Black Tech Street and NVIDIA Partner to Make Tulsa a National AI Innovation Hub
Black Tech Street has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NVIDIA to advance Tulsa, Oklahoma, and more specifically Historic Greenwood, as a model for artificial intelligence innovation, education, and economic empowerment. Black Tech Street, an organization dedicated to rebirthing Historic Black Wall Street into a premier Innovation Economy focused on Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity, is working to ensure that this historic district becomes a leading force in emerging technology and economic opportunity.
As a steering committee member of the city’s Tech Hub coalition, led by Tulsa Innovation Labs, Black Tech Street played a key role in Tulsa’s recognition as a Tech Hub for Autonomous Systems by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. $51 million was raised as a result of this designation, of which $10.6 million was set aside for the establishment of a Greenwood AI Center of Excellence under the direction of Black Tech Street. Through the newly announced collaboration, Black Tech Street and NVIDIA will work alongside the Tech Hub, the local community, and the State of Oklahoma to integrate NVIDIA’s advanced technologies, expertise, and training. Together, they aim to train up to 10,000 learners in partnership with educational institutions and community organizations, providing the region with transformative skills and opportunities.
“This partnership with NVIDIA represents a game-changing moment for Black Wall Street,” said Tyrance Billingsley II, Founder and CEO of Black Tech Street. “NVIDIA is powering the AI revolution, which is likely to be one of the most significant leaps in human history. To have them standing with us in Greenwood, helping our community harness and lead this revolution, means more than I can fully articulate.”
Louis Stewart, Head of Ecosystem Development at NVIDIA, added that the collaboration with Black Tech Street and the broader Tulsa ecosystem is designed to prepare and equip every segment of the workforce to operate and sustain transformative technologies that are shaping America’s future.
Mayor Monroe Nichols expressed his enthusiasm by noting that the partnership will help establish Tulsa as a leader in AI innovation and generate lasting economic impact, creating new opportunities for Tulsans. Senator James Lankford emphasized that Oklahoma’s unique combination of talent, vision, and determination is attracting groundbreaking partnerships that prove leadership in innovation does not have to be limited to the coasts.
A network of partners, including Tulsa Innovation Labs, Microsoft, Seedai, Langston University, Tulsa Economic Development Corporation, Urban Coders Guild, and the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium, will support the MOU’s implementation. Through this initiative, educators will also have opportunities to gain certification through the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute University Ambassador Program, connecting them with world-class teaching resources and GPU-accelerated workstations in the cloud. This collaboration begins in Tulsa and establishes the foundation for a broader statewide effort to position Oklahoma as a national leader in AI education, innovation, and economic development.
