Forging Oklahoma's Future
We are a non-profit foundation dedicated to empowering Oklahoma's innovators, entrepreneurs, and creators. We provide the resources, mentorship, and community to turn great ideas into reality.
Projects and Events
This year, we are focusing our efforts on three major pillars to drive innovation and community growth in Oklahoma.
Pay It Forward: Community-Supported Access
Innovation shouldn't be gated by income. When you join Idea Forge, you can opt to become a Community Builder by adding a small Pay It Forward contribution to your membership. 100% of these funds go into a bucket used to offset fees and provide discounted, affiliated makerspace access for those who need it.
Oklathon Hackathon
Get ready for Oklathon, a weekend-long hackathon coming in Summer/Fall 2026. Join developers, designers, and innovators for 48 hours of coding, collaboration, and community building.
Open Innovation Lab (OIL)
OIL is a collaborative, standing program dedicated to open-source hardware and community-driven tech projects. We operate on a model of active contribution.
Active Contributors: Members actively building, breaking, or mentoring within a current lab project maintain full access to lab resources and voting rights on project directions.
Alumni Network: We know that life, jobs, and side projects ebb and flow. If you step away from active lab projects for a season, your status gracefully transitions to Alumni. You are always welcome in our community channels and can reactivate your lab access whenever you are ready to dive back into a build.
Our Mission
To provide a safe and creative environment for individuals of all ages to develop, explore, and share knowledge through the use of technology, tools, and materials in a collaborative, welcoming atmosphere that encourages innovation, learning, and the pursuit of creative expression.
Our Guiding Principles
As members of the Electronic Frontier Alliance, we are committed to upholding core principles that ensure technology supports freedom, justice, and innovation for all. These values are the bedrock of our mission.
Free Expression
People should be able to speak their minds to whoever will listen.
Security
Technology should be trustworthy and answer to its users.
Privacy
Technology should allow private and anonymous speech, and allow users to set their own parameters about what to share with whom.
Creativity
Technology should promote progress by allowing people to build on the ideas, creations, and inventions of others.
Access to Knowledge
Curiosity should be rewarded, not stifled. We uphold these principles by fighting for transparency and freedom in culture, code, and law.
Ecosystem Resources
The innovation journey is hard to navigate alone. We connect builders and founders with the best support programs, fabrication facilities, and tech communities across the state.
Find an Incubator
The Spark Incubator
Have a groundbreaking idea? We help you identify the right local incubators to secure initial seed funding, find technical mentorship, and access the fabrication resources needed to validate your concept.
Learn More →Join an Accelerator
The Anvil Accelerator
For early-stage startups ready to scale. We maintain a directory of intensive accelerator programs offering hands-on guidance, expanded network access, and the strategic support necessary for rapid growth.
Learn More →Community Workshops
Open to all, our workshops cover essential topics from business planning and digital marketing to intellectual property, led by industry experts.
Learn More →Supported User Groups
We proudly support and collaborate with local technology and maker groups including OKC-OSH, DCG 405, Lugnuts, and 2600.
Learn More →Pay It Forward
A trust-based, zero-means-testing program. Generous donations to our Community Builder fund provide subsidized memberships for individuals facing barriers to innovation, enabling free access to the community resources they need.
Learn More →Maker Passport
A physical, collectible booklet designed to cross-pollinate Oklahoma's creative ecosystem. We bridge siloed spaces by driving curious makers to various local tech and art spaces to earn stamps and join new communities.
Learn more about the Passport →Events Calendar
Check out our upcoming events and meetups below.
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Support the Forge
Your generous contribution empowers Oklahoma's next generation of innovators. Every donation helps us provide the essential resources, mentorship, and support needed to turn bold ideas into thriving enterprises.
You Can Shape the Future
Whether you're an aspiring innovator, an experienced professional, or a passionate supporter of Oklahoma's growth, there's a place for you at the Idea Forge.
Donate
Your financial contribution provides the critical fuel for our programs and the innovators we support. Help us forge a brighter future.
Volunteer & Mentor
Share your expertise and experience. We are always looking for mentors and volunteers to guide our participants and help run our programs.
Partner With Us
Corporate partnerships are vital to our mission. Join us to co-host events, sponsor a program, or create unique opportunities for our community.
Join our Discord
Connect with fellow innovators, share ideas, and stay up-to-date with our latest community events on Discord.
Collaborations
We are proud to be affiliated with organizations like Techlahoma and Project 3810. We collaborate with leading organizations that share our commitment to innovation and community growth in Oklahoma.
Get in Touch
Have a question or want to connect? We'd love to hear from you.
Or email us directly at foundation@idea-forge.org