TIL is building an inclusive ecosystem in Cyber Security & Data Analytics. 

Tulsa’s cyber talent and cutting-edge applied R&D primes city for growth.

Our Vision
for Cyber

TIL envisions an expanding cyber and data workforce that moves Tulsans from all backgrounds into high-growth careers while providing critical enabling technologies for innovation clusters in advanced mobility, energy technology, and virtual health.

Our Vision for Cyber

Market Opportunity

There is an estimated global shortage of 3.4 million cyber professionals. The digital transformation of the industrial sector and increasing sophistication of criminal and nation-state attackers will continue to require more talent and more defensive innovation to defend our critical infrastructure, safeguard our data, and protect innovation.

There is an estimated global shortage of 3.4 million cyber professionals. The digital transformation of the industrial sector and increasing sophistication of criminal and nation-state attackers will continue to require more talent..

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Why Tulsa

Tulsa’s superb cyber education, R&D, and innovative talent partnerships are scaling to meet the needs of the region’s existing critical infrastructure providers in energy, aerospace, logistics and food supply, while innovating to support key future industries. 

Example Innovations

Energy Transition Expands Attack Surface

The scale up of green energy infrastructure creates new opportunities for compromise around charging stations, distributed energy resources and smart grids. 

Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Require Rethinking Safety and Security

Connected vehicles require massive amounts of data to operate. They are open to direct attack, present a vector to compromise other connected systems and threaten to expose personally identifiable information. 

Virtual Health Solutions Increase Convenience AND Vulnerability 

The increase in virtual treatment and connected medical devices present new attack vectors and open patients and providers to new forms of extortion and compromise.

TIL Initiatives

Cyber Skills Center (CSC) at Tulsa Community College

CSC targets diverse, working professionals in Tulsa who want to move into the high growth and automation-resistant fields of cyber security or data analytics. This fully supported program consists of a part-time, 26-week training in either cyber or data, as well as wrap-around services that include child care, transportation, job readiness, and in-home technology support.

CSC wants to remove as many barriers as feasible for ambitious Tulsans to level up their career. Graduates can also receive academic credit for their training and apply it toward an associate's degree or a four-year degree via transfer partners TU, OSU, or OU.

CSC targets diverse, working professionals in Tulsa who want to move into the high growth and automation-resistant fields of cyber security or data analytics. This fully supported program consists of a part time...

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Cyber Fellows

The University of Tulsa and Team8 Cyber Fellows is a Ph.D. opportunity for students seeking to accelerate research and development across cyber, data science, and machine learning. Students work with both an academic and venture capital adviser, and engage founders, technologists, executives, and investors throughout the program.

Students are expected to launch new ventures, build and sell technology, and/or make major contributions to commercial enterprise in cyber throughout their careers.

The University of Tulsa and Team8 Cyber Fellows is a Ph.D. opportunity for students seeking to accelerate research and development across cyber, data science, and machine learning...

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Team8 Foundry

The George Kaiser Family Foundation and global venture group Team8 are building a venture foundry and associated fund focused on the intersection of future mobility and energy, and especially the security, data, AI, and fintech layers of this problem set. This Foundry will build one to two companies per year in this domain, and the general partner leading the fund will be based in Tulsa.  Foundry companies will service Limited Partners from Tulsa, the broader region, and around the world.

The George Kaiser Family Foundation and global venture group Team8 are building a venture foundry and associated fund focused on the intersection of future mobility and energy, and especially the security, data, AI, and fintech layers of this problem set...

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Thought Leadership

2022

The Economy Forward Framework

Tulsa is uniquely poised to drive the next wave of innovation in the aerospace industry through the deployment of UAS and AAM technologies.

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Our Vision for Advanced Mobility

2022

Strengthening the Cybersecurity Talent Pipeline

Tulsa is uniquely poised to drive the next wave of innovation in the aerospace industry through the deployment of UAS and AAM technologies.

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Our Vision for Advanced Mobility

2022

Waterfronts of Portland and South Portland, Maine

Tulsa is uniquely poised to drive the next wave of innovation in the aerospace industry through the deployment of UAS and AAM technologies.

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Our Vision for Advanced Mobility

Partners

Initiative partners

Advisory Council

Bill Anderson

Founder - MarketR

Tyrance Billingsley II

Founder and Executive Director - Black Tech Street

Bob Blakely

Operating Partner - Team8

Jerry Dawkins

Founder - True Digital Security

Dr. Craig Dean

Enterprise Data Supervisor - QuikTrip Corporation

Michael Epps

Vice President - Network Operations Zayo

Marquesa Finch

Founder & CEO - Pyrium

Koma Gandy

VP and Head of Curriculum - Codecademy

Todd Gourd

SVP/Chief Information Officer - Cherokee Nation Business

Lauren Zabierek

Senior Adviser - Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Tyler Moore

Professor of Cyber Security and Information Assurance - The University of Tulsa

Vi Nguyen

Director - Data Science & Analytics QuestBridge

Jennifer Snow

Chief Technology Officer - AFWERX

Sharon K. Sputz

Executive Director of Strategic Programs Data Science Institute -  Columbia University

Tony Meehan

Cyber Entrepreneur in Residence

Bryan Jensen

Attorney & Technologist - Microsoft Corporation