Want Access to Capital and Resources? Take a Look at South Dakota
December 6, 2018
In September, I took a drive through the entire state of South Dakota--from Mount Rushmore to Rapid City, through The Badlands and to Sioux Falls. I'll admit, I didn't know much about the state. The west feels like Wyoming, the east like Iowa.
South Dakota may not have been at the top of your list as a startup destination, it wasn't on mine. I changed my mind in four short days. Unlike Raleigh or Orlando, their focus hasn't been in attracting large companies but in creating the necessary pieces to grow future companies in South Dakota.
For 16 years, spanning three administrations, South Dakota's government has consistently created incentives for startups and innovation and large research facilities. It's rare in a conservative state to see this kind of investment but it's a roll-up-your-sleeves kind of state.