2024 Governor’s Giant Vision Start Up Competition accepting applications

The South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in conjunction with Governor Noem’s Office of Economic Development annual conference, hosts this annual competition to foster and reward the entrepreneurial spirit in South Dakotans who vie for prize money to launch their business idea. 2024 marks the 20th year for open competition of this successful program and the 18th year for the student competition.

South Dakota residents with new business ideas are encouraged to enter the Giant Vision open/business competition for a chance to win up to $20,000. South Dakota college/university/technical school students, can enter the Giant Vision student competition and compete for a top prize of $5,000.

Application requirements, FAQs, and a statewide list of organizations that provide application assistance are available at www.southdakotagiantvision.com. An expanded offering of the FAST Launch Business Boot Camp, presented by South Dakota Biotech and South Dakota EPSCoR, is designed to assist South Dakota entrepreneurs and small businesses with beginning and expanding their business through the Giant Vision Competition and SBIR/STTR funding. Online, on-demand sessions are available. Details at https:/bit.ly/3zhPecX.

Giant Vision is open to all South Dakotans. In addition to cash awards, the competition will bring people with new business ideas together with judges and other invited guests who have business development experience and those who have the capacity to make venture investments.

2024 application deadlines are February 23 for the open competition and March 1 for the student competition. Selected qualifiers will compete for prize money Thursday, April 11 in Sioux Falls.