Post-Energy Era, OKC's New Chapter Begins Now | Opinion

Oklahoma City at a Crossroads

Oklahoma City is standing at a pivotal moment in its history. In recent days, the city has faced two significant setbacks: the relocation of Devon Energy and Expand Energy's headquarters to Houston. For many years, energy companies have been central to the city's skyline, employment opportunities, and overall identity. Their departure brings with it a sense of loss and disruption.

However, this shift does not mark the end of Oklahoma City's story. Instead, it may signal the close of one chapter and the start of another. For generations, the talent found in the oil and gas industry has helped shape the city. Engineers, geologists, landmen, data scientists, operators, and executives have built companies that have powered America and defined the city's character. The question now is not whether this talent remains valuable, but rather whether it will be directed toward building what comes next in Oklahoma City.

This is an opportunity for the workforce to stay and help shape the future of the city.

For years, civic leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors have worked to diversify the economy while the energy sector was still strong. At times, these efforts were seen as a precaution. Now, they appear as a form of foresight. Oklahoma City has quietly developed a growing base of tech talent, startups, and investors. More than 22,000 tech workers now call the region home. Universities and training programs are producing thousands of graduates in engineering and computer science. Startups in software, AI, aerospace, cybersecurity, and industrial technology are taking root here and serving customers around the world.

Organizations like The Verge OKC have played a key role in this transformation. As the first-of-its-kind entrepreneurial hub, The Verge OKC has become a place where founders can connect with mentors, resources, capital, and each other. Its nonprofit model has created real on-ramps for people who want to launch and scale companies in Oklahoma City.

Now is not the time for despair. It is the time to double down on opportunities.

The skills developed in the oil and gas industry, including complex systems engineering, project management, capital allocation, risk modeling, and large-scale operations, directly translate to new industries such as automation, advanced manufacturing, AI, energy transition technologies, aerospace, and defense. The next generation of Oklahoma companies will be built at the intersection of physical industries and software, a space where the city’s workforce already excels.

To the engineers, developers, scientists, and operators who helped build the last era: you do not have to leave to work on meaningful, ambitious problems. The opportunity to start category-defining companies is right here.

To match this moment with capital, Cortado Ventures is launching a new $10 million angel fund dedicated exclusively to investing in Oklahoma companies. The fund will focus on technology-driven businesses that choose to build and hire here. Its purpose is simple: provide early, catalytic capital to founders who want to start, stay, and scale in this state.

If the last era of Oklahoma City was powered by oil and gas, the next can be powered by the same people, applying their experience and ambition to innovation.

Headquarters may move. Talent does not have to. The future of Oklahoma City will be defined by whether we keep our builders here and empower them to create what comes next.