June 15, 2026

This piece is sponsored by Startup Sioux Falls.

Think of Startup Sioux Falls like the Cinderella story of this edition of March Madness.

When president Brienne Maner learned of the Midwest Madness Championship, hosted by M25, the Midwest’s most active seed-stage venture fund, she took action despite leading one of the region’s smaller entrepreneurial organizations.

“All you had to do was click once to vote for Sioux Falls – so we did, and we just started winning,” Maner said. “And the more involved we got, the more fun it became.”

Supporters of Startup Sioux Falls started speaking up and sharing. Mayor Paul TenHaken, himself a business founder, encouraged more votes in the 64-town bracket-style competition designed to spotlight the growth of regional startup and venture capital scenes.

“And we ended up winning,” Maner said. “We beat out Minneapolis and Fargo and all the cities you’d imagine would have some startup moxie.”

At M25, a Chicago-based, early-stage venture capital firm that invests exclusively in Midwest-based tech startups, “we were impressed by the Sioux Falls startup community from the start,” platform associate Ruth Brungard said.

“A 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.”

The win is “a good reminder that some of the most exciting things happening in tech and startups aren’t always on the coasts,” she continued. “They’re right here in communities like Sioux Falls.”

Now, it’s time to celebrate — and build on the momentum.

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.

“They’re throwing us a party,” Maner said. “I’m just pumped they’re going to be in our city for the day. It’s great to be on the radar of such a large venture capital organization, and the win is definitely something we should be celebrating.”

A day for founders

The day begins with Founders Reset, sponsored by Avera Health, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Startup Sioux Falls’ downtown headquarters, 100 E. Sixth St.

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.

The format is intentionally small, with capacity capped at 30 attendees to encourage deeper conversation and connection.

“June 22 represents the perfect snapshot of what makes Sioux Falls such an incredible place for entrepreneurs,” Maner said.

“We 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.”

TenHaken will join the speaker lineup to share firsthand reflections on leadership, high-stakes stress and resilience.

Other sessions will include Gina Kuck, founder of Refine21 and SCHÖNE, leading a discussion on energy and stress triggers, and Carrie Kuhl, founder and CEO of UpFrame Creative, facilitating conversations around systems and vision.

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.

Annie and Chris Mello of SISU Fit will lead interactive group activities throughout the day designed to build energy and peer connection.

For founders, Maner said, the goal is to create space for both practical strategy and personal sustainability.

“Building 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,” she said. “Founders Reset is designed to give entrepreneurs that space.”

A celebration for the community

After the workshop, the focus shifts to the Midwest Madness Championship Celebration from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

The free event is open to founders, investors, startup supporters and anyone interested in celebrating Sioux Falls’ growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“What makes the Midwest Madness celebration even more special is how M25 intentionally engaged local Sioux Falls small businesses to make it happen,” Maner said.

The event will feature food from Rudy Navarrete, beverages from JJ’s Wine, Spirits & Cigars and custom event T-shirts designed and printed by Green Dream Screen Printing.

Those shirts will be given away free during the celebration.

“That’s part of what makes this feel like Sioux Falls,” Maner said. “It’s not just a celebration of Startup Sioux Falls. It’s a celebration of the people and businesses that make this community what it is.”

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.

The recognition also brings visibility from one of the Midwest’s leading venture capital firms.

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.

Brungard said Sioux Falls’ win reflects both organization and enthusiasm.

“Brienne and the Startup Sioux Falls team rallied the community in a way that was really fun to watch,” she said.

For Maner, the win validates something those close to the Sioux Falls startup scene already know: There is energy here.

“There’s pride in Sioux Falls,” she said. “There’s excitement about our entrepreneurial community, and it showed.”

The June 22 events are designed to carry that energy forward — first by investing in founders during the day and then by giving the broader community a chance to celebrate at night.

“Whether you are looking to refine your business strategy during the day or network with the region’s top investors at night, this is a day you cannot miss,” Maner said.

Fewer than 15 seats remain for Founders Reset. Tickets are available at eventcreate.com/e/foundersreset2026, with the discount code RESET25 available for $25 off.

The Midwest Madness Championship Celebration is free, with RSVPs available here.