Starting the day with startup inspiration made possible thanks to The First National Bank in Sioux Falls
Free coffee, new connections and inspiring conversations with entrepreneurs are waiting the first Wednesday morning each month at Startup Sioux Falls.
It’s part of the popular Startup Sunrise series, held from 8 to 9:15 a.m. at the Startup Sioux Falls headquarters, 100 E. Sixth St., and made possible thanks to support from sponsor The First National Bank in Sioux Falls.
“Ever since Startup Sioux Falls relocated downtown, we have wanted to increase our involvement and be a larger part of the entrepreneurial community,” said Jill Mockler, business banking team lead.
“One of the ways we were able to do that was by sponsoring the Startup Sunrise events.”
The value in the program is centered around the stories shared by the keynote speakers, business banker Blake Chesley said.
“Many times, entrepreneurs don’t know how to take the next step in their journey,” he said. “Startup Sunrise provides validation to new entrepreneurs that they can overcome any obstacle they might face.”
It’s a well-attended event, he added.
“People from all areas of the business community attend – from bankers to industry leaders to someone with a new business idea in their head. Getting these various members of the community in a room for an hour or so creates numerous beneficial connections that allow businesses to grow.”
Each month brings new faces, with a format that encourages interaction. There’s time for open networking, brief comments from featured founders, a question-and-answer session and then free co-working offered until 5 p.m.
At the last event, which featured two entrepreneurs in the golf industry — Wes Rasmusson, founder and owner of OutWest Golf, and Robert Weinmeier, founder and owner of NEVRLOOZ – “it was great to hear about the e-commerce and golf retail space in the context of conversations with other startup owners,” said Carrie Abeling, senior account coordinator with Flynn Wright, who attended for the first time.
“The event that I attended was energetic and engaging. There were lots of people, and it was a great way to connect with others who were interested in the same topic. The Startup Sioux Falls team does a great job organizing and running events, and the Startup Sunrise program was a perfect example of this.”
Her firm “always loves getting involved with Startup Sioux Falls,” she added. “It’s a great way to tap into the community and learn more about business owners and their needs. We’re always trying to find ways to educate and provide for our clients and the community.”
Entrepreneur Dallas Nelson, founder and principal of virtual mail and business development service WorldPost.io, discovered that Startup Sioux Falls had moved downtown while taking a walk to Levitt at the Falls and was reminded he wanted to connect with other local founders.
Startup Sunrise turned out to be “a great experience,” he said.
“My first impression was very positive. The atmosphere was welcoming, and it was easy to connect with others. I’ve attended startup events around the world, and I found Startup Sioux Falls to be one of the more accessible environments for networking, which is not my strongest suit.”
Afterward, he was eager to return for more events and also realized he loved the space itself, which “felt serendipitous,” he said.
“Earlier that week, a client was in town and needed a place to work between appointments. Unfortunately, my office is a processing center — secured and not configured for client visits — so I couldn’t accommodate her. I’ve realized I need to find a solution for clients to work and meet when they visit. After discussing options with Amos at Startup Sioux Falls, we explored potential passes and memberships.”
That experience isn’t surprising, said Mitch Janssen, business banker at First National Bank.
“There’s a palpable sense of excitement at the Startup Sioux Falls events — and Startup Sunrise is one of the best networking events to attend,” he said.
“There’s just a different energy in the room, and people are ready to strike up a conversation with whoever is there. Since the relocation downtown, there is a far greater awareness of the startup ecosystem in Sioux Falls, which is helping grow the community.”
Along with that has come a growth in overall meetings and events in the space in addition to Startup Sunrise, said Chesley with the bank.
“Whether it’s a meetup of some sort or a co-working space or an event, there are now so many programs aimed at providing assistance, advice and mentorship to people looking to start their own businesses,” he said.
“Furthermore, here at FNB, we work with startup or early-stage businesses all the time. One thing we pride ourselves on is being a partner with our customers, and having a banking partner in the early stages of growing your company can pay major dividends in the future.”
More broadly, “the startup community is incredibly important to the heart of Sioux Falls, just as small businesses are said to be the backbone of the American economy,” Chesley continued. “Having a healthy community of innovative entrepreneurs creates new jobs and opportunities and adds tremendous value to our city.”
That’s why First National Bank has been a strong supporter of Startup Sioux Falls since 2016, when it made an investment in an accelerator fund through the organization. Over the years, the bank has “been a proud sponsor and has been involved in many facets of the organization,” Mockler said.
“We’ve developed numerous relationships with people from all walks of life. Whether it’s connecting with a fellow professional in town or meeting a founder, there are always new connections to be made at a Startup Sioux Falls event.”
The bank’s support has been critical, said Brienne Maner, president of Startup Sioux Falls.
“Our sponsors are the reason we’re able to provide the depth and quality of programming that we do, and First National Bank has been a partner with us in so many ways,” she said.
“The learning that occurs, the relationships that are built and ultimately the businesses that succeed because of events like Startup Sunrise happen because our broader business community supports our startup community in ways like First National Bank demonstrates continually. If you haven’t stopped by Startup Sunrise yet, I think you’ll agree it’s a fantastic way to start your day.”
Get connected
The next Startup Sunrise will be Wednesday, Oct. 2, and feature the theme of Brew (Coffee + Tea) Founders with facilitator Nate Boscaljon, the founder and owner of Boscaljon Design Co, and featured speakers Andrew Fritz, the founder and owner of Daylily Coffee, and Pauliina Parris, the founder and owner of Shall We Tea.
To learn more about Startup Sunrise, click here, and to connect about potential sponsorship opportunities at Startup Sioux Falls, email president Brienne Maner at [email protected].