Veterans DAY 2026
THE BATTLE OF OKC
Veteran’s Business Pitch Competition
Ten veteran entrepreneur finalists pitch their business concepts to a panel of judges for a chance at $10,000.
Sponsored by
When
November 11, 2026
5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Where
The Verge
Oklahoma City
Top prize
$10,000
10 finalists pitching
How it works
PATH to the finals stage
Every entry starts with a three-minute video. To be eligibile, it must be a majority veteran-owned business, operating at least 1 year and registered in Oklahoma.
All videos must be received by midnight on October 29, 2026 still to be confirmed.
VIDEO SUBMISSION
DEADLINE - OCTOBER 29
Submit a 3-minute video showcasing your business.
Eligibility: majority veteran-owned, operating at least 1 year, registered in Oklahoma.
The 10 semifinalists will be announced November 1, 2026.
The finalists will receive coaching from the community.
The finals stage
novEMBER 11
Finalists get 3 minutes to pitch their concept to a panel of judges.
A 2-minute Q&A with the judges follows each pitch.
Scores are tallied and the winners are announced at the end of the event.
Prizes are awarded on the night of the battle.
Partners and roles
Who is behind the battle
Five partners carry the competition, from recruiting entrepreneurs and coaching their pitches to funding the prizes and judging the semifinals.
BAKER HILL
Title sponsor
Baker Hill is a financial technology company that helps banks and credit unions lend better, lend faster, and lend more.™ Since 1983, we’ve partnered with financial institutions to modernize how they originate, decision, and manage loans. Our software is configurable rather than cumbersome, and it’s backed by a team that includes 25+ former bankers who understand the work firsthand. Today we serve 400+ institutions, including more than 20% of the top 150 U.S. banks, and we decision $7B in lending each month. Our clients stay with us for 12 years on average, because we focus on people before processors and proof over promises.
CEED
Title sponsor
At Baker Hill, empowering entrepreneurs is literally part of our business. CEED (Community Entrepreneurship Economic Development) brings financial institutions, entrepreneurs, and community and technical colleges together to create pathways to business growth and economic opportunity.
CEED helps bridge that gap by bringing together financial institutions, colleges, and local leaders to support underserved entrepreneurs. In turn, participating institutions strengthen community ties, expand their local presence, and build trusted relationships." Learn more
About the competition
Veterans Battle
Veterans Battle is a premier pitch event in major cities across the US showcasing veteran entrepreneurs. Modeled on the pace and discipline of active duty, it combines fast-paced pitches, multi-day mentoring and organizing, all compressed into just 30 days. Cash awards go to the top three winners, but the larger goal is to showcase veteran talent and connect these entrepreneurs with local banks and investors.
Veterans Battle OKC is led by Air Force veteran and software entrepreneur Andy Ivankovich, working alongside Oklahoma nonprofits, local banks and credit unions.
Led by
Andy Ivankovich
Air Force Veteran, Entrepreneur, and CEO and Chairman, BKR H/LL
Andy Ivankovich is a U.S. Air Force veteran and the CEO and Chairman of BKR H/LL, a leading software provider to banks and credit unions nationwide. He began as a C-130 crew chief and mechanic and became a software entrepreneur. He is passionate about helping fellow veterans make the same journey through advocacy, training, and mentorship.
From Lakeland to the flight line
Andy grew up outside Lakeland, Florida. His father died when he was 11, and he, his mother, and two siblings (one severely disabled) lived in extreme poverty on Social Security survivor benefits. He worked three jobs in high school to help support his family and, though academically gifted, couldn't afford college. His older brother joined the Navy, and Andy joined the Air Force, stationed at Elmendorf AFB in Alaska.
One day, a pilot left a magazine on a seat, and Andy read Clayton Christensen's Harvard Business Review article on disruptive innovation. It lit a dream of attending college and entering financial services software. He worked nights on the flight line and took classes by day. After an honorable discharge, he used the GI Bill to earn a BA in Business Administration from Eastern Nazarene College, south of Boston.
Career
Andy's first job in Boston was at Aviva PLC, one of the world's largest insurers, where in the early 2000s he used cutting-edge web services technology to move US operations online. In 2004, USAA recruited him to San Antonio to help build its digital bank. He led lending technology development and became product executive for USAA's $14 billion lending portfolio. He also helped fund and lead startups through USAA investments in companies like TrueCar, and is a named inventor on several USAA-owned patents, including online car buying and integrated auto lending.
After an executive role at JPMorgan Chase, Andy founded iLendx in San Antonio, offering digital lending platforms to banks and credit unions and pioneering cloud-based checking account opening and lending. In 2018, Fortune 500 banking technology provider Fiserv acquired the company, and Andy became president of its lending division, serving more than 4,000 US banks.
Giving back to veterans
After leaving Fiserv in 2022, Andy and his wife, Missy, began volunteering with programs nationwide that teach veterans and their families to start businesses. He has personally helped more than 30 veterans start and run companies and speaks around the country to aspiring veteran entrepreneurs.
Return to software
In 2024, $9 billion private equity firm FlexPoint Ford selected Andy to lead BKR H/LL, one of the largest providers of commercial and small business lending software for banks and credit unions. Every day, 25,000 lenders log in to the platform, helping fund communities with nearly $7 billion in capital each month.
Entrepreneurship education
Through a partnership with the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) and business professor Dirk Soma, Andy and BKR H/LL deliver entrepreneur education in over 30 cities. Programs run through community colleges and BKR H/LL's bank and credit union partners, primarily serving veterans, women, minorities, and underserved communities.
Judging criteria
What the judges score
Every pitch is scored on the same eight criteria. Build your video and your live pitch around them.
01
Problem
Well defined, substantiated by potential market or data.
02
Target market
Well defined, viable, encounters the identified problem regularly.
03
Solution
Logical, meets the needs of the market, scalable.
04
Traction
A measurable set of customers that proves the potential.
05
Business model
Channels are effective, efficient and relevant to reaching the target market.
06
Market plan
Comprehensive, identifies competitors, with strategies that are relevant and measurable through every phase of the business.
07
Feasibility
Start-up costs are reasonable and thought out, with a complete pro forma.
08
Presentation
The team shows knowledge and experience, with a professional appearance and delivery.
Press and media
Download the media kit
The competition story, event details and press conference information for the Battle of OKC, in one PDF.