Date & Time: Mon – Fri, November 3rd – 7th | 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Location: Online

The Rural CO.STARTERS Online Bootcamp is a fully virtual, hands-on program designed for aspiring entrepreneurs across South Dakota. In just five focused sessions, you’ll collaborate with peers and experienced facilitators to shape your idea and take real steps toward launching a business. This interactive experience guides you through five key stages: Ideate your concept, Discover your customer, Promote your value, Build your model, and Launch with clarity and confidence.

Whether you're starting from scratch or refining an existing idea, this bootcamp equips rural South Dakotans with practical tools, personalized support, and a community of like-minded doers.

Facilitators:

• Amanda Anglin, Sturgis Economic Development Corporation  

• Bea Smith, Northern Innovation and Startup Center

• Lindsey Kimber, Glacial Lakes Area Development

• Matty Kerr, Brookings Economic Development Corporation

• Paula Jenson, Dakota Resources

What will we cover?

Part 1: Ideate - Generate and shape your business idea.

• Exploring and clarifying your ideas

• Identifying problems worth solving

• Matching your skills, passions, and market needs

• Choosing the idea with the best potential to move forward

Part 2: Discover - Understand your business model and how to refine it.

• Cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset

• Building your business model using the lean canvas

• Refining your model with customer discovery

• Refining your model through starting small

Part 3: Promote - Learn how to market your business.

• Building relationships through marketing

• Crafting your message

• Choosing your marketing channels

• Developing your “pitch”

Part 4: Build - Dive into the basic building blocks needed for your financial modeling.

• Distributing your product or service

• Knowing your value (before you set your price)

• Understanding your costs

• Calculating a break-even point

Part 5: Launch - Build momentum by goal setting.

• Setting priorities

• Identifying 30, 60, and 90-day milestones

• Getting SMART about tasks

• Creating a plan + staying on track