Date & Time: Every other weekday from Tuesday, Nov. 10th - Friday, Nov. 20th | 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM CST (10:30 AM-12:30 PM MDT)
Location: Online via Zoom
The Rural CO.STARTERS Online Bootcamp is a fully virtual, hands-on program designed for aspiring entrepreneurs across South Dakota and neighboring states. 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 entrepreneurs with practical tools, personalized support, and a community of like-minded doers.
Registration Closes: Friday, November 6th at Noon CST (11 AM MDT)
Why CO.STARTERS? Why Now?
Business Plan framework and other tools
Focused time to work on your business
Building a network of entrepreneurs across the region
Introductions to local and state-wide resource providers
Access to apply for up to $25,000 loan through Dakota Resource
What Will We Cover?
Tuesday, November 10th
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
Thursday, November 12th
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 by starting small
Monday, November 16th
Part 3: Promote - Learn how to market your business.
Building relationships through marketing
Crafting your message
Choosing your marketing channels
Developing your “pitch”
Wednesday, November 18th
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
Friday, November 20th
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
Organized by the Rural CO.STARTERS Collaborative
Brookings Regional Growth Alliance
Dakota Resources
Glacial Lakes Area Development
Lake Francis Case Development Corp
Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce
Northern Innovation and Startup Center
Southern Hills Economic Development
Sturgis Economic Development Corporation
Startup Sioux Falls