Jan. 7, 2026

This article is brought to you by Startup Sioux Falls.

Authored by Brienne Maner, president of Startup Sioux Falls

Celebrating the Launch: A Momentous Occasion

We revel in the joy of launch celebrations. The photos we share from the ribbon-cutting ceremonies are filled with excitement. Those “grand opening” moments are cherished milestones.

The Real Journey Begins After Launch

Yet the authentic narrative of Sioux Falls entrepreneurship unfolds in the challenging months and years immediately following that launch. Founders often find themselves grappling with tasks such as making payroll, acquiring and retaining customers, and managing their workforce—all while persevering through the turmoil. Here at Startup Sioux Falls, we proudly celebrate emerging businesses, but we also understand our critical duty to equip them with the necessary tools that pave the way for sustainability.

We take it upon ourselves to ensure that entrepreneurs, local businesses, and family-owned ventures in our community not only receive encouragement to initiate their journeys but also feel thoroughly supported as they expand and aim to sustain their operations amidst fluctuating markets, changes in workforce dynamics, uncertainties in funding, and the continuous evolution of technology.

A Community Steeped in Belief and Action

Before we look to the future, it’s only right to acknowledge Mayor Paul TenHaken and his administration for their steadfast belief in the potential of Sioux Falls entrepreneurs, local businesses, and family enterprises. Their ongoing commitment to local startups and small businesses, along with the organizations that support them, has fostered a culture where innovation thrives. It’s a culture that encourages individuals to build, stay, and grow right here in Sioux Falls.

As Sioux Falls braces itself for new political leadership, we call upon mayoral, City Council, and state candidates to keep entrepreneurs, homegrown businesses, and family-owned companies at the core of their agendas. These businesses do more than merely contribute to our economy; they serve as the backbone of our neighborhoods, our cultural tapestry, and the future workforce pivotal to our community.

Robust policies, adaptable frameworks, and concerted collaboration with economic development partners are crucial elements in navigating the complexities of our city’s growth over the next decade.

Understanding the Urgency of Sustainability

The landscape that entrepreneurs are working within today diverges significantly from what it looked like even just five years ago.

Many founders are grappling with economic uncertainties, tight budgets, shifting workforce dynamics, and the swift evolution of artificial intelligence technologies. A growing number are creating leaner businesses, launching with smaller teams, operating remotely, and experimenting with ideas at an unprecedented pace.

As their challenges evolve, so too must our approach to supporting them.

Today, sustainability involves not just individual businesses, but also the overarching systems that sustain them.

Moreover, it boils down to something that is fundamentally human: people.

Our downtown co-working space has evolved into a nurturing environment where founders can walk in, meet fellow innovators, and experience a strong sense of community. This feeling of connection significantly affects where individuals choose to establish their companies and whether they ultimately decide to remain.

Entrepreneurs are inclined to put down roots in areas where they feel supported, where collaboration is evident, and where the life experience of the city facilitates a productive and enjoyable living and working environment. Investing in these invaluable experiences is not merely about enhancing quality of life; it represents essential economic infrastructure capable of sustaining local businesses and attracting fresh talent to Sioux Falls.

Navigating Our Own Entrepreneurial Voyage

Startup Sioux Falls has embarked on its own entrepreneurial journey, evolving and adapting throughout the years alongside the founders we aim to assist.

In recent years, our programs have been crafted to aid individuals initiating their first business, guide leaders in scaling their teams, and support CEOs who are growing established companies while still embodying the entrepreneurial spirit that ignited their journey in the first place.

Our Start, Scale, and Sustain framework guides the formulation of our programs, partnerships, and pathways. This framework ensures that we meet founders exactly where they are, while also maintaining a clear outlook on what sustainable success should encapsulate.

By the year 2031, we aspire to measurably support 300 resilient Sioux Falls businesses, ensuring they have sustaining revenue streams and are reinvesting meaningfully back into their community. This goal influences our perspective on impact, growth, and the responsibility we hold to the community.

Our commitment lies deeply in nurturing a cohesive and inclusive ecosystem that stays curious, embraces fresh ideas, and engages K–12 schools, tech institutions, and universities. Our aim is to inspire the next generation to envision their future right here at home.

At the recent South Dakota Bio Summit, Bill Even, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development Commissioner, reflected on the trailblazing entrepreneurs who shaped our past. He also urged us to maintain our optimism, continuously look ahead, and stay committed to fortifying the systems that will support the innovators of tomorrow.

It is this unwavering spirit that will carry Sioux Falls into its promising next chapter.

Anticipating 2026: Opportunities for Involvement

As we step into 2026, Startup Sioux Falls is on a trajectory to expand our programming, refine our support systems, and continually fortify the pathways for founders at every stage of their journey: starting up, scaling, and achieving sustainability.

Entrepreneurship flourishes not in isolation; rather, it blossoms more robustly when founders are surrounded by a vibrant community of people, fresh ideas, and propulsive momentum.

There are three straightforward ways the community can engage and influence what is to come.

Join the Room

Attend an upcoming Startup Sunrise or Startup Skills Workshop to connect with, learn from, and grow alongside our local founders.

Send Founders Our Way

If you know anyone contemplating launching a business or striving to develop one, direct them towards our accelerators, mentorship networks, co-working facilities, and various community resources.

Be an Advocate

Support small businesses by sharing their stories, encouraging founders, and contributing to the mission of transforming Sioux Falls into a city where entrepreneurship is accessible for everyone.

Our complete 2025 Annual Report highlights the strides we’ve made and the dynamism that lies ahead. We invite you to dive into it and embark with us on this journey forward.

Startup Sioux Falls is committed to being a launching pad for innovation, opportunity, and community-centric business initiatives achieved the right way— the Sioux Falls way. Let’s Start, Scale, and Sustain together.

Leveraging AI with legalese decoder

In this complex and fast-paced environment, understanding legal documents and business regulations is crucial for every startup. Here, AI legalese decoder can play a pivotal role. By simplifying dense and jargon-filled legal texts, it enables entrepreneurs to quickly comprehend the obligations and rights associated with their ventures.

Founders can utilize AI legalese decoder to simplify important contracts and legal documentation they encounter while starting or growing their businesses. This tool not only saves time but also empowers them to make informed decisions, ensuring they comply with regulations while focusing on growing their startups.

The journey of entrepreneurship in Sioux Falls is an exciting one filled with potential. With the right support—both from the community and innovative tools like AI legalese decoder—entrepreneurs can navigate challenges more effectively, sustain their businesses, and ultimately contribute to the vibrant economic fabric of the region.