Rose State College celebrated the graduation of ZDEN Technologies, its inaugural business incubator tenant, after the company grew from two founders to more than 25 full- and part-time employees and moved into a 5,500-square-foot facility in Midwest City.
Rose State President Travis Hurst presented the company with a graduation plaque during a ceremony recognizing its growth and contributions to the region’s defense industry.
Founded in 2023, ZDEN Technologies is a self-funded defense technology integration company focused on accelerating the delivery of new capabilities to the nation’s warfighters. The company joined Rose State’s business incubator in 2024, moving from a coworking space in Edmond into a 140-square-foot space on campus.
ZDEN’s graduation marks a milestone for Rose State’s incubator and demonstrates how connections among education, industry, and military partners can help small businesses expand.
On their growth, the CEO Joel Graley stated, “We have been incredibly blessed with opportunities and relationships since we started this company. God has truly been good to us, and to Him give all glory. We’re grateful for every chance we’ve gotten and every relationship we’ve built along the way that helped propel our company.”
Graley credited the incubator’s location near Tinker Air Force Base and access to Rose State’s resources with helping the company build relationships and pursue new opportunities.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the Rose State business incubator. We knew the strategic location near Tinker Air Force Base and being co-located with Rose State College would give us some major advantages. We had no idea what doors it would open for us. We’ve been able to host Air Force customers, Congressional Representatives, and State Representatives merely because of where we were located. We’ve tapped into the Rose State College talent pool, with one current intern and two current full-time employees being graduates.”
ZDEN plans to continue expanding its internal capabilities, with near-term investments in small-scale manufacturing and test equipment to remove more barriers to fielding technology to the warfighter quickly.
“Rose State’s incubator lab serves companies involved in aerospace, cybersecurity, and Department of War contracts, connecting them with our network across the defense industrial base,” said Rose State President Travis Hurst. “ZDEN’s growth demonstrates how access to industry partners and campus talent can help businesses expand their capabilities and strengthen the region’s defense economy.”
The company’s continued development in Midwest City expands its ties to Rose State, Tinker Air Force Base, and the surrounding defense community.