FAST Launch adding additional 2024 dates to help connect early-stage companies with funding.
The South Dakota FAST Launch* program is designed to assist South Dakota entrepreneurs and small businesses with beginning and expanding their business through the South Dakota Giant Vision Competition and SBIR/STTR funding*.
Applications for funding consideration must meet the following requirements:
A tech-based, scalable company, or
A company pursuing additional funding which enables the business to move forward, such as the Giant Vision Competition or capital investments.
NOTE: Applicants Must Attend Boot Camp (virtually or in person) To Apply And Complete Customer Discovery. Applicant Is Then Eligible To Apply For Implementation Funds.
Great Plains I-Corps graduate teams can omit Steps 1 and 2 and apply for Write A Business Plan this without attending Business Bootcamp and Completed Customer Discovery.
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STEP 1: Bootcamp Info and Registration
South Dakota FAST Launch will conduct a virtual boot camp training program on starting and growing businesses as well as developing and commercializing innovations.
Any entrepreneur or existing company can register for the bootcamp.
Business Bootcamp – A Seven-hour Crash Course in Starting a Business
February 3 & 10 (Saturdays) 8:30 a.m-12:30 p.m. each day
March 5, 6, & 7 (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) 2:30-5 p.m. each day
April 6 & April 13 (Saturdays) 8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. each day
July 20 & 27 (Saturdays) 8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. each day
August 6, 7, & 8 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) 2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
STEP 2: Developing a Business Model: Customer Discovery
Participants of the bootcamp are eligible to apply for up to $1,500 to support a customer validation process. During the bootcamp participants will learn about customer discovery and can apply for funding to support their proposed efforts. Only participants in the bootcamp are eligible to apply. The FAST Launch management team will review and approve applications for funding. The awardee will need to submit a report summarizing the results to receive payment from South Dakota Biotech for the approved amount.
Customer Discovery Registration Available After Attending Business Bootcamp
(DATES: one session)
February 6 (Tuesday) 3:30-5 p.m.
February 15 (Thursday) 4-5:30 p.m.
February 27 (Tuesday) 3:30-5 p.m.
March 26 (Tuesday) 4 - 5:30 p.m.
March 28 (Thursday) 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
April 15 (Monday) 3:30 - 5 p.m.
April 27 (Saturday) 8:30 - 10 a.m.
May 22 (Wednesday) 1 - 2:30 p.m.
July 16 (Tuesday) 3:30 - 5 p.m.
July 17 (Wednesday) 3:30 - 5 p.m.
STEP 3: Write a Business Plan
If customer interest is validated, a participant can apply for up to $10,000 to support further development and implementation of their business plan.
To be eligible to apply the applicant must have participated in the bootcamp and completed customer discovery (this could be done with or without FAST financial support). The application would be a draft business plan that they commit to submit to Giant Vision along with a proposed budget and budget narrative detailing how they plan to spend the funds and how the results will enhance their Giant Vision business plan application and/or SBIR/STTR application. Applicants need to propose steps that can be taken rather quickly such as purchase supplies to make a prototype, contract for a prototype to be built, testing, etc.
Business Plan Registration Available After Attending Business Bootcamp and Completed Customer Discovery (DATES: one session)
February 8 (Thursday) 4-5 p.m.
February 15 (Thursday) 5:45-6:45 p.m.
February 29 (Thursday) 4-5 p.m.
April 2 (Tuesday) 3 - 4:30 p.m.
April 3 (Wednesday) 3 - 4:30 p.m.
April 27 (Saturday) 10:15 a.m. - Noon
May 22 (Wednesday) 3 - 5 p.m.
South Dakota Governor’s Giant Vision Competition
South Dakota FAST Launch encourages and supports entrepreneurs to participate in the South Dakota Governor’s Giant Vision Competition, which has a winning business award of $20,000. The South Dakota Governor’s Giant Vision Competition allows participants to compete for cash awards, present to investors and connect with potential customers. The South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosts this competition.
Customer Discovery and Business Plan workshops by appointment for those who want that information.
Learn More about the South Dakota Governor’s Giant Vision Competition.
SBIR/STTR Support
Participants should apply for SBIR/STTR funding to grow and advance their business. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, coordinated by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), are known as America’s Seed Fund. SBIR is the largest source of early-stage funding for American small businesses to advance promising technologies that address national problems in the fields of advanced manufacturing, health care, food production and safety, cybersecurity and more.
Learn More about SBIR/STTR support opportunities.
*To be eligible for the SD FAST Launch funds an entrepreneur or business must register and participate in a bootcamp in November. They can participate in the DSU launch program and include funding for the registration cost in their customer discovery application. However, applicants are not required to do the launch program.
South Dakota FAST Launch is funded through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
*As part of the grant process, those who submit an application for the FAST Launch Grant will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement.
The Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program provides funding through the U.S. Small Business Administration to organizations to execute state/regional programs that increase the number of SBIR/STTR proposals leading to an increase in the number of SBIR/STTR awards from women, socially/economically disadvantaged individuals, and small businesses in underrepresented areas - typically rural states. FAST awards build the SBIR/STTR ecosystem through outreach, technical and business assistance, and financial support.
