodyFat LLC
NexGenData
Part-Time Pros
Reading Remedy
Real Time Rehab
Target Solution Foods
TulsaPets Magazine

Ihloff Salon and Day Spa announces the opening of its new full-service salon in Bookhaven Village in Norman, OK, located at 36th St. NW & Robinson.

The 2,300 square-foot Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Spa is Ihloff’s fourth opening since 1980. The new salon and spa has 12 stations, two spa rooms and offers a full line of Aveda products. For additional information visit: www.ihloffspa.com.

About Ihloff Salon and Day Spa:
Celebrating 28 years of bringing balance and beauty to life, Ihloff is nationally renowned for its commitment to the environment, the Tulsa community and their clients’ well-being. Recognized for four years by Salon Today as one of the 200 fastest growing salons in the nation, Ihloff is a designated Aveda Lifestyle Salon & Spa – devoted to bringing clients back to balance with products and services based on Aveda’s pure flower and plant essences.

A non-traditional environment for the non-traditional business start up.

Bootstrapping since the beginning, the Collaboratorium, an entrepreneurial accelerator in downtown Tulsa, has officially opened the doors and is currently accepting applications for participants. Sustainable Tulsa is the founding sponsor for the The Collaboratorium, in partnership with Kanbar Properties who are providing the office space at 111 W. 5th Street in downtown Tulsa.

The current tenants include: Grocio.com, the 2008 Mayor’s Tulsa Entrepreneurial Spirit Award winner, Hollywood Fitness Repair and Ping.fm.com

Entrepreneurs will be provided with office space at a discounted price, shared conference rooms, coaching opportunities, connections to entrepreneurial networks, along with access to the types of resources that encourage entrepreneurial actions and long-term success.

Numerous donations from the Tulsa community have been contributed to The Collaboratorium, including Internet and phone service from Garrett Law, office furniture from Up With Trees, L&M Office Furniture and the University of Tulsa.

With a focus on the non-traditional, “Tulsa Unique” entrepreneurs the Collaboratorium is looking for entrepreneurs with any level of business experience that possess a business model with potential. The goal of the Collaboratorium’s is to help accelerate the growth and quality of entrepreneurs and sustainable businesses.

The Collaboratorium is modeled upon the evolution of incubators and practices of Silicon Valley. The current move to entrepreneurial resource centers will accelerate and proactively improve Tulsa’s entrepreneurial success rate. Its focus is to grow entrepreneurs and businesses that make Tulsa a unique and exceptional place to live, work and play.
For more information, visit www.tulsacollab.com

Everywhere you look, a new kind of energy is emerging from the Tulsa business community. On Thursday, April 2, the 3rd annual Mayor’s Tulsa Entrepreneurial Spirit Award business model competition, sponsored by SpiritBank kicked off at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.

The evening celebrated with the past year’s winners including, SeekingSitters and Grocio.com. They shared their stories of growth over the past year, and how the Spirit Award has continued to support and encourage their businesses.

On June 4, 2009 the top 25 Executive Summaries will be announced and invited to their submit their full business plan. The business plans will be reviewed, and each business will have seven minutes to pitch their business model idea to the panel of Spirit Award judges on July 8 – 9, 2009.

The top 12 will be announced Thursday, July 16, and will have the opportunity to be “coached” by local business professionals on areas that they improve their pitch techniques and business plans. The top 12 will have five minutes to pitch their idea on September 12 with hopes of making it to the final seven.

The seven finalists will be announced on Sunday, September 20, 2009. For the final time, the finalists will work with the coaches to before prepare for their last pitch, which is only two minutes, to the panel of judges.

The winners of the Spirit Award will be announced during Global Entrepreneurship Week on Tuesday, November 17, 2009. SpiritBank will present checks to the winners: $30,000 for first place, $5,000 for second place and $2,500 for third place.

So what are you waiting for Tulsa? Unleash your Big Idea!

The call to entries are open, business executive summaries can be submitted to the website, www.tulsaspiritaward.com until 11:59 p.m. on May 15, 2009.

Need more reasons to enter the 2009 Mayor Taylor’s Tulsa Entrepreneurial Spirit Award? Check out the top ten list at www.tulsabusiness.com

Going “green” is no longer a growing trend in communities, but has become a way of living. Many organizations in the Tulsa community have been working to improve and encourage our city to be a more sustainable, green place to live. Sustainable Tulsa is one of the organizations making a difference throughout the Tulsa area. (more…)

The Ihloff Salon and Day Spa rocked the runway with looks from the many eras of Rock and Roll, ranging from Elvis to Guns N’ Roses. On Thursday October 16, 2008 at the Tulsa Convention Center, Ihloff raised over $53,000 dollars at their annual hair and fashion show, The Ihloff Fall Collection: Paper. Rock. Scissors. A Tribute to Rock. The sponsorship proceeds from the evening benefited Resonance Center for Women, Tulsa’s premier non-profit support center for women and their families. (more…)

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