Big Idea 2026
About this Event
WHERE ENTERPRISE AND INNOVATION MEET
Big Idea – Tulsa’s newest technology event brings together technology leaders from Tulsa’s enterprise organizations for a day of networking and discussions with the latest technology startup founders, innovators, and entrepreneurs!
Held the Friday after the Oklahoma IT Symposium in support of the Tulsa CIO Forum, Big Idea is where Enterprise Organizations’ real-world technology challenges meet Innovation’s transformative ideas – and collaboration shapes what’s next.
Sell the full agenda and event information at our website: https://flywheeltulsa.com/big-idea/
2026 AGENDA
8:00AM - BREAKFAST
8:30AM - WELCOME
Scott Carr/Phil Kaiser
Big Idea is Flywheel’s second year technology event bridging technology leaders from Oklahoma’s Enterprise Organizations and the tech startups and innovators from Tulsa’s growing technology eco system.
8:45AM - KEYNOTE
Announing Soon...
9:30AM - SPONSOR PRESENTATION
Pending...
9:45AM - NETWORKING BREAK
10:00AM - FROM CIO TO FOUNDER: THE LAUNCH OF VAULTRIGHT
Moderator: Brandon Brown, Founder and CEO – Roam.ai
Speaker: Eric Hilaire, Founder and CEO – VaultRight
Moving from a CIO in an Enterprise organization to a startup Founder doesn’t just happen, it is planned and calculated. Even more so to have a successful launch with ongoing customers in the financial services world. This is the story of VaultRight.
10:45AM - CYBERSECURITY THAT GROWS WITH YOU
Moderator: Patrick Benoit, CISO – VAST Bank
Speaker: David Benham CTO – Roam.ai
Last year, Roam.ai was a featured startup and a great success story as an early driver of Artificial Intelligence in the Oil & Gas Industry. As they grow both in business and organizational size, what is their journey when Cybersecurity is considered? How do they cover those bases today, even as they plan for tomorrow?
11:30AM - LUNCH & NETWORKING BREAK
12:15PM - AI @ Black Tech Street
Speaker: Tyrance Billingsley II
Black Tech Street has attracted major partnerships with Microsoft and NVIDIA, secured a role in the region's federally funded Tech Hub efforts, and is leading the Greenwood AI Center of Excellence. What is in store for Greenwood and Tulsa as Artificial Intelligence becomes a major factor in Tulsa's Tech Eco System?
1:00 PM - SPOTLIGHT: TULSA INNOVATION LAB:— “WHAT TULSA IS BUILDING”
Moderator: Lawrence Ganti
Speaker: Nishant Agarwal
From artificial intelligence and autonomous systems to workforce development and startup growth, this conversation explores how Tulsa is building the industries, talent, and innovation ecosystem that will define the next decade and how Tulsa Innovation Labs is helping position Northeast Oklahoma as a national leader in emerging technologies.
1:45PM - TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE PANEL
Moderator: Lori Morgan – Women in Technology Tulsa
Panel: Andy Lang - ORU, Cheyenne Smith - Space For US, TBD - TU
From AI-enabled edge devices and autonomous systems to advanced software development, cybersecurity, aerospace, and scientific research platforms, local institutions are already using technologies that many organizations are only beginning to explore. Join these leaders as they showcase the tools, platforms, and real-world projects preparing the next generation of innovators—and discover what that means for the future workforce available to your organization.
2:30PM - NETWORKING BREAK
2:45PM - SPONSOR PRESENTATION
AVAILABLE
3:00PM - TULSA'S TECHNOLOGY ECO SYSTEM
Moderator: Art Seabolt, Consultant and Former CIO – Omni Air International
Speakers: Devon Laney and Jaslyn Ferguson from Gradient
From startups and venture growth to talent development, innovation programs, and industry partnerships, Gradient has become a driving force behind Tulsa's growing emergence as a nationally recognized innovation hub. Join this conversation exploring how entrepreneurs, corporations, investors, educators, and community leaders are working together to shape the region's technology future—and get a preview of what's ahead for Chroma as it enters its next chapter in 2026.
3:45PM - FLYWHEEL NETWORK MIXER AND HAPPY HOUR
Music & Open Bar
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 95.00
