Angel Network to Support ORU Student and Alumni Entrepreneurs

Tulsa, Oklahoma, February 9, 2026–The Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship (SC4E) at Oral Roberts University (ORU) is proud to announce the formation of the Angel Network, a strategic initiative that connects visionary investors and the next generation of student entrepreneurs as well as alumni of ORU who are founders of new businesses. Launching with available capital, the Angel Network began reviewing investments during ORU’s 2025 Launch Pitch Competition, an annual competition for student entrepreneurs.

“At ORU, we believe that entrepreneurship is a way for Spirit-empowered leaders to bring creative solutions to the world’s greatest needs,” said Dr. William M. Wilson, ORU President. “By uniting the faith, talent, and resources of our alumni and friends, we are creating an ecosystem where groundbreaking innovation can flourish and transform industries for God’s glory. The Angel Network will help our students and alumni turn God-inspired ideas into enterprises that advance His Kingdom in every field of endeavor.”
 




Hosted by the SC4E, The Launch Pitch Competition is ORU’s premier platform for student innovators to receive mentoring, develop strategies, and pitch ideas to real investors. The annual Launch event is sponsored by world-renowned author and speaker Jim Stovall (‘81) along with his wife, Crystal (Smith ’81). The Stovalls have long demonstrated their commitment to supporting ORU and its students through ongoing generosity and leadership.

“Startup capital is like sunlight, water, and fertilizer to a growing venture,” said Stovall, “and the Angel Network exists to bring that life-giving energy to our entrepreneurs, helping bold ideas take root and flourish.”

The Angel Network unites alumni, investors, and entrepreneurs from diverse industries who share a common mission to advance Spirit-empowered enterprises. For the first time in the competition’s history, finalists from The Launch had the opportunity to present directly to members of the Angel Network, opening pathways to early-stage investment and high-level mentorship from seasoned business leaders.




Approximately 30 startup teams are currently active within ORU’s entrepreneurship programs, with many more students engaging in independent ventures beyond the SC4E network.

“Seeing investors who share our faith and values is huge,” said Business Administration Major Luke Lohman. “It reminds us that business can be a calling, and that there are people ready to help us walk it out. It gives us confidence to dream bigger, knowing we’re not doing this alone. Opportunities like this make the whole journey feel real and within reach.”

Finalists from The Launch Pitch Competition and participants in the Spring Incubator program are automatically eligible for review and consideration by the Angel Network. Further details regarding participation in and engagement with the Angel Network will be released by the SC4E team in the coming months.




The Stovall Center extends sincere gratitude to Bob Goshen, a committed sponsor of The Launch and a valued friend of the Stovall Center. Bob’s generosity and steadfast support have empowered students to pursue their ideas with confidence and engage meaningfully in the entrepreneurial process. His belief in innovation and in our students has made a lasting impact on the Stovall Center community, and we are deeply thankful for his continued partnership.

Qualified investors interested in joining the Angel Network are encouraged to contact the SC4E team directly at sc4e@oru.edu for more information.

Nationally Ranked, Globally Recognized

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 17 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. In 2024, the Carnegie Foundation recognized ORU with a “Leadership for Public Purpose” award, a distinction earned by only 25 universities nationwide. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 174 nations in the last 6 years to be whole leaders for the whole world.