Chroma 2026, Tulsa Tech Week, and Startup World Cup Oklahoma Regional converge September 21–26 at Tulsa’s innovation hub.
-- Gradient, recognized in 2026 by the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) with two global awards, will host Chroma 2026, presented by Stride Bank, on Thursday, September 24. The event will serve as the centerpiece of a full week of technology programming across Tulsa.
For the first time, Chroma, Tulsa Tech Week, and the Startup World Cup Oklahoma Regional will take place during the same week. Together, the events will bring founders, investors, students, educators, industry leaders, and community members into one connected schedule from September 21–26.
“Tulsa has no shortage of momentum in tech and innovation. This year, we’re bringing it all together,” said Devon Laney, President and CEO of Gradient. “Bringing these events together in one week makes it clear that Tulsa is the Technology Capital of the Heartland.”
Chroma 2026 will bring speakers, industry leaders, founders, investors, and media voices to Tulsa for more than 20 technology showcases, five main-stage sessions, and curated connections among founders, enterprise leaders, and investors.
Tulsa Tech Week, now in its second year, will run September 21–26 with a goal of more than 100 community-built events across the city. Programming will come from startups, universities, investor groups, nonprofits, and community organizations, reflecting the event’s belief that technology should be accessible to everyone.
“Tulsa Tech Week is for everyone: the kid who hasn’t touched a computer yet, the grandmother who wants to understand AI, the small business owner who doesn’t know where to start,” said Tai Nehisi, Founder of Tulsa Tech Week. “Partnering with Gradient means we can take that message further and show what’s possible when organizations in this city build together.”
The Startup World Cup Oklahoma Regional, powered by Pegasus Tech Ventures, will also take place at Gradient during Chroma. Ten of the region’s top startups will compete on the main stage, and the winner will advance to the Grand Finale in San Francisco for a chance to secure a $1 million investment. The competition connects regional startup communities with investors worldwide, giving Oklahoma’s founders a stage that reaches well beyond the region.
The week builds on recognition Tulsa has already received. In October 2023, the Tulsa region was named one of 31 inaugural U.S. Tech Hubs by the U.S. Department of Commerce after a selection process that drew nearly 200 applications.
Speaker, sponsor, and Startup World Cup competitor announcements will follow in the coming weeks.
Registration and information
Chroma registration and sponsorship: https://chroma.joingradient.com/
Tulsa Tech Week: https://www.tulsatechweek.ai/
Startup World Cup: https://www.startupworldcup.io/
About CHROMA
CHROMA starts from a straightforward idea: the talent and resources to build globally significant companies already exist in Tulsa. Each year the event brings founders, technologists, industry leaders, and media to the city, headlined by the Startup World Cup Regional Competition. It gives the region’s entrepreneurs direct access to the investors, relationships, and ideas that help turn promising companies into successful ones. Registration is live at https://chroma.joingradient.com/.
About Gradient
Gradient is a Tulsa-based innovation hub, recognized in 2026 by InBIA as both the Global Entrepreneurship Support Organization of the Year for Technology and the Global Entrepreneurship Center of the Year. Located in the historic OTASCO warehouse in the Tulsa Arts District, Gradient occupies 112,000 square feet of office, event, and meeting space. It offers flexible offices, programming, events, and resources that help founders, companies, and remote workers grow their businesses and connect with the local tech community.
Contact Info:
Name: Shacole Hamlett
Email: Send Email
Organization: Gradient
Phone: 949-233-7420
Website: https://www.joingradient.com/
Release ID: 89198636
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