Echo Amplified – May 2024

The first months of this year included important developments such as the launch of Echo Impact, topping out of Convergence, rollout of our new website, and more.

Welcome to Echo Amplified, where we revisit the latest from our portfolio companies, highlight new investments in cutting-edge ideas, and share other recent updates from the EchoSystem.  

The first months of this year included important developments such as the launch of Echo Impact, topping out of Convergence, rollout of our new website, and more. Read on for the latest insights.

Echo Impact officially launches

An investment strategy anchored on the philosophy that social and financial returns can and should be intertwined, Echo Impact officially launched this spring with Sandino Thompson as managing director.

The philosophy: Focused on unlocking industry-informed innovation and fostering long-term economic growth, Echo Impact aims to invest in and incubate solutions that empower, build, and improve overlooked communities and drive inclusive development as Oklahoma City’s momentum continues to pick up speed.

Echo firmly believes that making money and doing good are not mutually exclusive. Echo Impact is more than an investment strategy aimed at financial returns – it’s a mandate at the core of our mission as investors, partners, and community builders.

Sandino Thompson, Managing Director of Echo Impact

A seasoned leader: As managing director of Echo Impact, Sandino Thompson brings more than 20 years successfully managing multimillion-dollar commercial and residential construction projects, and he has extensive involvement in community and economic development initiatives focused on neighborhood stability and revitalization – including the redevelopment of NEOKC.

As Oklahoma City’s renaissance story continues to be written, the rising tide hasn’t lifted all boats. Echo Impact is designed to advance industry-focused, economic inclusion that will further benefit underrepresented neighborhoods and their unrealized intrinsic value.

Go deeper: Upon launch of Echo Impact, The Oklahoman highlighted Sandino’s new role, which will include management of a $15 million fund to build and advance minority start-ups.

Prairie Surf revealed as Twisters film partner

Twister movie poster

Nearly 30 years since the 1996 thriller Twister, the highly anticipated next chapter from Universal Pictures will hit theaters this summer featuring an all star cast.

Filmed in Oklahoma: Twisters was filmed in various locations across Oklahoma, with a strong presence in Oklahoma City and our own Prairie Surf Studios as a key production partner.

What they’re saying:

Twisters is uniquely tied to our history, and Oklahoma City is honored to have welcomed the Universal team to our community for this important project… I salute the collaboration between the City of Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma City Film & Creative Industries Office, Prairie Surf Media and the Oklahoma Film + Music Office. That collaboration is unique, and it’s one of the primary reasons so many studios are choosing Oklahoma City

Investment in TARA Mind

In September, Prairie Surf Creative officially launched with CEO Matt Payne at the helm.

The concept: Prairie Surf has assembled a talented team of creatives ready to deliver high-impact narratives, documentarian work, and original content to amplify community and empower storytelling.

Coinciding with launch was the premiere of a documentary trailer for The JEWEL, a project elevating the history of OKC’s last surviving Black cinema and playing a vital role in saving the important cultural landmark.

A growing body of work: Prairie Surf Creative has since partnered with some of the largest companies and organizations in the state to meet their business objectives and marketing goals. This includes development of compelling visual stories and campaigns for the University of Oklahoma Price College of Business, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, State Chamber of Oklahoma, Wheeler Bio, OKC Philharmonic, Visit OKC, and others.

Deka Biosciences closes latest financing round

Echo was proud to recently add TARA Mind to our portfolio of strategic investments.  

Why it’s important: Founded by former Navy SEAL Marcus Capone in partnership with Red Cell Partners, TARA Mind seeks to advance transformative and affordable mental health therapies and make them more accessible.

What they’re saying:

At TARA Mind, our mission is to offer a solution that eliminates the existing barriers to life changing therapeutics that millions of American families struggling with depression face daily. We are dedicated to paying forward the lessons learned and fostering a culture of support and well-being.

Go deeper: Learn more about TARA Mind’s psychedelic-assisted therapy and first-of-its-kind mental health collaborative care platform here.

Convergence celebrates topping out

Convergence topping out celebration

In February, we celebrated the topping out of Convergence alongside many of our friends and local partners.

Catch me up: Designed to be an epicenter for collaboration, workforce development, economic diversification, and innovation, the mixed-used project is led by Gardner Tanenbaum and Robinson Park Investments in partnership with Lingo Construction.

Located in the heart of OKC’s Innovation District with connectivity to the state’s two largest universities and adjacency to the State Chamber of Commerce and Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Convergence will include scale-up space for our platform company Wheeler Bio and a venture studio initiative we’re sponsoring for local entrepreneurs.

A project realized: The development will also house a biomanufacturing workforce training center (BioTC) with federal grant funding awarded through the Build Back Better Regional Challenge as the result of a regional coalition we led.  

What’s next? Phase 1 of the new ecosystem is set for completion by the end of the year and grand opening planned for January 2025.

New Echo website goes live

If you’ve stopped by our website recently, you might’ve noticed a revamp.

ICYMI: We’re still at the same URL but with an all-new look and feel inspired by the contemporary vibes and architecture of our downtown OKC headquarters in the Ziggurat building (“The Zig”).

Check us out: Visit echo.global and get to know us better.

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