Startup Sunrise – New to Sioux Falls
Posted January 20, 2024
This article is written in partnership with local founder Megan Raposa from Sioux Falls Simplified. “Feel smart about where you live. We make it simple.”
Dozens of entrepreneurs and business leaders gathered in the Marketbeat Theater on a crisp January morning for the first Startup Sunrise of 2024. Speakers Aanna Chase and Jael Thorpe joined host Mike Lynch, program director of Forward Sioux Falls. The event kicked off with motivation from local real estate agent and entrepreneur Albert Huizing, followed by a performance from the Good Night Theatre Collective. January’s topic was “New to Sioux Falls,” and both speakers shared how their recent moves to the city impacted their entrepreneurial journeys.
Jael Thorpe is the founder of GameDay Social Apparel Co., a company she founded while living in Brookings and has continued to grow in Sioux Falls. Aanna Chase is the owner and founder of Aanna Chase Photography, who began her career in Chicago before moving to Sioux Falls just over a year ago.
Key Takeaways
Connections across industries is helpful (and accessible)
Chase noted that as a photographer in a big city she found connections within her industry, but in Sioux Falls it’s been easy to get connected with the business community as a whole. She’s been inspired by interacting with people from a diversity of fields, finding friendships, clients and mentorships across industries. Thorpe echoed this, adding that Sioux Falls is the perfect size for that kind of cross-industry connection.
Feeling established as a business owner takes time
When asked how long it took to feel “established,” both women noted it took about four years. For Thorpe, moving to Sioux Falls was a big decision — her husband had worked as a farmer, and deciding to leave that was a significant shift. For Chase, feeling established came when she made the decision to run her photography business full-time after years of building clientele.
Take the leap, but strategically
Chase noted that part of what helped her feel established was the two years she spent working part-time as a nanny while building her business. “It was a slow build. Often people say, take a leap of faith, but they were calculated leaps.”
It’s important to support small businesses – and give back
Thorpe said in her nearly 20 years as an entrepreneur there were times when she and her business were underestimated. “There isn’t always as much enthusiasm or support around those businesses that don’t seem scalable,” said Thorpe, whose start in small, local women’s boutiques grew to a business that now sells official licensed collegiate athletic apparel nationwide. She hopes to continue building her business to the point where she can give back and help others find their niche.
Join us for one of the best monthly entrepreneurial gatherings in Sioux Falls and reserve your free seat at our next Startup Sunrise – Tech Ventures: Cyber.