The recent Governor’s Giant Vision Competition, held last week in Pierre, South Dakota, offered a compelling view of the state’s evolving entrepreneurial landscape. This marked my first time attending the event in its current format, although I participated as a finalist back in 2022.
What stood out immediately was the noticeable elevation in the overall experience. The rebranding and execution—driven by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry—reflect a consistent commitment to improvement year over year.
Today, Giant Vision feels like more than a startup competition. It has become a meaningful gathering point for entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and ecosystem partners across South Dakota.
From Finalist to Mentor
Reflecting on my own journey as a Giant Vision finalist in 2022, the experience was both profoundly humbling and instructive.
The process required navigating non-dilutive resources at both the state and federal levels, while gaining a clearer sense of how South Dakota evaluates and supports emerging technologies—particularly those originating from healthcare systems, universities, and research-driven companies.
Since then, I have had the privilege of mentoring other finalists through programs such as South Dakota Biotech FAST Launch and South Dakota Mines Entrepreneur in Residence program. Observing this year’s cohort, it was encouraging to witness the collective effort invested in their presentations, business plans, financial projections, and clear, confident pitches.
Innovation Across South Dakota
One of the competition’s enduring strengths is the diversity of technologies represented each year.
This year’s finalists came from communities across South Dakota—including Vermillion, Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Brookings, among others —demonstrating that innovation is emerging throughout the state.
The sectors represented were equally broad, spanning:
- Agriculture technologies
- Bioscience and healthcare innovation
- Defense technologies
- Cybersecurity
- Software platforms
This range highlights South Dakota’s growing capacity to generate impactful ideas across multiple industries.
Advice for Founders Competing in Giant Vision
For entrepreneurs navigating the competition, certain challenges persist.
One recurring difficulty is the cross-sector evaluation. When innovations span entirely different domains—such as biotechnology, agriculture, and software—it can feel like comparing fundamentally different types of ventures.
Because of this, my consistent advice to founders is to anchor their narrative firmly in South Dakota’s context.
In particular:
- What tangible impact does the innovation create in South Dakota?
- How might it contribute to workforce development?
- Does it create jobs or new industry capacity?
- Does it strengthen priority sectors within the state’s economy?
Framing the story around these questions often proves decisive.
Equally important is transparency about the support received along the way. Successful participants tend to clearly connect the dots, acknowledging the network of non-dilutive resources, mentors, and programs that have shaped their progress. This not only demonstrates the system’s effectiveness in supporting entrepreneurs but also reinforces a shared commitment to building momentum within the state.
In rural states like ours, that lens is essential. The divide between urban and rural healthcare is real. The opportunity is to design systems that work in both environments.
For South Dakota, that creates space. Innovation here does not need to mimic larger markets. It needs to solve real problems with clarity and operational discipline.
That mindset is attractive to serious builders.
Why Giant Vision Matters for South Dakota
The heightened level of competition this year was evident, as was the value of convening in Pierre—a central location that facilitates in-person connections among participants from every corner of South Dakota.
These interactions allow for the exchange of ideas, mutual learning, and collaborative support.
At its core, Giant Vision represents more than individual pitches; it offers a platform to showcase South Dakota’s potential on regional and national stages, fostering a growth-oriented mindset that counters brain drain and creates opportunities by and for South Dakotans.
What if we continue strengthening these connections and environments? The progress on display suggests we are building something authentic and sustainable—one that fits our scale, our geography, and our shared priorities.
Grateful for the partnerships ahead.