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<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cAnd we ended up winning,\u201d Maner said. \u201cWe beat out Minneapolis and Fargo and all the cities you\u2019d imagine would have some startup moxie.\u201d<\/p>\n
At M25, a Chicago-based, early-stage venture capital firm that invests exclusively in Midwest-based tech startups, \u201cwe were impressed by the Sioux Falls startup community from the start,\u201d platform associate Ruth Brungard said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA few rounds in, our team was pretty openly rooting for Sioux Falls to go all the way, and they delivered. Brienne and the Startup Sioux Falls team did a fantastic job rallying the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
The win is \u201ca good reminder that some of the most exciting things happening in tech and startups aren\u2019t always on the coasts,\u201d she continued. \u201cThey\u2019re right here in communities like Sioux Falls.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, it\u2019s time to celebrate \u2014 and build on the momentum.<\/p>\n The M25 team is coming to Sioux Falls on June 22 for a day that begins with founder-focused programming and ends with a community celebration of the Midwest Madness win.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re throwing us a party,\u201d Maner said. \u201cI\u2019m just pumped they\u2019re going to be in our city for the day. It\u2019s great to be on the radar of such a large venture capital organization, and the win is definitely something we should be celebrating.\u201d<\/p>\n A day for founders<\/p>\n The day begins with Founders Reset, sponsored by Avera Health, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Startup Sioux Falls\u2019 downtown headquarters, 100 E. Sixth St.<\/p>\n Designed for founders looking to step back, reset and reconnect, the event will focus on sustainable leadership, business systems, vision and the realities of building a company without burning out.<\/p>\n The format is intentionally small, with capacity capped at 30 attendees to encourage deeper conversation and connection.<\/p>\n \u201cJune 22 represents the perfect snapshot of what makes Sioux Falls such an incredible place for entrepreneurs,\u201d Maner said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are doing the vital work of building healthy, sustainable businesses during the day at Founders Reset alongside an incredible partner like Avera Health and dynamic leaders like Mayor TenHaken.\u201d<\/p>\n TenHaken will join the speaker lineup to share firsthand reflections on leadership, high-stakes stress and resilience.<\/p>\n Other sessions will include Gina Kuck, founder of Refine21 and SCH\u00d6NE, leading a discussion on energy and stress triggers, and Carrie Kuhl, founder and CEO of UpFrame Creative, facilitating conversations around systems and vision.<\/p>\n Avera Health also will be represented by Paige Goldade and Kristen Hicks, who bring entrepreneurial experience of their own. Hicks also will bring her local brand, Farmwives Cold Brew, to fuel attendees.<\/p>\n Annie and Chris Mello of SISU Fit will lead interactive group activities throughout the day designed to build energy and peer connection.<\/p>\n For founders, Maner said, the goal is to create space for both practical strategy and personal sustainability.<\/p>\n \u201cBuilding a company can be exciting, but it also can be isolating, stressful and difficult to step away from long enough to think clearly about what comes next,\u201d she said. \u201cFounders Reset is designed to give entrepreneurs that space.\u201d<\/p>\n A celebration for the community<\/p>\n After the workshop, the focus shifts to the Midwest Madness Championship Celebration from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n The free event is open to founders, investors, startup supporters and anyone interested in celebrating Sioux Falls\u2019 growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat makes the Midwest Madness celebration even more special is how M25 intentionally engaged local Sioux Falls small businesses to make it happen,\u201d Maner said.<\/p>\n The event will feature food from Rudy Navarrete, beverages from JJ\u2019s Wine, Spirits & Cigars and custom event T-shirts designed and printed by Green Dream Screen Printing.<\/p>\n Those shirts will be given away free during the celebration.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s part of what makes this feel like Sioux Falls,\u201d Maner said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just a celebration of Startup Sioux Falls. It\u2019s a celebration of the people and businesses that make this community what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n For Startup Sioux Falls, the Midwest Madness win comes at a time when the organization is seeing increased interest in entrepreneurship and greater momentum around founders building in the region.<\/p>\n The recognition also brings visibility from one of the Midwest\u2019s leading venture capital firms.<\/p>\n M25 invests in early-stage technology companies throughout the region and uses Midwest Madness to draw attention to startup communities that might not always receive national attention.<\/p>\n Brungard said Sioux Falls\u2019 win reflects both organization and enthusiasm.<\/p>\n \u201cBrienne and the Startup Sioux Falls team rallied the community in a way that was really fun to watch,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n For Maner, the win validates something those close to the Sioux Falls startup scene already know: There is energy here.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s pride in Sioux Falls,\u201d she said. \u201cThere\u2019s excitement about our entrepreneurial community, and it showed.\u201d<\/p>\n The June 22 events are designed to carry that energy forward \u2014 first by investing in founders during the day and then by giving the broader community a chance to celebrate at night.<\/p>\n \u201cWhether you are looking to refine your business strategy during the day or network with the region\u2019s top investors at night, this is a day you cannot miss,\u201d Maner said.<\/p>\n Fewer than 15 seats remain for Founders Reset. Tickets are available at eventcreate.com\/e\/foundersreset2026,<\/a> with the discount code RESET25 available for $25 off.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n