Dec. 4, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by Startup Sioux Falls.

 You know it’s a good party when it returns to the same venue twice.

 For the Sioux Falls Food Co+op, hosting its annual meeting and member celebration has become an easy fit at Startup Sioux Falls.

 The downtown startup community headquarters at 100 E. Sixth St. has hosted the Sioux Falls Foods Co+op for two consecutive years, turning the MarketBeat Theater into a celebration of shopping and eating local.

 “It is ideal for us because it has a small kitchen, basic A/V equipment for a presentation, a really nice outdoor area and lots of flexibility to set up the event just the way we wanted it,” general manager Patrick Sayler said.

 The co-op brought in food from local restaurants Sanaa’s 8th Street Gourmet, Salas Salsas and Look’s Marketplace and, of course, from the co-op itself, plus had space to serve beer, wine and kombucha.

A DJ played music from the upper level, while members could chat and mingle throughout the space.

 While it’s possible his group could outgrow the space, “for where we are right now, there really is no better space in Sioux Falls for these small, professional events,” Sayler said.

“Hosting there is so seamless; we met with the staff a couple times, and they had everything ready for us. We were able to make a few last-minute changes to the setup, and then the event got underway without an issue. I love that the A/V equipment worked easily right away, and the staff were there to make sure we were all ready to go.”

Startup Sioux Falls increasingly is becoming known as a space for meetings and events of many sizes, but others in the business community still are discovering it, president Brienne Maner said.

“We have several room configurations for you to select from, and we’ll help set it up for you,” she said.

“We’ve had everything from a pre-Levitt concert celebration to a mixer, business conferences and annual meetings.”

Events at Startup Sioux Falls enjoy on-site parking, affordable rent – especially if your business is a member – and the support of the Startup Sioux Falls team to help set up and ensure everything is working properly.

“We now have the staff capability to do after-hours and weekend events,” Maner said. “The only requirement is that it has to be business-related in some way. We can celebrate team member work anniversaries and departures too; we just don’t do purely social events like birthdays.”

Here’s a look at the wide range of options within the Startup Sioux Falls building to hold your event:

 For small groups

 Meeting with four or fewer people? Both the American Bank & Trust Room and the Weisser Distributing Room can accommodate you. Both offer TVs, whiteboards, USB hookups and a 2K camera and soundbar.

“We often see company off-site meetings, where some team members will come to Sioux Falls and some might be remote, and they need a good venue for a hybrid meeting — we have the technology for it,” Maner said.

For your board or bigger team

If your event or meeting is for 14 to 20 people, two venues at Startup Sioux Falls could be a fit.

The Arc of Dreams conference room holds up to 14 people with several amenities:

• Two TVs for multiple screen share.
• No cord hookup to screen share.
• Zoom room capable — start or join a Zoom meeting from the iPad.
• 4K camera and soundbar.
• Room capture hanging microphone.
• Whiteboard.

The conference room has been a good fit for Central Payments, which has used it for an investor meeting, as well as for its quarterly EOS sessions and “primarily when we need a private, off-site location to strategize and focus,” CEO Nikkee Rhody said.

“The room is large, bright, airy and aesthetically laid out for productive and creative needs, with plenty of on-site parking. Administrative support is available to answer questions throughout the day as well.”

The room is large enough to accommodate the company’s groups of up to 10 team members, with tables and chairs that are rearranged easily, and booking is done easily online, she said.

“The technology instructions are simple to follow and make streaming content, hosting online meetings and presenting slick,” Rhody said. “The overall experience is impressive, and we will continue to use the space into 2025.”

The Homegrown Capital Room can host up to 20 people and features a TV, USB hookups, 4K camera and soundbar, room capture hanging microphone, recliner office chairs, a mini-fridge and whiteboard.

“These are great fits for company off-site meetings. Even if your business or organization already has a conference room or boardroom, there’s great benefit to getting out of your office for a spark of creativity, increased focus and more open and candid conversations,” Maner said.

 “We see groups bring in facilitators, and many that run on EOS will use our spaces for a quarterly or annual meeting.”

For First Christian Reformed Church Sioux Falls, it became an ideal venue for nine team members to gather for a staff day away/retreat earlier this fall.

“Hosting our planning meeting off-site was essential for us to stay focused without the usual distractions and interruptions of our office environment,” said Denae Matherly, director of hospitality.

“After searching extensively online for venues in Sioux Falls, none matched the vibe we wanted until I discovered Startup Sioux Falls. It turned out to be exactly what we were looking for, and it exceeded our expectations.”

The day was designed for planning, growth training and shared meals for fellowship and to strengthen team connections.

“The room provided everything we needed, with technology fully set up and ready to use. All we had to do was connect to Wi-Fi and plug in, and we were ready to go,” Matherly said.

“We arranged the room in a conference style and utilized the projector at the front of the room. The countertop space and mini-fridge were ideal for the snacks we brought, and we had lunch catered in.

“The Startup Sioux Falls team provided exceptional accommodations for the event” she added.

“We were warmly greeted at the door, given a brief tour of the building and shown to our space. The staff explained what resources we were free to use for the day, and they even provided coffee,” Matherly said.

“There were also plenty of excellent spaces both inside and outside the building for personal reflection or for anyone needing to step away to handle a call or personal matter. Startup Sioux Falls proved to be the perfect fit, offering an accessible and professional space that met all our needs. It will undoubtedly be my first choice for future off-site meetings.”

 For your larger events

The MarketBeat Theater can hold up to 80 guests, plus overflow space in the loft above. This standout space offers:

• USB-C or HDMI hookup to projector.
• Laser light projector.
• Ceiling speakers.
• Two microphones — handheld, lapel or over-the-ear.
• Mini-fridge.
• Loft usage.
• Additional add-ons available.

 “With our kitchen and bar setup, you can do whatever you want for catering, and when the weather cooperates, you’ll have access to the deck as well,” Maner said.

“We can do a number of event configurations, from stand-up tables for cocktail parties to chairs if you have a presentation or workshop. All event furniture is included with the cost of the rental.”

If you plan to serve alcohol at your event, you’ll have to go through the city approval process, so make sure you allow enough time for that, as well as to ensure the space is available.

“We typically suggest at least a 30-day lead time, but if there’s no alcohol involved, we often can accommodate you on fairly short notice,” Maner said.

A Startup Sioux Falls membership also provides additional value in booking events, Sayler added.

 In general, I think a Startup membership is a no-brainer for any businessperson that wants a third place to be able to go,” he said.

“We only use it a few times a month, but when that need arises, Startup has been integral to our team to have meetings or get away from the store for an hour or two to concentrate on work. The membership is affordable, and booking rooms is really easy on the website.”

Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce members also receive a discount on Startup Sioux Falls space rental.

To learn more, click here or email bookings@startupsiouxfalls.com to inquire.