In one weekend, startup founders can chart path toward business launch
Posted April 2, 2024
It wasn’t long after Bret Morstad moved to Sioux Falls from Denver that the new downtown resident spotted Startup Sioux Falls. “I just went over there one day,” said Morstad, a self-employed consultant who works with consumer products companies. He soon learned about CO.STARTERS Bootcamp, a weekend-long introduction to Startup Sioux Falls programming designed for founders working through their business concepts. “I had an idea for a new business and had started writing a business plan and thought it might be a good idea, so I just walked down there and signed up.”
For Haley Jones and her fiancé, Nick Rapisarda, Twin Cities attorneys working through a startup concept, the bootcamp left them with “a great launch plan and road map” and helped them prioritize among the many moving pieces of a startup.
Startup Sioux Falls will hold its next CO.STARTERS Bootcamp April 27–28, with applications closing April 14. It’s an abbreviated version of the 10-week CO.STARTERS Core program — a commitment of 13 hours over two days.
What to Expect
Facilitator Erin Bosch, who has led both the Bootcamp and the 10-week program, puts it plainly: “I would tell people that they don’t have to have an idea fully baked — this is where the collaboration and ideation during the program are important. People also need to bring an open mind, a willingness to learn and the drive to make something happen.”
During the Bootcamp, participants complete a CO.STARTERS Canvas that identifies: who their customer is; what problem they’re solving; what alternatives customers have; how to present the solution; why the customer may want the product or service; what gives an advantage over alternatives; how to reach customers; how to deliver the product or service; and how to make money. These topics are covered across four segments: DISCOVER, PROMOTE, BUILD and LAUNCH.
“It’s a super-fast but thorough process of understanding what needs to be considered before launching a business. Participants can expect to connect with other entrepreneurs, some who have established businesses and some who have an idea. The collaboration and networking that comes out of these programs is really inspiring,” Bosch said.
Who Should Attend
The Bootcamp draws “a pretty wide spectrum of people, from those who simply have an idea to those who already have established successful businesses.” Those who complete the Bootcamp can go on to do the 10-week version, with enhanced content and a greater focus on their businesses, but don’t have to.
For Jones and Rapisarda, an unexpected highlight was connecting with fellow founders across industries — “everyone was very open-minded and collaborative, and it sparked more excitement about getting rolling on your business.” The experience also underscored for them how truly pro-business Sioux Falls and South Dakota are: “Sioux Falls is growing, and it’s exciting… it seems like it’s ripe for a startup.”
To learn more about the CO.STARTERS Weekend Bootcamp, click here.
Morstad summed it up: “I am glad I did it. I went in to see if everyone was going to laugh at me or if they thought it was a good idea, and we went through some really good exercises… It was just interesting to help other people and have other people listen.”