Industry leaders say Chinese companies control 90% of the globe’s commercial drone production.

A Tulsa startup called EnCor is doing its part to dent that dominance.

“China got really good at manufacturing a lot of things, including all the stuff that goes into drones,” Wesley Stevens, founding president of EnCor, told about 40 attendees Friday at the Tulsa Regional Chamber’s Tech Council meeting Baxter’s Interurban restaurant.

“When the Ukraine war hit, we realized that drones are pretty important for all sorts of things, from inspections down to military applications.”

Stevens launched EnCor, which provides low-cost drones for first responders, about a year ago as a 3D printing company and spent eight months figuring out how to enter the market. He ran into private equity expert Mark White, who joined the team as a mentor and fundraiser after helping Stevens with a previous company.

“When I met these guys, one thing they did lot lack is audacity,” White said. “For those of you who have started businesses, you have to have audacity or your probability of success declines.”

Boosting EnCor has been the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which became law in December.  It banned the importation and sale of new drone models and related technologies made in China, Iran, North Korea and Russia.

Stevens also is CEO of Quillify, which uses artificial intelligence to streamline grant-seeking and proposal writing for businesses, nonprofits and universities.

White called Stevents “one of the kindest, humblest and smartest people I’ve ever met in my life.”

Also sharing about their companies Friday was John Noltensmeyer, chief information security officer at software firm IXOPAY in Tulsa. Tai Nehisi, of Organizely, reminded attendees of Tulsa Tech Week, which is Sept. 21-26.

For more information about the Technology Council, please contact Angie Zaricor, a senior director of economic development at the Chamber, at [email protected].