Investment Funding
Brightest Orange Ventures provides investment into commercially viable OSU and OSU-affiliated, technology-based, high-growth potential startups and OSU internal projects with strong commercial teams. We are OSU’s most aligned investment partner and desire to capitalize on OSU and Oklahoma’s inventive and driven people. Through our early-stage investments and our network of business professionals and investment partners, we aim to diversify the Oklahoma economy and generate economic growth through export sales and high-quality jobs.
Our investment vehicles include:
Brightest Orange Ventures (BOV) Direct Investment
For Internal OSU Technology Projects
BOV is investing in internal OSU technology projects with strong commercial potential with strong development teams.
Investment Criteria:
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OSU invention disclosed
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Intellectually property protection initial understanding
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Strong technology development team
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Lab bench prototype developed/evaluated with positive outcomes
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Target market customer needs/opportunity initial understanding
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Value proposition of eventual product/service solution initial understanding
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Investment funds used to develop technology towards a minimal viable product or service
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Investment funds deployed to OSU faculty’s internal account
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Investment made as a simple agreement for future equity in a TBD startup
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Investment size typically $10,000 to $100,000
For Startups Licensing OSU Technology
BOV is investing in Oklahoma-based startups licensing OSU technology.
Investment Criteria:
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Oklahoma-based startups with high growth potential
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Licensed OSU technology
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Startup’s pre-seed and seed rounds having:
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Customer-environment prototype demonstrated
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Target market customer value proposition initially validated
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High-growth business model and go-to-market plan initial understanding
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Strong co-founder team and/or advisors that represents technology and business aspects
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Funds used to launch product/service to market and gain initial customer traction
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Investment made either as a convertible note or preferred equity
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$10,000 to $150,000 investment
Brightest Orange Capital
For OSU Affliated Startups
Coming Soon
Brightest Orange Capital is an early-stage venture capital fund, managed by Brightest Orange Ventures, investing in Oklahoma-based, OSU-affiliated startups with high growth potential.
Investment Criteria:
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Oklahoma-based startups with high growth potential
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OSU-affiliated startups that have:
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Licensed OSU technology or
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OSU faculty/staff/student co-founders or
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OSU alumni co-founders
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Startup’s pre-seed and seed rounds:
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Customer-environment prototype demonstrated
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Target market customer value proposition initially validated
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High-growth business model and go-to-market plan initial understanding
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Strong co-founder team and/or advisors that represents technology and business aspects
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Funds used to launch product/service to market and gain initial customer traction
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Investment made either as convertible note or preferred equity
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$50,000 to $200,000 investment
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Startup’s Series A round and follow-on rounds:
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Market traction
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Participating co-investors in the round
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Funds used to continue growth trajectory
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Investment made either as convertible note or preferred equity
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$200,000 to $500,000 investment
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Riata Pre-Seed Fund
For Currently Enrolled OSU Students
The OSU Riata Pre-Seed Fund, sponsored out of the Riata Center for Entrepreneurship in partnership with Brightest Orange Ventures, provides early-stage startup and OSU investment up to $25,000 to support the entrepreneurial aspirations of any currently enrolled OSU student. The Riata Pre-Seed Fund is open for applications three times per year.