March 31, 2025
This paid piece is sponsored by Startup Sioux Falls.
Small-business ownership can be a lonely journey — but these five experts at Startup Sioux Falls are ready to help with unique skill sets and a passion for entrepreneurship.
Five entrepreneurs in residence “are not just mentors but an active part of our space,” said Henry Sule, community coordinator at Startup Sioux Falls. “They’re working alongside founders and engaging directly with our community.”
As members of Startup Sioux Falls, founders receive direct, ongoing access to these industry experts, who can help refine strategies, overcome roadblocks and accelerate business success.
“Whether through scheduled sessions or casual conversations in our co-working space, our EIRs provide invaluable insights that foster innovation and strengthen our entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Sule said.
The EIRs will wear name tags and be visible in common spaces, including the kitchen and open co-working space within the Startup Sioux Falls headquarters, so that organic connections occur more easily.
“At the heart of our program, you’ll find trust and real connections,” said Jeff Hayward, director of programming.
“Each EIR is actively growing their own business while helping to build up our local entrepreneurial community. They’re in our space every week, co-working and collaborating, so you’ll see them around regularly.”
The EIRs bring insight from their own experiences that are invaluable to startups who will be mentored, he added.
“This kind of hands-on support not only helps new businesses thrive but also strengthens the whole ecosystem here in Sioux Falls,” Hayward said.
“I encourage everyone to come down to Startup Sioux Falls during any of our ongoing events to engage with them and see the vibrant community in action.”
Here’s a closer look at the Startup Sioux Falls EIRs and their expertise.
Peter Burghardt: Founder and CEO of StringTree
A lifelong guitarist and collector of rare instruments, Peter Burghardt recognized a major gap in the online marketplace for serious musicians, collectors, and dealers. With StringTree, he is building a premier auction marketplace platform that combines trust, transparency and a community-driven approach to redefine how high-value instruments are bought and sold.
With a background in venture capital, product development and startup acceleration, Burghardt also has spent over a decade helping early-stage companies scale and succeed. Before founding StringTree, Burghardt served as the executive director of The Batchery, a Silicon Valley accelerator where he worked with hundreds of founders to refine their business models, raise capital and bring products to market. He also has served as a general partner at IA Seed Ventures, a Berkeley-based seed-stage investment fund.
Key strengths: Go-to-market strategy, formation, fundraising strategy, sales, marketing.
In his owns words: I’m excited to help scalable startups prosper in Sioux Falls.
Will Cromarty: Founder and CEO of Kirkwall
Will Cromarty is a former CIA officer and national security subject matter expert in critical infrastructure defense. He is the CEO and founder of Kirkwall, a venture-backed software company focused on monitoring and securing critical infrastructure — or as they like to call it, “keeping robots on their best behavior.” The team draws on collective decades of experience at the CIA, FBI, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Google, the special operations community and multiple federal contractors from startup phase through IPO. In 2024, Kirkwall was named the No. 1 startup in South Dakota as the grand prize winner of the Governor’s Giant Vision Competition held by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.
Key strengths: Bootstrapping, venture capital and angel fundraising; pitching and persuasion; scrappy low-budget minimal viable product build-outs; and mental well-being and resilience for founders.
In his own words: “I’m excited as an EIR to help first-time founders make their first dollar.” His best productivity hack: “For true uninterrupted deep work time, you need to physically place your phone into another room with the ringer off. If your phone is available, you’re going to look at it.”
Patrick McGowan: Founder and CEO of Punchn
With more than 30 years in innovation, communications and design, Patrick McGowan founded Punchn in 2020 after realizing he “looked like a potato on camera.” Since then, he has helped professionals achieve clarity and confidence in communication. A teacher, facilitator and student of powerful communication, McGowan collaborates with leaders looking to expand their influence and professionals seeking to articulate their value with clarity.
His career includes leading health care innovation, managing a manufacturing startup and facilitating almost 500 group meetings. He brings deep experience, tools and frameworks to help people communicate effectively.
Unique strengths: Curiosity, communication and range; genuine interest in people’s goals; expertise in crafting messaging; broad industry experience that encourages new perspectives.
In his own words: I get excited to see people excel personally and professionally. I believe in Startup Sioux Falls and its mission: to empower founders. If I can support others in the same way I’ve been supported in the past, I’ll call that a win.
Jessica Meyers: Co-founder and CEO of PorchLight
Jessica Meyers has spent decades in the people business and is the co-founder and CEO of PorchLight, a talent recruitment firm that connects rural communities with the 21st century workforce. She also brings extensive nonprofit board experience and excels in organizational strategy and build-out.
Unique strengths: Expertise in building new, unique systems from scratch; strong skills in process creation, metrics and people management; passion for goal-setting and structured hiring/termination systems.
In her own words: I’m excited by the chance to support other business owners and founders at different stages of their journey. I’m also experienced in helping navigate major career shifts, having done a 180-degree change in my 40s.
Megan Raposa (Sonsalla): Founder and CEO of Sioux Falls Simplified
Megan Raposa is an award-winning journalist and entrepreneur who has spent the past decade telling the stories of Sioux Falls. Raposa founded Sioux Falls Simplified in 2021 with the goal of bringing smarter, easier news to the city. She also publishes a “Simplified Welcome Guide” that was recognized nationally as a product of the year in 2022.
Key strengths: “I’m a gifted storyteller, an amateur marketer and a rookie entrepreneur. I’m here for emotional support, to help you make connections with local experts and resources and to help you put words to your ‘why’ in business.”
In her own words: I love meeting new people and hearing their stories. I think storytelling is a critical part of building a business, and I love helping people discover how sharing their story can help them connect with more customers.
Membership options
Are you considering a membership at Startup Sioux Falls? Visit here to learn more about multiple options for becoming part of this growing community.
