New Startup Sioux Falls program creates CEO peer group for sustaining-level companies

Aug. 31, 2026

This piece is sponsored by Startup Sioux Falls.

As CEO of Time Management Systems, Mindy Kroll explored ways to connect with other chief executives — and it led her to a clear choice.

“As I explored other CEO programs, I found that nothing local compared to what Startup Sioux Falls was offering,” she said. “I wanted to be part of an organization that is helping build and strengthen the entrepreneurial community in Sioux Falls, and joining felt like a natural fit.”

She already had been impressed with Startup Sioux Falls for its events and “the incredible work it does to support and encourage new entrepreneurs,” so when the organization launched a program for more established CEOs, Kroll decided it was worth her time.

Roundtable launched recently through Startup Sioux Falls as a new peer-group program for sustaining-level companies, sponsored by Eide Bailly LLP and The First National Bank in Sioux Falls. The first cohort includes eight CEOs running seven- and eight-figure businesses.

Eric Sivertsen, CEO of Epicosity, also saw value right away, especially as it relates to positioning his organization during a time of rapidly evolving technology.

“Over the next decade, the way we work, produce and serve our clients will continue to evolve at an unprecedented pace,” he said. “The Roundtable gives us an opportunity to learn from how other business leaders are navigating these changes while also providing a valuable sounding board for ideas and strategies our executive team is considering.”

For Startup Sioux Falls, the program fills a gap the organization has recognized increasingly as more founders and business owners grow beyond the earliest stages of entrepreneurship.

“Over the last several years, we’ve built a pretty strong pathway for early-stage founders and growing businesses, but we kept running into a gap at the top end,” said Jeff Hayward, director of programming for Startup Sioux Falls. “What happens when a founder has built a $5 million, $10 million or $20 million company? They don’t necessarily need another class or traditional startup program, but they still need peers they trust who understand the decisions and challenges that come with running a company at that level.”

Roundtable was created for established founders and CEOs who want a place to work through complex decisions, build trusted relationships and stay connected to the broader Startup Sioux Falls community even after outgrowing traditional programming.

“We wanted to create something specifically for established founders and CEOs who had largely outgrown traditional startup programming, while also giving them a reason to remain connected to Startup Sioux Falls and to each other,” Hayward said.

The founding cohort intentionally was kept small.

“They are established founders and CEOs leading substantial businesses, generally in that seven- to eight-figure range,” Hayward said. “That was intentional. We wanted the group to be small enough to build real trust and candid relationships, while bringing together leaders who are dealing with similarly complex decisions.”

Unlike a class or accelerator, Roundtable is not built around completing a set curriculum. It is designed as a peer-driven, annual commitment that becomes more valuable as members build trust over time.

The group is facilitated by John Meyer, founder of Leadmore and an executive coach. It meets every other month for a roughly four-hour working session. Members also have access to monthly virtual speaker sessions and lighter engagement between meetings.

“It’s much more peer-driven than curriculum-driven,” Hayward said. “The real value is getting eight experienced business leaders in a room where they can talk candidly about what they are working through, challenge one another, share experiences and help each other solve problems.”

Meyer’s role is to guide the conversation, challenge members and keep the group focused, while making sure every participant has a voice.

“As facilitator of the Roundtable, my goal is to challenge the members to grow, to hold them accountable and to ensure that everyone gets to participate, their voices are heard and we stay on time,” Meyer said.

He brings firsthand experience with the value of CEO peer groups. When he hired his first CEO coach in 2017, Meyer joined a boardroom of 12 entrepreneurs and said every session motivated him to invest in himself, his team and his business.

“I walked away from every session with new ideas and motivation,” he said.

That type of environment can be difficult to find for CEOs and founders leading companies at a more mature stage. Decisions become more complex, and the circle of people a CEO can speak with candidly can become smaller.

“At that level of business, it can actually get harder to find people you can talk openly with,” Hayward said. “Your employees, investors, customers and even friends may not be the right people to work through certain decisions with.”

Roundtable is designed to provide that trusted space, with each meeting leading to better perspective, practical next steps and peers whom members can call when something comes up.

The first sessions already have begun producing those takeaways.

In a recent meeting, Meyer said, the group talked about the importance of “speed to lead,” or getting back to potential customers quickly when they are most actively looking for services. Members also discussed the value of building and activating email and SMS lists to grow revenue.

“Each session, I try to push the CEOs to get clear on their next most-important action,” Meyer said.

For Meyer, the commonality among CEOs often matters more than the differences in their industries.

“Over my four years of being an executive coach, I’ve learned that regardless of industry, CEOs and founders go through the same struggles and challenges,” he said.

What makes Roundtable distinctive is that it brings together leaders at a similar level of business maturity, with certain revenue thresholds, larger teams and the specific challenges that come with scaling and sustaining a company.

“There are national chapters and organizations that bring CEOs together or more informal mastermind/peer groups that you need to be invited into,” Meyer said. “I think this one is unique in that it just started and is forming at a time when all the members are shaping what it will be.”

Those early sessions are helping build the camaraderie, trust and rapport he expects will become central to the group.

“In a world where the price of knowledge is rapidly going to zero, I think this connective tissue of accountability, peer inspiration and an in-person experience is more valuable than ever,” Meyer said.

For Startup Sioux Falls, Roundtable is part of a broader evolution in how the organization thinks about supporting entrepreneurs. Hayward describes it through a “Start, Scale, Sustain” framework.

Startup Sioux Falls will continue helping people start businesses, but the larger economic impact comes when more of those companies scale and become durable, sustainable businesses.

“We need to help people start companies, certainly, but economic impact comes from helping more of those companies scale and ultimately become durable, sustainable businesses,” Hayward said. “Roundtable gives us a real offering at that ‘sustain’ stage.”

The model also could grow over time, with Startup Sioux Falls eventually supporting multiple peer groups based on company stage, size or the kinds of challenges leaders are facing. Just as important, Roundtable gives successful founders a meaningful reason to stay involved with Startup Sioux Falls and its entrepreneurial network.

Startup Sioux Falls approached the program in the same way it encourages founders to build new offerings: by listening first.

“We started by getting the right people in the room and asking them what would actually be valuable,” Hayward said. “Even before the first official session, we were focused on trust, relationships and allowing the founding members to help shape the experience.”

That is what excites him most about the program.

“It isn’t eight CEOs sitting through another presentation,” Hayward said. “It’s eight people who have built significant businesses being willing to open up the hood a little bit, learn from one another and help each other build stronger companies.”

For Kroll, the first sessions have reinforced the value of that approach.

“At my first session, I was impressed by the other members in the group and enjoyed hearing about their experiences and individual journeys,” she said. “I also appreciated how John led the group while allowing everyone the space to discuss topics, ask questions and really dig into the issues that mattered to us. Every meeting has given me something new to think about or take back with me.”

The diversity of perspective was obvious from the first session and adds significant value, Sivertsen added.

“I also appreciate the willingness to make relationship-building and social interaction an important part of the experience,” he said. “The opportunity to get to know one another beyond our businesses creates a stronger foundation for meaningful conversations and collaboration.”

Success will be measured by the tangible advice, ideas and guidance he can bring back to Epicosity and incorporate into quarterly goals over the next year, he added.

“Just as importantly, I hope to build lasting relationships with leaders who are committed to challenging themselves, challenging their organizations and continuously finding ways to improve.”

Ultimately, Kroll said, the value is in being challenged by other leaders who understand what it means to run and grow a business.

“I wanted to push myself to think differently, challenge my own perspective and learn from the people around the table,” Kroll said. “I often say I look forward to ‘borrowing’ ideas from those around me — not because I want to be just like them but because there is so much to learn from how others approach their businesses and challenges.”

To learn more

If you’re interested in joining a future Roundtable, contact director of programming Jeff Hayward at jeff@startupsiouxfalls.com.

Stay connected to Startup Sioux Falls and learn about future Roundtable launches by signing up for the organization’s newsletter at startupsiouxfalls.com/newsletter.