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OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov. 11, 2026 – On Veterans Day, ten veteran entrepreneurs took the stage at The Verge in Oklahoma City with a business to defend and $10,000 on the line. By the end of the night, one thing was just as clear as the winner: when Oklahoma's financial community shows up for veterans, good things happen.
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Credit: Jason Burger & KOCO 5 News
Financial institutions are the heart
Financial institutions sit at the center of everything we do at Baker Hill, and Battle OKC is no exception. Banks and credit unions are the engines of community growth. They fund the first location, the first hire and the first big contract. We build lending technology for them, we partner with them through Baker Hill's CEED (Community Entrepreneurship Economic Development) initiative, and bringing them together with local entrepreneurs is one of our highest priorities.
That is why we are so grateful to Jesse Ledford, Consumer Regional Manager at Bank of Oklahoma; Brady Powers, Small Business Underwriting Manager at Arvest Bank; and Brian Peterson, SVP/Manager of Business Services at Tinker FCU, who joined us in supporting Battle OKC as judges. Family, friends, investors, and partners from across the region filled the room to watch, listen and connect with the founders on stage. Partners like these are integral to the strength of Oklahoma's communities, and when they invest in veterans, the impact reaches far beyond a single night.
Pictured from the left: Jesse Ledford, Brian Peterson, Brady Powers, Andy Ivankovich, Bradley Carter and Bobby "Trae" Trousdale
Our community partners made the night possible, too. A special thank-you to Kristin Garcia, executive director, and the team at The Verge, our host venue and a recruiting and pitch-coaching partner. Thank you also to IVMF, Gradient and the Oklahoma SBDC, who helped recruit entrepreneurs and coach their pitches. We were also honored to have two of the city's own leaders on the judging panel: Bradley Carter, OKC City Councilman, and Bobby "Trae" Trousdale, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Mayor.
Why This Matters
Ten finalists, one stage
Every finalist earned a spot with a three-minute pitch video, and each business was veteran-owned, registered in Oklahoma and operating for a year or more. The field was wide: a PC services company, a health and wellness startup, an app, career coaching and an online portfolio platform, among others. Dirk Soma, Director of CEED, served as emcee and moderator, keeping the night moving from pitch to pitch. Each pitch was scored on the same eight criteria, from problem and traction to business model and feasibility.
Congratulations, Mia Woodson
Our winner is Army veteran Mia Woodson, founder of MIA (Maternal Integrity Assistant), a software tool that helps Medicaid doulas get paid for their work quickly by taking a voice note after each client visit, and turning it into Medicaid-ready documentation, producing a claim that’s ready to file. Mia took the top prize and the $10,000 that comes with it. Congratulations, Mia, and thank you to every finalist for the effort, nerve and ideas you brought to the stage.
This is what we do
Cash prizes matter, but the bigger goal is putting veteran talent in front of the local banks and investors who can help it grow. Battle OKC is a big, visible example of something we do regularly and naturally. At Baker Hill, empowering entrepreneurs is part of our business. Through CEED (Community Entrepreneurship Economic Development), we bring financial institutions, entrepreneurs, and community and technical colleges together to create pathways to business growth and economic opportunity. Participating institutions strengthen community ties, expand their local presence and build trusted relationships along the way.
To the banks and credit unions who joined us in Oklahoma City: thank you. To the veterans who pitched: thank you for your service, and for building something.
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