Posts by Andrea Van Essen

Philanthropy study reveals key insights about emerging leaders, state of Sioux Falls’ nonprofit sector Sioux Falls is facing a turning point in terms of its growth and the leadership and infrastructure necessary to support it. That shift is also reflected in the changing landscape of the city’s nonprofit sector.  Maximizing Excellence, LLC is a consulting…

Startup Sioux Falls kicked off its third CO.STARTERS program on November 2 with a group of 12 entrepreneurs. When this class graduates at the end of January 2022, we will be able to celebrate a successful first year of facilitating this impactful program. Our team plans to continue hosting three cohorts per year and expanding…

Zamorano on the job site with Cazu Framing LLC. “They were the first company to believe in me,” she said. Selene Zamorano is making an impact in her community by helping Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs navigate the challenges and complexities of running their own businesses. Between her company, Zamorano Business Management (ZBM), a nonprofit organization that she…

Photo by 4Front Studios Women play a critical role in our startup ecosystem, making it more vibrant and dynamic, and providing diverse perspectives that drive progress and change.  In Sioux Falls, we’re fortunate to have women at the forefront of many entrepreneurial ventures and resource organizations. Though celebrating women and ensuring they have the resources…

  Falls Fintech, the accelerator program by Central Payments, has been busy this summer with the launch of its Fall 2021 cohort and a brand new podcast, Fintech Brews & News. The fall program, which kicked off in August, is the organization’s fourth cohort since launching in 2020. As a subsidiary of Central Bank of…

A local business specializing in vehicle and graphic wraps came under new ownership as of April 2021.  Wrapability, which was founded by Kyle VandenHull, is now owned and operated by Joey Craft, one of the company’s original employees. The two men got to know each other several years prior while employed at a different sign…

A local Native American restaurant, Watecha Bowl, was recently featured by Good Morning America, in a segment titled “Exploring South Dakota’s small businesses and great outdoors.”  Watecha Bowl’s owner, Lawrence West, outside of his food truck. Lawrence West, the restaurant’s owner and founder, never imagined he would be running such a successful, well-known business. He…

On July 13, Startup Sioux Falls’ second CO.STARTERS cohort marked the successful  completion of their accelerator program with a graduation celebration at Icon Events Hall that was attended by many in the entrepreneurial community. 10 startups participated in the summer cohort, encompassing an array of industries and concepts that are sure to make a lasting…