March 26, 2024

This week’s Up-and-Comer is Luke Meyers, a Sioux Falls native who attended West Point Academy and served in the Army for five years before becoming a private equity associate at Badlands Capital.

Name: Luke Meyers

Age: 29

Hometown: Sioux Falls

What brought you to Sioux Falls?

I spent most of my childhood in Sioux Falls and moved back as soon as my Army commitment was complete.

What keeps you in Sioux Falls?

The people and energy. What an awesome opportunity to professionally grow with a city that is firing on all cylinders.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

Getting to see hardworking entrepreneurs around the area striving to improve the region in their own creative capacities.

How did you get connected to your industry?

Blaine Crissman and I began communicating during my last year in the Army. He’s been a great mentor for shoring up my lack of professional experience prior to joining Badlands Capital.

Describe your workplace in three words.

Scrappy, diligent, proud.

What is something someone might be surprised to learn about you?

I have lived in six different states — trust me when I say South Dakota is by far the best.

What’s your favorite way to give back to your community?

Teaching religious education at Holy Spirit Catholic Church has been rewarding. JY6 cancer research also puts on several amazing events.

What’s one business you’d like to see in Sioux Falls that isn’t here now?

I would love to see a nice, elevated steakhouse in downtown like Jake’s in Deadwood.

If you had $1 million to start a business, what kind of business would it be?

I would love to have a museum dedicated to past wars and local involvement with each conflict. It’d be great to partner it with a brewery around town so learning about history could be made even more interesting.