Posts by Andrea Van Essen

On Thursday, April 9, the startup community will gather virtually for the second iteration of the Startup Social, an event originally planned for March. When COVID-19 forced the organizers to cancel, the hope was to reschedule the in-person event for a later date. However, in an effort to maintain connection during this time of social…

As businesses find themselves in the midst of an unprecedented economic shift due to COVID-19, many have taken the opportunity to adapt and provide resources for both their customers and fellow entrepreneurs.  From support for those facing transitions in their careers to groups providing inspiration and ways to stay busy, Sioux Falls’ entrepreneurial community is…

The federal government granted Governor Kristi Noem’s emergency declaration request on Friday, adding South Dakota to a growing list of states that have been approved for Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance during the COVID-19 disaster. The SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance exists to support small businesses when natural disasters such as tornadoes, floods, fires, and…

On Saturday, March 14, Hack Sioux Falls will kick off its fifth project at the Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship.  Hack Sioux Falls is a collaborative educational project designed to teach kids ages 9 to 18 about electronics, embedded technology, and electrical engineering. The program is run by Will Bushee, Executive Director of Code Bootcamp School,…

Falls Fintech will celebrate the launch of its inaugural accelerator by welcoming a cohort of five startups to Sioux Falls with a kickoff event on March 9. Falls Fintech is the state’s first fintech accelerator, and it was created in 2019 as a subsidiary of Central Payments, the payments division of Central Bank of Kansas…

Media by JP is a premier sponsor of Startup Sioux Falls. For local videographer, Jeff Pickett, marketing is all about putting yourself in the customer’s shoes. He recalls watching a movie back in the eighties called Nothing in Common, starring Tom Hanks. In the film, Hanks portrays a successful advertising executive who puts himself in…

Chris Bierle first explored the idea of a career fair for people with disabilities while working on a capstone project at the University of Sioux Falls (USF). This April, his idea will become a reality as the Opportunity Career Expo kicks off its inaugural event. Bierle is a special education teacher, and he’s currently pursuing…

On Wednesday, February 12, Sioux Falls’ 1 Million Cups (1MC) chapter enjoyed a visit from the organization’s midwest representative, Ben McDougal.  McDougal has been involved with 1MC since its second chapter was organized in his city, Des Moines. After regularly attending the weekly event, he soon became an organizer, which he did for five years…

After a soft opening on Monday, February 3, The Kitchen will celebrate its grand opening next week with a variety of events and a week-long open house. Jen Kolb came up with the concept of a co-working space for women nearly a year ago, and she’s been working hard to bring it to life ever…