TULSA, Okla. — Black Tech Street has partnered with NVIDIA to bring transformative AI innovation education to Tulsa’s Historic Greenwood District. Their collaboration aims to make Tulsa a national model for tech-driven economic empowerment and community advancement.
Rebirthing Black Wall Street Through AI and Strategic Partnership
Since its founding, Black Tech Street has been working to rebirth Historic Black Wall Street as a premier innovation hub rooted in AI and cybersecurity. The organization will lead efforts to integrate cutting-edge technologies in partnership with NVIDIA, a global leader in AI, data science, and accelerated computing.
“We could not be more excited to partner with NVIDIA to make Tulsa a national leader on AI,” said Tyrance Billingsley II, founder and CEO of Black Tech Street. “NVIDIA is powering the AI revolution—likely the most impactful leap in human history. To have them standing with us in Greenwood, committing to help our community harness and lead this revolution, means more than I can articulate. This is a game-changing win for Black Wall Street.”
As a steering committee member of Tulsa’s Tech Hub coalition—led by Tulsa Innovation Labs—Black Tech Street played a key role in the city’s designation as a Tech Hub for Autonomous Systems by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Moreover, the coalition recently secured $51 million in federal funding, with $10.6 million allocated to create a Greenwood AI Center of Excellence, spearheaded by Black Tech Street.
Through this collaboration, Black Tech Street and NVIDIA will partner with the Tech Hub and local community organizations. They will also work with the State of Oklahoma to train up to 10,000 learners. Training will be delivered through educational institutions and community partners.
“Our collaboration with BTS and the larger Tulsa ecosystem is helping prepare and equip all segments of the workforce to operate and sustain transformative technology that is building America’s future,” said Michael Boone, Manager, Trustworthy AI Product – NVIDIA.
Key Goals of the Partnership
Expansion of AI Education: Empower Tulsa’s greater community with advanced AI skills through educational programs at institutions like Langston University, Oklahoma State University, and Tulsa Community College.
Economic Empowerment: Fuel economic growth in the Greenwood District by supporting tech startups and creating high-paying jobs in AI.
National Innovation Model: Establish Tulsa—through Greenwood—as a national model and testing ground for AI innovation.
NVIDIA’s Commitments Include:
- Recruiting local entrepreneurs, technologists, and students for NVIDIA’s training and certification programs.
- Hosting community events such as hackathons, innovation challenges, and tech fairs to foster engagement.
- Offering advanced computing resources, including NVIDIA GPUs and cloud-based platforms, to support AI projects and startups.
- Collaborating with BTS to pursue federal, state, and philanthropic grants for research, talent development, and economic impact.
- Connecting Tulsa startups to NVIDIA’s Inception program and startup ecosystem to accelerate local growth.
Oklahoma Leaders Praise the Impact
“I am incredibly excited to see these two organizations come together to position Tulsa as a leader in AI innovation,” said Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols. “This partnership will generate economic impact for years to come. NVIDIA and Black Tech Street are setting the stage for new jobs for Tulsans and opening doors of opportunity for our community.”
“Oklahoma is fast becoming a national leader in next-generation innovation—from AI to aerospace and beyond,” said U.S. Senator James Lankford. “Whether it’s in Tulsa or across the state, Oklahoma is proving that you don’t have to be on the coasts to be on the cutting edge.”
Statewide Impact and Education
The MOU sets the foundation for statewide expansion, positioning Oklahoma as a leader in AI education and innovation. Additionally, Black Tech Street’s partners—Microsoft, SeedAI, Langston University, Urban Coders Guild, and Tulsa Innovation Labs—will support the initiative.
Furthermore, educators can earn certifications through the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute University Ambassador Program. The program provides access to teaching kits, workshop content, and NVIDIA GPU-powered cloud workstations.
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