The University of Tulsa recently welcomed alumnus Will Gray (B.A. ’12, MBA ’14) as part of its Cyber Fellows Speaker Series. Gray, now co‑founder and managing partner of investment firm Starframe Capital, spoke to doctoral students about entrepreneurship, national critical infrastructure and the future of careers in science, engineering, math and technology.
Gray shared his unconventional path into finance, noting that although he majored in Spanish, a UTulsa class sparked an unexpected interest in capital markets. Before founding Starframe, he spent five years at Atento Capital, where he led investments for a multibillion‑dollar foundation.
Drawing on his experience, he shared advice on entrepreneurship: Learn from fellow entrepreneurs, research extensively, seek feedback and start the business. “It’s like swimming,” he said. “You’re not going to figure it out until you get tossed in the deep end.”
During his talk, he emphasized how the United States is entering a new era. Critical supply chains with unique expertise in areas such as cybersecurity are reshaping the country’s industrial backbone. This indicates strong opportunities for STEM-driven careers.
Gray closed with a bit of motivation for aspiring innovators: “It’s just an idea until you add a little progress each day.”