News
Organization Focus: South Dakota Biotech
The bioscience and technology industry in Sioux Falls is strong, and South Dakota Biotech exists to make it even stronger. As the state affiliate of the national non-profit, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, SD Biotech is a trade association formed in 2006 to support the state’s bioscience industry. Executive Director, Joni Johnson, says the primary responsibilities include…
Read MoreOrganization Focus: Great North Labs
An early-stage venture fund with a focus on tech startups may have its sights set on Sioux Falls’ emerging market. Spearheaded by an experienced team of tech investors and entrepreneurs, Great North Labs is a Minnesota-based fund committed to bringing powerful capital to the Midwest. Ryan Weber is co-founder and one of three managing partners…
Read MoreOrganization Focus: U.S. Small Business Administration – South Dakota District Office
For many small business owners or hopefuls, the process of starting and maintaining a business can be daunting, to say the least. Once the challenge of launching the business has been met, small business owners are then tasked with growing the company, or perhaps one day passing it on. It’s enough to make anyone feel…
Read MoreOrganization Focus: Forward Sioux Falls
If you’ve ever been curious about the forces behind the city’s continuously growing economy and quality of life, a fitting place to turn is Forward Sioux Falls. While it’s just one facet of what goes into successful community development, the organization has provided Sioux Falls with vision, strategy, and financial backing since 1987, when the…
Read MoreZeal Center for Entrepreneurship Names Brienne Maner as Executive Director
I’m happy to share that board of directors for the Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship has selected Brienne Maner as it’s new executive director. I had the opportunity to serve on the hiring committee for the position and I’m excited about the energy and passion that Brienne will bring to the organization. Brienne’s community building skills,…
Read MoreSioux Falls and Fargo: Two Approaches to Building Startup Ecosystems
Last week, Andy Jorgensen from Firebrothers Fireworks and I had the privilege of spending a day with some key stakeholders of the startup ecosystem in Fargo, North Dakota. I had dinner with local startup founders, met with some NDSU entrepreneurship students, spoke at their local chapter of 1 Million Cups, and met with the team…
Read MoreCommunity Focus: Coffee ‘n Connections
After a successful career in nursing and overcoming a critical cancer diagnosis, Kim VanderPoel found herself part of a women’s group focused on encouraging them to live within their priorities. “I had only been given a 30 percent chance to live, so I sort of asked myself, ‘What do I want to do when I…
Read MoreTwo Sioux Falls Startups Featured at 1 Million Cups in Fargo
The startup community in Fargo, North Dakota invited two Sioux Falls entrepreneurs, Andy Jorgensen from Firebrothers Fireworks Matt Paulson from MarketBeat, to speak at their 1 Million Cups event this week. Paulson and Jorgensen each had a chance to tell the story of their respective businesses and answer audience Q&A. The team at Forum Communications…
Read MoreOrganization Focus: AIGA South Dakota
Are you a designer looking for a community of like-minded creatives? A business owner or agency employee who wants to understand design’s role in your organization? Then you might want to check out the South Dakota chapter of AIGA: the professional association for design. With a primary goal of advocating for design and local designers,…
Read MoreIntroducing Startup Sioux Falls
Today, I am pleased to announce the creation of Startup Sioux Falls. Startup Sioux Falls is a digital hub that connects entrepreneurs to the startup ecosystem and startup community in the Sioux Falls metro area. You can think of Startup Sioux Falls as one-stop shop to learn about resources available to entrepreneurs and small business…
Read More