TulsaBound April 2026 Cohort | Application Deadline: March 1, 2026
Moving somewhere new is a huge decision for most people. You're betting on a place you might have only visited for a weekend, or never seen at all. You're hoping the job opportunities, the community, and the vibe will somehow align with what you need.
TulsaBound, a program put on by Experience Tulsa, has taken an innovative approach to the challenge of relocating.
This 30-day immersive experience is for remote workers, entrepreneurs, creatives, and digital nomads who are "Tulsa curious." Participants get a private apartment, co-working space, curated community events, and the chance to experience Tulsa like a local — all while keeping your job or building your business.
Think of it as a no-pressure test drive. Maybe you're genuinely considering a move. Or maybe you just want to work from somewhere new for a month, meet interesting people, and have some fresh experiences. Either way, you're not signing a lease. You're just giving yourself permission to explore.
Here's what happened to three people who did exactly that: they never left.
We talked to past TulsaBound participants who represent three different pathways you might be considering — the boomerang who left and came back, the entrepreneur who used it as a bridge to Tulsa Remote, and the community builder who found home without an incentive. Here are their stories.
For one month, TulsaBound gives you everything you need to work and explore without the usual stress of figuring out a new city on your own.
Participants are placed in a private apartment in a boutique building with up to 12 other cohort members who are testing out Tulsa while working remotely or building their businesses. There's a dedicated co-working space with reliable Wi-Fi to allow you to do actual work during your stay.
Throughout the week, you'll get up to three optional curated community events, such as local meetups, networking, or just fun ways to experience what's happening in Tulsa. There are weekly dinners where you connect with other participants and Tulsans who actually live there. And weekend activities that show you the side of Tulsa you wouldn't find through a standard Google search.
The cost is $2,500 for the full 30 days. Everything included. Just one month. No lease. No pressure. You keep your job, you explore the city, and maybe something will click.
A lot of people use TulsaBound as a way to test the waters before applying to Tulsa Remote — the program that gives remote workers $10,000 to relocate. But as you'll see in these stories, some people don't need the incentive. They just know.
We talked to past TulsaBound participants who represent three different journeys. Here are their stories.
Jobi Tyson | Florida → Tulsa, Okla. | October 2024 cohort
Pathway: Relocated independently (not through Tulsa Remote)
Jobi came to the first-ever TulsaBound cohort in October 2024 from Florida during one of the hardest seasons of her life. She was navigating grief and needed a change of scenery — somewhere intentional, somewhere she wouldn't just be another face in the crowd. Tulsa wasn't on her radar for any particular reason; she just wanted to be somewhere she wouldn't just be another face in the crowd.
"I was surprised by the sheer warmth of Tulsa natives," Jobi says. "In Tulsa, people don't just point you in the right direction; they walk you there. Tulsans don't just keep their community to themselves. They make space for you."
Within 30 days, Tulsa stopped being a destination on a map and started feeling like home. Jobi didn't go through Tulsa Remote to relocate. She chose to return across the country because Tulsa offered something she'd been longing for: peace and belonging.
"There is a specific culture and a deep-rooted resilience here that is magnetic," she says. "Being here during this historic time, seeing the city elect its first Black mayor and watching the community continue to build — it just felt like home."
Now, Jobi has become a community connector herself. Not only has she created an online guide for businesses vetted as "Safe Havens" in Tulsa, but she also hosts gatherings that have grown "like wildfire" because newcomers and long-time residents alike are craving authentic connection—especially during holidays and major events when being far from family hits the hardest.
"TulsaBound gave me a seat at the table by having me host a community dinner for the second cohort," Jobi reflects. "Now I want to make sure the table is big enough for everyone, especially those who don't have family nearby."
Her advice to anyone on the fence? "The 'ashes' of the past in this city have grown into something incredibly resilient and transformative. If you're looking for a finished product, go to a coastal city. But if you're looking for a place where your presence actually matters and your 'labor of love' can turn into a community movement, come to Tulsa. You may come just for a 30-day change of scenery, but you just might stay because you found a community that finally makes you feel like you can exhale."
Ambika McGee | Out-of-state → Tulsa, Okla. | June 2025 cohort
Pathway: TulsaBound → Tulsa Remote relocation | Market research consultant
Ambika runs AFJ Consulting, a market research consultancy. Before TulsaBound's June 2025 cohort, she'd never been to Tulsa. She'd only briefly visited Oklahoma City back in 2009, so she had basically no frame of reference for the state.
What she did know? She was craving something new.
"I wasn't unhappy, but I felt ready for a change," Ambika explains. "TulsaBound felt like a low-risk way to explore that curiosity. For $2,500, I had a place to stay for a month, curated experiences, and intentional opportunities to meet people. I saw it as an experiment, a chance to step out of my routine and see what might be possible."
What surprised her most? Almost everything.
"What you see on the outside is not always what you get here, and around every corner is an even bigger surprise," she says. "But what stood out most was how accessible my favorite parts of life became here. I love being active, spending time outdoors, enjoying good food, and building meaningful connections. In Tulsa, those things weren't scattered across long commutes or complicated planning. They were close, integrated, and easy to access."
Ambika didn't need the full 30 days to know. Within just a few days, she could already see herself living there. By the end of the month, she committed to Tulsa Remote and relocated permanently.
As an entrepreneur, the move has transformed how she works. "Moving to Tulsa has given me more life, and that's made me better at running my business," she explains. "Because the things I enjoy and the people I care about are close by, my days feel more balanced. I can work out, focus deeply on my business, meet friends for an early happy hour, come home, wrap up work, and actually relax — all in the same day. That rhythm was much harder to maintain before."
Her advice? "If you're in a place in life that doesn't feel 100% fulfilling, TulsaBound is worth exploring. It's one month. It's an opportunity to step into a new environment without permanently committing. Life is short, and sometimes clarity comes from giving yourself permission to try something different. At worst, you've spent a month learning more about what you want. At best, you might find a place that truly fits. Either way, there's very little to lose."
Jamar Rogers | Tulsa → NYC/San Diego → Tulsa, Okla. | October 2024 cohort
Pathway: Tulsa native who left, returned 24 years later | Content creator & meditation guide
Jamar is a content creator and meditation guide with over 85,000 followers on Instagram. But his relationship with Tulsa is complicated. He grew up there and left in 2000 with negative associations. He spent 10 years in New York, another 10 in California, and was pretty happy in San Diego — even if money was tight.
When people told him Oklahoma had changed, he didn't believe them.
"When I did TulsaBound after being gone for 24 years, I thought I'd just check it out for a month," Jamar says. "I had no idea how much my mind would be blown. It was like visiting someplace I had never been. I was relieved to discover that folks were right about how much this place had changed."
The art scene, the diversity, the food…everything was different. "The art scene has grown so much that they even have an Arts District downtown that hosts a monthly First Friday, where all the galleries and art studios open their doors," he explains. "The city has grown tremendously in diversity, with restaurants specializing in food from Korea, Thailand, Peru, and more. There weren't this many food options when I was growing up here."
But what really got him was the sense of community. "After living in New York for 10 years and California another 10 years, it was refreshing to see neighbors actually looking out for each other."
Jamar had no plans to move back. But after one weekend, he was convinced.
"It wasn't only because gas was under $2.50, or that I got two weeks of groceries for $100," he says. "It was this sense that something is happening here. There's an undercurrent of possibility thrumming in this place. They're filming TV shows and movies here now. There's a thriving artist fellowship program. Tulsa Remote is bringing people from all over the country with different mindsets and outlooks, creating a beautiful melting pot."
He never went back to San Diego. He just had his things shipped to Tulsa.
"Ultimately, I felt like I belonged somewhere after not feeling that way for a while," Jamar reflects. "They're not kidding when they call Tulsa a little big town, which makes you feel both safe and included."
As a creative now contributing to Tulsa's community, he sees a deeper appreciation for different types of art and talent. "I love that locals showcase their art in unconventional ways, like backyard concerts, throwing festivals at cathedrals, or meditating in hotel pools during sound baths."
His advice? "Don't believe everything you hear about Tulsa on TV. When I told my friends back in California that I was moving back to Oklahoma, they all gave me a collective eyebrow raise. That is, until some of them came to visit me. Even they could feel the electricity flowing through this place. I would say come with an open mind and be prepared to meet some of the coolest people you've ever met. I'd also say that if you have an art project in mind or a business venture you'd like to pursue, Tulsa is a great place to incubate as you launch your dreams."
Maybe you're like Jamar — reconnecting with a place you thought you understood. Maybe you're like Ambika — craving something new and eyeing Tulsa Remote. Or maybe you're like Jobi — just looking for a place where you can breathe and build community on your own terms.
Whatever your situation, TulsaBound gives you 30 days to explore something new. No permanent commitment. Just you, your work, and a city ready to surprise you.
Life's short. Sometimes the best decisions start with just giving yourself permission to try something different.
The April 2026 cohort application deadline is March 1, 2026.