July 20, 2026
Q2 Digest: Drone Delivery, AI in Greenwood, and a National Spotlight on Tulsa's Talent
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Innovation News
July 20, 2026
Q2 Digest: Drone Delivery, AI in Greenwood, and a National Spotlight on Tulsa's Talent
From a landmark AI lab opening in Greenwood to an international drone delivery company choosing Tulsa for its first U.S. metro operation, the second quarter of 2026 was a busy one.
From a landmark AI lab opening in Greenwood to an international drone delivery company choosing Tulsa for its first U.S. metro operation, the second quarter of 2026 was a busy one. Across autonomous systems, energy, AI, and talent, the pieces of Tulsa's advanced-industry ecosystem kept coming together, cementing the region's place among the country's most dynamic innovation ecosystems. Here's a look back at the quarter.
Manna Air Delivery Launches Its First U.S. Metro Operation in Tulsa
Manna Air Delivery, the Irish-founded leader in autonomous drone delivery, announced the launch of its first full-scale metropolitan U.S. operation in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The move marks a major milestone in the company's international expansion, along with its investment in U.S.-based drone manufacturing and job creation.
The launch establishes Tulsa as Manna's central operational base in the United States and begins a significant investment in the American market.
Greenwood Cyber + AI Lab Opens Its Doors
Black Tech Street and Microsoft celebrated the grand opening of the Greenwood Cyber + AI Lab at the GEM building in Tulsa's historic Greenwood district. Part of the broader Greenwood AI Center of Excellence, the lab brings together startups, enterprises, researchers, and public-sector partners to develop next-generation AI, cybersecurity, and autonomous systems innovations. The work is supported through Tulsa's federal Tech Hub designation, led by TIL.
Energy Startups Pitch at the Rose Rock Bridge Showcase
Energy startups from across the country converged in Tulsa for the Rose Rock Bridge Showcase, pitching to industry leaders including Devon Energy, H&P, ONEOK, and Williams. Rose Rock Bridge selected 15 companies for its six-week virtual accelerator from more than 80 applicants nationwide. Four companies will receive a share of $400,000 in non-dilutive capital and establish a Tulsa presence. To date, the program has generated 16 pilots and 6 long-term contracts.
The Wall Street Journal Names Tulsa a Top Hiring Hot Spot for Graduates
The Wall Street Journal spotlighted Tulsa as No. 6 among U.S. cities where college graduates are landing good jobs, recognizing the talent ecosystem that TIL and our partners have worked to build. The story underscores Tulsa's growing national reputation as a place where young professionals can build meaningful careers.
Xponential 2026: Tulsa on the Autonomous Systems Main Stage
TIL joined more than 10,000 attendees from over 60 countries at the 2026 Xponential Show, the world's largest autonomous systems event. With booth visitors from 40 states and 12 countries, TIL showcased Tulsa's capabilities as a federally designated Tech Hub for autonomous systems. Tulsa's Skyway Range, defense innovation pathways, and workforce training programs spoke directly to the industry's most pressing challenges: scaling production, regulatory certainty for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, trusted supply chains, and talent development.
Good News, Tulsa
A few recent headlines we're excited about:
- Quantum Space to Build Spacecraft in Tulsa (SpaceNews). Quantum Space announced it will build its next-generation spacecraft in Tulsa, further cementing the city's role in aerospace and defense technology.
- Where Workforce Capacity Is Being Built, and Where It's Being Deployed (Area Development). Oklahoma ranked No. 8 nationally for workforce capacity in skilled trades in Area Development's newManufacturing Talent Pipeline Index, a signal of the region's readiness for industrial growth.
- A Model to Accelerate Energy Technology Innovation (Fast Company). TIL Managing Director Jennifer Hankins authored a Fast Company piece on how Rose Rock Bridge's demand-first startup model is closing the commercialization gap in energy, and why it's working.
- TCC Graduate Engineering Her Future Through Partnership Program (Tulsa World). A Tulsa Community College graduate story highlighting how workforce partnership programs are creating real pathways to high-skill, high-wage careers for Tulsans.
- Building the Energy Future While the Rest of America Argues About It (LinkedIn). America's Energy Belt is moving from debate to deployment, and this piece highlights how Tulsa and the broader energy corridor are taking action.
- Jennifer Hankins Is Making Tulsa a Tech Hub Worth Watching (Rolling Out). Managing Director Jennifer Hankins on how Tulsa is using AI, federal investment, and community partnerships to build an economy that works for everyone.
- Performance Management as a Talent Strategy (Tulsa Innovation Labs). TIL's Director of Workforce & Talent, Lawrence Ganti, writes about why the most effective companies are rethinking performance reviews, and how that connects to retention, leadership development, and workforce resiliency.
- How Tyrance Billingsley II Is Creating the Rebirth of Black Wall Street (Rolling Out). A profile of Black Tech Street founder Tyrance Billingsley II and his vision for Greenwood as a global center forBlack-led technology innovation.
Welcome to the Team
Please join us in welcoming the newest members of the TIL team.
Michelle Ondak, Director, Industry Relationships
Michelle brings more than eight years of economic development experience across community, regional, statewide, and utility-based initiatives to TIL. In her new role, she works to strengthen relationships with industry partners and stakeholders while supporting strategic initiatives that advance innovation and economic growth across the Tulsa region.
Benjamin Lasiewicz, CERP, Manager, Market Intelligence
Benjamin joinsTIL with more than 25 years of experience in economic development research and analytics. As Manager of Market Intelligence, he identifies industry trends, develops strategic insights, and informs investments that strengthen Tulsa's advanced-industry ecosystem.
Holly Foreman, Director, Business Attraction
Holly brings a proven track record of recruiting businesses and investment and building relationships that drive regional growth. Across multiple roles focused on business attraction and retention, she has experience recruiting companies across a wide range of emerging and high-growth industries.
That's a snapshot of a full quarter. Tulsa's advanced-industry ecosystem keeps building,and there's more ahead in Q3.
July 16, 2026
Manna Selects Tulsa for Its First Full-Scale U.S. Drone Operation
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July 17, 2026
Two Years In, Tulsa's Tech Hub Is Delivering
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