TULSA, Okla. — Tai Nehisi grew up in Brooklyn, New York, but today she is at the heart of a movement unfolding in Tulsa — leading the city’s first ever Tulsa Tech Week, a six?day celebration of tech, culture, and people helping to build Tulsa’s emerging tech identity.
From Brooklyn to Tulsa: A Journey of Purpose
Neihisi, founder and executive producer of Tulsa Tech Week, moved to Tulsa in February 2023 through the Tulsa Remote program, which recruits remote workers from outside Oklahoma and offers them financial incentives and community support. She arrived not just with her roots in a big city, but with a tech startup in tow — Organizely, a software?as?a?service company focused on future workplace productivity.
“I moved my startup from Brooklyn to Tulsa because I believed in contributing to something bigger than myself. I wanted to be part of a community that was building something meaningful, not just for today, but for future generations. I didn’t come here just to take up space—I came to pour in, to offer what I know how to do, and to help make sure this tech hub reaches everyone it’s meant to serve,” Neihisi told The Black Wall Street Times.
Her inspiration for launching Tulsa Tech Week crystallized in mid?2024 after learning about Tulsa’s designation as a federal tech hub, by then president Joe Biden, supported by a $51 million grant from the U.S. government plus $49 million in matching philanthropic funds — $100 million total to deepen Tulsa’s tech infrastructure. While the money was announced, Neihisi saw something missing: visibility, community outreach, inclusion. She says not enough had been done to bring the reality of Tulsa’s tech potential into public view.
What Tulsa Tech Week Looks Like
Running Monday, September 22 through Saturday, September 27, 2025, Tulsa Tech Week will feature over 100 events hosted by more than 90 partners.
“You don’t need to be a coder to belong in tech. There’s something here for everyone,” Neihisi said.
Events range from panels to open houses, networking mixers, workshops, parties, and free educational sessions.
A few highlights:
- Digital literacy and cybersecurity sessions, including how to spot AI misinformation, recognize scams, and protect privacy online.
- Participation by Tulsa institutions like the city?county library, University of Tulsa, Langston University (the state’s only HBCU), and Greenwood Rising Museum.
- Leisure and culture?oriented events: open mic, screen?free kickbacks, an adult field day, a tech meets Greek mixer, DJ tech workshops, etc.
Neihisi emphasizes that the Week is for everyone, not just people who already work in tech or consider themselves techy. She says technology touches everyday life. These events are spread across Tulsa so people can find something in their own neighborhood. The opening ceremony is free, with food trucks and a ribbon cutting, and there will be a closing ceremony on the final day.
On Being a Black Woman Building Here
Neihisi is at the intersection of many identities — Black, woman, newcomer, entrepreneur. She insists she is “not rare” among Black women founders and tech leaders, but acknowledges that visibility is scarce, which makes her presence and role visible in Tulsa feel impactful.
“I’m not rare — I’m just visible. There are Black women founders everywhere, you just don’t see us,” she added.
She frames her work as a contribution: “I believe in myself enough to invest my time, my money, and my energy into my community.”
She also tackles challenges head-on—building sustainability beyond initial philanthropy, stopping extractive practices that keep dollars from circulating locally, and urging institutions and individuals to invest in each other.
Bigger Picture: Tulsa, Tech, Equity
“You can’t build a tech ecosystem without the community. This isn’t just about innovation — it’s about access,” she said during the interview. Hence, Black Tech Street, Urban Coders Guild and even Langston University are in support for Tulsa’s premier Tech week events.
“I’m proud to support this effort and incredibly proud of Tai and what she’s building for Tulsa. I’m super excited. This is an amazing opportunity to highlight the tech ecosystem building initiatives happening right here in Tulsa, and it’s a chance for our local community to see how quickly we’re becoming a city driven by a tech economy,” Mikael Vaughn, founder and executive director of Urban Coders Guild told The Black Wall Street Times.
One of the standout events during Tulsa Tech Week is a community-centered Hackathon hosted by Musa Capital and Microsoft, with support from Black Tech Street. The event invites local residents to collaborate on building real enterprise solutions—making tech innovation not just accessible, but actionable.
“We are participating in Tulsa Tech Week because we support the vision of showcasing Tulsa’s tech talent and what our city has to offer as an ecosystem,” Tyrance Billingsley, founder and executive director of Black Tech Street, told The Black Wall Street Times.
Together, these organizations reflect a collective commitment to ensuring Tulsa’s tech future is not just profitable, but people-powered. Tulsa Tech Week is more than an event—it’s a declaration that innovation belongs to everyone, especially those historically excluded from the table. By centering access, collaboration, and cultural relevance, Tulsa is shaping a tech ecosystem where community isn’t an afterthought—it’s the foundation.
What’s Next
Neihisi hopes Tulsa Tech Week will not only elevate awareness but change perception: that tech is for everybody, and that Tulsa is not just a place to pass through, but a place to build, stay, contribute. She wants next year to be even bigger — more local business involvement, more grassroots participation, broader support.
Call to Action:
Tulsa residents can register for events now via the Tulsa Tech Week website. Most events are free. If you haven’t yet discovered Tulsa’s tech potential, this week might just be your entry.
