Devon Laney built his career on a deep-rooted entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to fostering innovation. Growing up in rural Alabama, he drew inspiration from his grandfather, who launched the first radio station in their hometown. Laney started his own journey by founding Southeast Concerts, a web-based logistics company serving the entertainment industry across the SEC market.
“I never really understood the impact that [entrepreneurship] would have on me growing up until later in life when I look back and see my journey and how entrepreneurship had impacted it and helped influence my journey,” said Devon Laney.
After selling the business during graduate school, he strengthened his expertise in strategy and technology at Accenture. His passion for entrepreneurship led him to Birmingham, Alabama, where he expanded the Entrepreneurial Center into Innovation Depot, a major support hub for startups. As CEO, he championed entrepreneurship as a driver of economic development. In 2019, he brought his expertise to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he transformed 36 Degrees North into Gradient, a leading hub for innovation and business growth.
“I got a call from another recruiter who told me that there was a group in Tulsa, Oklahoma, really looking to build out their ecosystem,” said Laney. “And they had heard about some of the work that we had done in Birmingham, and they felt that Tulsa and Oklahoma were at a really good point to begin to think about how to grow entrepreneurship support in a way that was impactful, meaningful, but also very intentional.”
Gradient serves as Tulsa’s hub for innovation, providing entrepreneurs, startups, and remote workers with the resources they need to grow. Acting as the front door to the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, Gradient connects individuals with mentorship, funding, business support, and collaborative work spaces. The organization fosters a thriving business community by offering incubator and accelerator programs, boot camps, and workshops designed to help ventures scale successfully. By uniting key resources under one roof, Gradient simplifies the path for innovators to access capital, legal and marketing assistance, and strategic partnerships. Gradient’s dynamic network and data-driven approach strengthens Tulsa’s position as a premier destination for business growth and innovation.
“As we’ve grown and evolved with incubator programs, accelerator programs, boot camps, workshops, all these things, it became clear that everyone in Tulsa, maybe Oklahoma, associated 36 Degrees North with a specific co-working location,” said Laney. “The challenge that I put forth to our team was I want us to go through the process of thinking about our identity, thinking about our brand, what it represents, what it means, not historically, but long-term, where we’re going and what we’re doing as an organization.”
Gradient will host the upcoming Oklahoma Venture Forum pitch presentation, providing entrepreneurs with a valuable platform to showcase their ideas. Devon Laney emphasizes the importance of clarity and impact when delivering a pitch. He advises entrepreneurs to focus on why their product or service matters, rather than getting lost in technical details. According to Laney, a strong pitch should clearly explain the problem being solved, the size of the market, and why the solution stands out.
“You’ve got to be quick and compelling in why it matters—why what you’re doing matters, and why it’s better than anything else that are alternatives,” said Devon. “The goal is to get them to have a follow-up meeting with you. That’s when you can dive into the features, data, and science.”
Join the OVF Power Pitch Lunch on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, from 11:30 am. at Gradient (12 N Cheyenne Ave in Tulsa). Join OVF to network, learn, and grow with Oklahoma’s vibrant business community.
“We’re excited about showing everyone Gradient in Tulsa,” said Laney. “It’s one of America’s largest dedicated innovation and entrepreneurship hubs anywhere in America. We’re proud of that and excited to host OVF, have the pitches here, and bring people from around the state to Tulsa to see Gradient and the ecosystem here in action so people can check out the website, joingradient.com.”