Sky Ventures: ORU’s Student-Led Organization is Helping Entrepreneurs Turn Ideas into Businesses

ORU’s Sky Ventures team.
(left to right) Andrew Formsma, Daniel Marques, Isaiah Sparkman and Hayden Guenzler

Turning an idea into a business can be challenging, especially as a college student. Today’s student entrepreneurs don’t just want to learn business concepts, they want support to turn their ideas into reality. With ORU’s recent improvements in the Fenimore & Fisher College of Business, students have this support and are creating even more ways to make the most of their experience. One of those ways is through Sky Ventures, a student-led initiative under the Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship. In collaboration with bestselling author and ORU alumni Jim Stovall, Sky Ventures was created by ORU students Andrew Formsma, Daniel Marques, Isaiah Sparkman, and Hayden Guenzler to provide campus-wide support for entrepreneurs and start-ups. 

“Jim Stovall once shared with us, ‘Everybody has great ideas. Once a week, you find something you trip over—a problem that needs to be solved,’” said Drew Formsma. “In the same way, we were tripping over something. We wanted more support on the business side, and it was hard getting it, so we created it. A lot of people have epiphanies but don't know where to go or what to do with them, so our goal is to help develop these people into great business leaders and entrepreneurs.” 

Tulsa, home to ORU, is ranked as #12 on Policygenius’ list of top 25 “Best cities to start a business in 2022.” As Tulsa becomes a location for future entrepreneurs, the Sky Ventures team is supporting ORU’s growing student entrepreneurs and helping form their businesses, launch their products, and scale their growth. This is done through four initiatives: The Nest Accelerator, Eagles VC, Sky View Media and Branding, and Sky Impact Community and Innovation.  

Leading to Create Space, Skills, and Opportunities for Spirit-Empowered Entrepreneurs

Before Sky Ventures, ORU business student Hayden Guenzler immersed himself in the business world on the University’s campus. Hayden is passionate about helping students validate their business ideas, and he’s doing this as the managing director of The Nest Accelerator, the first initiative in Sky Ventures. In his role, he’s assisting students in receiving investments for their business ideas and successfully entering the marketplace. 

"This is us validating the student’s business ideas,” said Hayden, “showing them that we welcome their ideas and are focused on growing them on this campus. With three portfolio companies in the accelerator right now, they'll pitch to our venture capital fund, where they can receive grants. It's been very exciting to see! What we're doing is validating and promoting those founders at ORU.”

Bringing in Investments Through Eagles VC: A Student-Led Venture Fund

As an ORU business major, Daniel Marques saw the need for students, especially international ones like himself, to acquire quality teaching and hands-on experience in early-stage investing and entrepreneurship. After speaking with his professor Dr. Kevin Schneider, he knew it was time to act, which was another step in creating Sky Ventures. As the managing director of the second initiative, Eagles VC Fund, Daniel is helping students identify viable investment opportunities based on the ideas and problems addressed in the marketplace. 

“I was blessed to intern at a venture capital fund here in Tulsa during my sophomore year,” said Daniel. “I worked with internationals across North America where I learned valuable business insights. From that moment on, I was determined to not let anything stop me. One of our big key points is to empower international students and give them access to connect with managing directors of investment funds here in Tulsa and put their skills, abilities and perspectives in front of those people.” 

Driving Creativity and Passion Through Sky View: The Voice of Sky Ventures

Serving with passion and creativity, ORU business student Isaiah Sparkman is the director of Sky View Media and Branding, the third initiative of Sky Ventures. Motivated by his desire to see student entrepreneurs succeed, Isaiah serves to create various media branding for Sky Ventures, including their latest newsletter and podcast. Isaiah sees Sky View as the perfect intersection of creativity and purpose-driven action. Through this outlet, he’s communicating the heart of Sky Ventures—to empower creativity and ignite action in ORU students by giving them a place to be heard, a space to grow, and access to capital.

“We’re creating a platform for ORU students,” said Isaiah, “so our community partners can see their involvement and the great work they're doing. Our students can demonstrate their ideas and their potential. We’re giving them a shot. It's another way that we're connecting the outside Tulsa community and beyond with the assets we already have and those we're developing.”

Expanding Sky Ventures’ Reach ORU Students and Beyond Through Sky Impact

As the published author of Everyday Generosity, giving is a way of life for ORU business student Andrew Formsma. Andrew remains inspired to give in ways that are even making a difference on ORU’s campus. Serving as the director of Sky Impact Community and Innovation, the fourth initiative of Sky Ventures, Andrew is connecting Sky Ventures to ORU’s student body by holding events where industry experts and students collaborate.  

“Our job is to help create and develop great business leaders and entrepreneurs,” said Andrew. “We started with this small vision, and God has blessed us. We’ve received encouragement from our advisors and the faculty at ORU, who are excited about this. We believe a business is coming out of Sky Ventures that will someday come back and be a great donor to ORU.”

For more information, visit Sky Ventures.

ABOUT ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with over a decade 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. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 142 nations (from 2019 to 2022) to be whole leaders for the whole world.

The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #4 university in the nation for student engagement. This ranking is based upon faculty interactions, collaborative learning, critical thinking, real-world applications of student learning, the extent to which classes challenge students, and whether students would recommend a university to others. Niche recognizes ORU as one of the most diverse colleges in America.

ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:

• #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
• #2 in Most International Students
• #3 in Best Value
• #6 in Best College for Veterans
• #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West

For more information, visit www.oru.edu.