Helping founders find community and connections
SBA's online entrepreneurship training platform for women entrepreneurs ready to scale, offering interactive tools and expert business insights.
Training/Course
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South Dakota Center for Enterprise Opportunity – East
SBA's online entrepreneurship training platform for women entrepreneurs ready to scale, offering interactive tools and expert business insights on chosen topics.
South Dakota Center for Enterprise Opportunity – West
Science-based incubator providing lab space, GMP suites, and biomedical engineering resources for biotech, medtech, and life sciences startups at the USD Sioux Falls campus.
Incubator
USD GEAR Center
Two-day SBA entrepreneurship course for transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses covering business ownership fundamentals and feasibility.
1–2 day in-person course off military installation providing veterans with business fundamentals and tools to evaluate the feasibility of a business concept.
1–2 day in-person course for veterans off military installation providing business fundamentals and tools for evaluating business concept feasibility.
43,000 sq ft startup business incubator for early-stage tech and science firms at SDSU, offering office/lab space, business resources, and access to university research.
Research Park at South Dakota State University
Free, confidential one-on-one business advising and workshops for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs in eastern South Dakota, with emphasis on women and underrepresented founders.
Service
Free, confidential one-on-one business advising and workshops for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs in western South Dakota, with a focus on women, veterans, and underrepresented founders.
Business planning support and coaching for startups in the Brookings Innovation Center and Research Park ecosystem, connecting founders with advisors, attorneys, and financial experts.
Coaching/Consulting
Low-cost or free business workshops and training events for entrepreneurs in the Rapid City and Black Hills area covering key business topics.
South Dakota SBDC — Rapid City
Low-cost or free business workshops and training events for entrepreneurs in central South Dakota.
South Dakota SBDC — Pierre
Low-cost or free business workshops and training events hosted at USD for entrepreneurs in southeast South Dakota.
South Dakota SBDC — Vermillion
Low-cost or free business workshops and training events for entrepreneurs in northeast South Dakota.
South Dakota SBDC — Aberdeen
Low-cost or free business workshops and training events for entrepreneurs in the Sioux Falls area covering key business topics.
South Dakota SBDC — Sioux Falls
Low-cost or free business workshops and training events for entrepreneurs in southern South Dakota.
South Dakota SBDC — Yankton
10-week cohort accelerator helping aspiring entrepreneurs validate ideas and build sustainable businesses through peer learning and local facilitators.
Accelerator
Brookings Economic Development Corporation
CO.STARTERS accelerator cohort for rural South Dakota entrepreneurs, delivered by Dakota Resources to reach underserved and rural communities across the state.
Dakota Resources
10-week accelerator specifically for software startup founders, combining the CO.STARTERS growth canvas with expert software entrepreneur facilitators and investor access.
Startup Sioux Falls
STEM-focused business incubator providing office space, mentorship, and resources for early-stage tech and science startups in Rapid City's innovation ecosystem.
Elevate Rapid City
Cohort-based mentorship program connecting Rapid City entrepreneurs with local business leaders through small group sessions, workshops, and 1-on-1 mentoring.
Free government contracting technical assistance and workshops for SD businesses in central SD seeking to bid on federal, state, and local government contracts.
APEX Accelerator – Pierre
Free government contracting technical assistance and workshops for SD businesses in eastern SD seeking to bid on federal, state, and local government contracts.
APEX Accelerator – Sioux Falls
Free government contracting technical assistance and workshops for SD businesses in southern SD seeking to bid on federal, state, and local government contracts.
APEX Accelerator – Yankton
Free government contracting technical assistance and workshops for SD businesses in western SD seeking to bid on federal, state, and local government contracts.
APEX Accelerator – Rapid City
Year-long cohort program for established founders ready to grow revenue, profit, or team size, using the GrowthWheel framework and peer accountability.
Collaborative, hands-on workshops helping aspiring entrepreneurs explore business ideas, transform them into viable concepts, and build a cohesive business proposal.
Northern Innovation and Startup Center
8-week cohort incubation program for aspiring entrepreneurs in northeast South Dakota, covering business planning, marketing, financing, and pitching with NSU faculty mentors.
Online innovation platform connecting founders with mentors, peers, and investors to help find the shortest path from idea to business.
Community/Networking
Lean manufacturing and leadership training workshops for SD manufacturers, delivered at the Lake Area Tech campus in Watertown and customized to individual company needs.
South Dakota Manufacturing & Technology Solutions – Lake Area
Hands-on lean manufacturing and leadership training workshops for SD manufacturers, including a 6-month Lean+Leadership for Supervisors series and lean certification courses.
South Dakota Manufacturing & Technology Solutions – Southeast
Ongoing training sessions for EDPA members covering relevant economic development topics, offered 25–40 times per year across South Dakota.
Economic Development Professionals Association of South Dakota
12-month peer mentoring program matching experienced economic development professionals with newer members across South Dakota for professional growth and community connection.
Network connecting Sioux Falls entrepreneurs with experienced local business mentors for guidance, accountability, and community support.
Free, confidential business counseling for SD entrepreneurs in western South Dakota covering business planning, financial analysis, marketing, and growth strategy.
Free, confidential business counseling for entrepreneurs in northeast South Dakota covering business planning, financing, marketing, and operations.
Free, confidential business counseling for entrepreneurs in southern South Dakota covering business planning, financing, marketing, and operations.
Free, confidential business counseling for entrepreneurs in central South Dakota covering business planning, financing, marketing, and operations.
Free, confidential business counseling for entrepreneurs in southeast South Dakota, hosted at the University of South Dakota's Beacom School of Business.
Free, confidential business counseling for SD entrepreneurs covering business planning, financial analysis, marketing, financing, and growth strategy.
Free, confidential one-on-one business mentoring from experienced volunteer professionals for Aberdeen and northeast South Dakota entrepreneurs.
SCORE Aberdeen
Free, confidential one-on-one business mentoring from experienced volunteer professionals for Rapid City and Black Hills area entrepreneurs.
SCORE Rapid City
Free, confidential one-on-one business mentoring from experienced volunteer professionals for Yankton and surrounding area entrepreneurs.
SCORE Yankton
Free, confidential one-on-one business mentoring from experienced volunteer professionals for Watertown and surrounding area entrepreneurs.
SCORE Watertown
Free, confidential one-on-one business mentoring from experienced volunteer business professionals for Sioux Falls area entrepreneurs at all stages.
SCORE Sioux Falls
Free or low-cost business workshops and webinars on small business topics for Yankton and surrounding area entrepreneurs.
Free or low-cost business workshops and webinars on small business topics for Aberdeen and northeast South Dakota entrepreneurs.
Free or low-cost business workshops and webinars on key small business topics for Sioux Falls area entrepreneurs, offered locally and online.
Free or low-cost business workshops and webinars on key small business topics for Rapid City and Black Hills area entrepreneurs.
Free or low-cost business workshops and webinars on small business topics for Watertown and surrounding area entrepreneurs.
Free online platform providing startup education resources and guidance to aspiring entrepreneurs in the Brookings area.
Immersive biotech internship program at Dakota BioWorx's pilot-scale facilities giving SDSU and SD Mines students hands-on experience in biotech scale-up and process development.
Dakota BioWorx
6-month startup studio accelerator helping founders with software business ideas go from vision to product to revenue, with development resources and go-to-market support.
Wildfire Labs, LLC