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<\/a><\/p>\nDuring the accelerator, Abourezk gained not only a deeper understanding of growth strategy but also a new mindset: Don\u2019t rush the next thing. That idea stuck with her.<\/p>\n
Since completing the program, she has launched a line of healthy packaged meals now sold at her restaurant and the Sioux Falls Food Co+op \u2014 part of a bigger vision to bring her Mediterranean dishes to more tables without compromising quality.<\/p>\n
But perhaps most valuable was the sense of community. \u201cI met other business owners, learned from their experiences and built relationships I can rely on,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s something you can\u2019t put a price on.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a designer with two decades of experience, Cersosimo knew her craft, but running a business was an entirely different story.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t feel prepared or confident,\u201d she said. \u201cI needed something to help me build a foundation.\u201d<\/p>\n She found it in the Startup Sioux Falls accelerator. Each week, the cohort of founders \u2014 some launching, others pivoting, all working \u2014 gathered to learn practical steps: identifying customers, refining their offerings, forecasting finances. But for Cersosimo, the biggest breakthrough was emotional.<\/p>\n \u201cEntrepreneurship can be lonely,\u201d she said. \u201cBut in that room, I wasn\u2019t alone. We\u2019d cheer each other on, swap ideas and celebrate every small win. I looked forward to each session.\u201d<\/p>\n Years later, her business Two54 Creative is thriving in Sioux Falls. She designs websites and brand identities for clients across the region. The tools the accelerator gave her are constantly in use. \u201cIt didn\u2019t feel like school. It felt like showing up for your business and for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n Phan joined the accelerator during a season of personal transition. As a videographer and visual artist managing a degenerative eye condition, his freelance career was becoming harder to sustain.<\/p>\n \u201cI needed to rethink how I approached each day and my work,\u201d he said. \u201cI joined the program to explore how I could transfer my skills into something more aligned with my new goals.\u201d<\/p>\n At the start of the program, he was still doing client work. By the end, he had a new mission: to become a fine art photographer. Within a year, he traveled to Vietnam to shoot his first collection \u2014 a deeply personal journey that culminated in a solo exhibit at the Washington Pavilion in 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cThe accelerator took me out of my bubble,\u201d he said. \u201cMeeting people from different backgrounds, hearing their stories \u2014 it made me feel more connected to this community, especially after the isolation of COVID.\u201d<\/p>\n Phan said the program helped him avoid the mistake many creatives make: trying to figure it out alone. \u201cIt\u2019s a small investment for what you gain: structure, support, connection. You\u2019re not alone anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n At its core, the Startup Sioux Falls Accelerator isn\u2019t about overnight success \u2014 it\u2019s about sustainable progress. Over 10 weeks, participants work through a curriculum that balances mindset, strategy and community. From financial forecasting and customer discovery to branding and legal essentials, the program gives entrepreneurs a road map \u2014 and people to walk it with.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n