About
Mission
Startup Sioux Falls empowers founders and ignites innovation.
We are an ecosystem organization that empowers founders by offering resources to network, launch, and grow their ventures. We ignite innovation by being a thought leader in the state to bring new ideas to life and offer better support for founders.
If you have ever aspired to launch something of your own, we want you to join our community. Start with Startup Sioux Falls.
Values
Vision
We will serve 100,000 people and help 100 founders grow by 2034.
In the exciting world of startups, founders exemplify adaptability, innovation, and resilience. They deserve an ecosystem that not only recognizes but actively supports their journey of bringing ideas to life.
At Startup Sioux Falls, we're deeply connected to our community. Our mission is to empower founders and ignite innovation, making entrepreneurship accessible to everyone who dreams of launching something. As we move forward, we aim to grow our community, have programming for the entire founder's journey, and become the go-to connector of the regional startup sceneāa dream envisioned by our community's leaders nearly two decades ago.
Just like the resilient founders we support, our community is always changing. We actively engage in the changes shaping our city's future. Being in downtown Sioux Falls shows our commitment to working with others toward the common goal of shaping our city's future.
We're your partners in building a strong foundation for your venture. Will you join us in this exciting journey?
Start with Startup Sioux Falls.
History
Like all good stories, ours began with an idea. What could happen if a city in the heart of the Great Plains decided to chart its own course into the future? In 1999, it was this idea that led Forward Sioux Falls to form a committee focused on tech-based economic development in the city of Sioux Falls. Just three years later, the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and Development Foundation opened the doors to the South Dakota Technology Business Center (SDTBC). A bold vision for the future of our state, the SDTBC offered programming and physical space to incubate and accelerate high-growth tech businesses in South Dakotaās largest city.
We didnāt stop there. In 2016, we asked ourselves what more we could do. We realized innovation isnāt exclusive to tech. Inspiration isnāt exclusive to high-growth businesses. We were here to support entrepreneurs at all stages. We needed to be more. With that, we evolved to become the Zeal Center for Entrepreneurshipāthe physical hub for Sioux Fallsā budding startup scene.
In 2019, the Zeal Center merged with Startup Sioux Falls, a startup community organization founded by Matt Paulson. This merger created the organization we know as Startup Sioux falls today, which providesĀ real resources to those who dare to chart their own course. We empower founders in our community as they work diligently to launch and grow their ventures. We are more than a building; we are an ecosystem organization. We are a collective of doers, thinkers, and innovators working tirelessly to support those who dare to dream.
The Rest of the Story
Rebrand and Move Downtown
Where we are now
Startup Sioux Falls Staff
BRIENNE MANER, President
(605) 275-8012
[email protected]
AMOS BUELOW, Community Coordinator
(605) 275-8008
[email protected]
JEFF HAYWARD, Program Manager
(605) 271-3502
[email protected]
SARA LUM, Vice President
(605) 275-8022
[email protected]
EMMA OLSON, Facility & Admin Specialist
(605) 275-8014
[email protected]
Startup Sioux Falls Board of Directors
PAUL TSCHETTER
Chair
Partner
Boyce Law Firm, LLP
JOHN MEYER
Vice Chair
Founder
Leadmore
AMY MOORE
Secretary
Co-Founder & Executive Creative Director
Lemonly
KEITH SEVERSON
Treasurer
KARLA SANTI
Past Chair
CEO & Founding Partner
Blend Interactive
BOB MUNDT
JEFF GRIFFIN
President & CEO
Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce
JASON HERRBOLDT
Chief Banking Officer
First Bank & Trust
MIKE LYNCH
Director of Investor Relations
Forward Sioux Falls
TONY NOUR
Senior Vice President, Relationship Banking
First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard
ARIN GONSETH
VP Finance
MarketBeat
CHEZ TSCHETTER
CIO, CTO
Solarity
SCOTT PETERSEN
CoFounder
HIRECLICK
CINDY PETERSON
Founder & CEO
Maximizing Excellence, LLC
KIM BURMA
Senior Advertising Agency Account Executive
Midco
Community Builders
ANDREA VAN ESSEN
CARLEY KEWLEY
KRISTI WIRE
MAUREEN OHM
MATT PAULSON
NGOC THACH
PETE KLEINJAN
REBECCA MCKEEVER
REBEKAH VAN MAANEN
TANNA SOUKUP
VINCE DANH
Learn more in our Annual Report
Startup Sioux Falls Sponsors
These organizations provide financial support for Startup Sioux falls