Siouxland and the Dakotas

  • Startup Sioux Falls now one of 51 grantees of federal program giving a boost to underserved entrepreneurs

    Startup Sioux Falls now one of 51 grantees of federal program giving a boost to underserved entrepreneurs

    Entrepreneurs in South Dakota just scored a huge win from the federal government.  Startup Sioux Falls, a hub that offers guidance and resources to South Dakota’s budding small business orders, was one of 51 grantees to qualify for the Small Business Administration’s Community Navigator Pilot Program.  Brienne Maner, Executive Director of Startup Sioux Falls, said…

  • Free virtual technology summit to connect tech professionals across Iowa

    Free virtual technology summit to connect tech professionals across Iowa

    The Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) will be hosting the Iowa Technology Summit Presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield on May 24-25, 2021.  The summit—a free, two-day virtual conference—aims to educate and connect technology professionals across the state. The summit will feature four themed tracks: cybersecurity and technology innovation on May 24 and…

  • Sioux Falls B2B software integration developer Prismatic launches today

    Sioux Falls B2B software integration developer Prismatic launches today

    A Sioux Falls-based embedded integration platform developer for B2B software companies announced its general availability launch today. The company, Prismatic, strives to provide an easy-to-use integration platform in an era of increasingly specialized business software usage. A few years ago, Prismatic CEO and co-founder Michael Zuercher noticed a need for B2B software companies to have…

  • Free three-day virtual summit to be held by gener8tor

    Free three-day virtual summit to be held by gener8tor

    The 2021 gener8tor CommUNITY Growth Summit will be held virtually from March 30 to April 1 and features keynote speakers, fireside chats and panel discussions involving representatives from startups, the arts and workforce development. The event will be hosted by gener8tor, a Silicon Prairie-based entrepreneurship cultivation platform that includes startup accelerators, corporate programming and conferences. …

  • HTI Labs fights human trafficking through research, technology, policy

    HTI Labs fights human trafficking through research, technology, policy

    An Omaha-based company using a data-driven approach to combat human trafficking recently raised funding to expand its crucially needed work to support law enforcement, victims and survivors of the practice.  HTI Labs,  a social enterprise corporation combating human trafficking, domestic violence and sexual assault through data-driven research and tech, has grown far larger than CEO…

  • IO2020: the New Innovators’ Summit connects entrepreneurial community (and tickets are free this year)

    IO2020: the New Innovators’ Summit connects entrepreneurial community (and tickets are free this year)

    Great ideas start with curiosity. Bringing those ideas to life is its own challenge.  That’s what longtime entrepreneur Brian Ardinger believes, and that’s why he’s made it his mission to help Nebraska startup founders, business leaders and innovators solve those challenges.  Ardinger is cofounder of InsideOutside.io, an innovation-focused resource network for startups, entrepreneurs, investors, enterprises,…

  • Developing Leadership When Things Are Not Good

    Developing Leadership When Things Are Not Good

    Originally posted on the AIM Institute blog No one knows how the coronavirus pandemic will evolve, how long the economy will stay underwater, or even what recovery looks like.  But the radical workplace upheaval and sudden ad hoc shift to remote technology over the past month suggest two truths:  We need more tech talent.   We…

  • Agtech Startup Bushel Announces Series B Raise

    Agtech Startup Bushel Announces Series B Raise

    This week Bushel announced that it raised $19.5 million in a Series B funding.  The Fargo, North Dakota based company has consistently attracted money from around the country that is seeking to participate in the growing ag-tech market.  Fargo is one of the leading communities launching ag-tech startups in the region – including the Farm…

  • Research: Talent Attraction Case Study (Nebraska)

    Research: Talent Attraction Case Study (Nebraska)

    Last summer, the Aksarben Foundation approached Chapman and Company about creating a landscape analysis on talent for Nebraska.  While this analysis is about Nebraska, there are many lessons for communities throughout the Silicon Prairie region. Here are some broad stroke lessons from the report: The United States is WAY behind on technology talent.  This is…

  • Building on Experience: How One Company’s Exit Led to a Second Company

    Building on Experience: How One Company’s Exit Led to a Second Company

    An Interview with Michael Zuercher about how a successful exit of his first company led him and his co-founders to their next startup, Prismatic. Many entrepreneurs set out to disrupt a market and that is exactly what Michael Zuercher did and now he’s ready to do it again with a new company with trusted co-founders,…