News and Events

Effort delivers gigabit internet to entrepreneurs

November 15, 2016 – Sioux Falls, SD: Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship and Midco today announced they have formed a five-year strategic partnership to spur business innovation in the Sioux Falls area. To launch the joint effort, the organizations teamed up to deploy gigabit-speed internet at Zeal’s campus located at 2329 North Career Avenue in Sioux Falls.

Midco provided the direct fiber connection, and Zeal performed internal hardware upgrades to deliver faster and better-performing internet connection to their resident entrepreneurs and economic development organizations operating at Zeal.

"As a business owner, the increased speed alone allows us to be more efficient, effective and get more done," said Shane Thomas, Learn.Create.Build.Academy’s co-founder, whose business develops and hosts technology camps for kids. At Zeal, Thomas and his partner Adam Learing are scaling their business, now in five states and 16 cities.

"Since we run a technology company, gigabit internet positively impacts our ability to deliver services,” said Thomas. “We can also increase how many campers we host at Zeal, while improving the campers’ user experience," he said.

The combined fiber connectivity and network upgrades went live at Zeal earlier this month with no additional expense to users. Zeal invested approximately $10,000 in hardware upgrades including access points, software and network equipment.

“Providing our entrepreneurs with the best available technologies and resources would not be possible without strategic partnerships with industry leaders like Midco,” said Rich Naser, Jr., president of Zeal. “Midco’s investments in start-ups and our community will make a real difference to those building and serving emerging businesses.”

“Partnering with Zeal is a natural fit for us. When you look at the entrepreneurs and organizations in Zeal’s programs, you can’t help but be inspired by their innovative, trailblazing spirit,” said Jon Pederson, Chief Technology Officer at Midco. “We’re excited to empower them with the connectivity to build the next generation of Sioux Falls-area businesses.” 

Midco has a history of supporting businesses with innovative communications solutions, including many years of delivering gigabit internet via direct fiber to businesses like Zeal. In 2017, Midco will expand its capabilities by making gigabit internet via cable modem available to Sioux Falls homes and businesses.

“There’s a tremendous amount of momentum and activity at Zeal that we are excited about positively impacting start-ups in Sioux Falls,” added Naser. “We invite entrepreneurs, spin-outs or those with a business idea to give us a call.”

About the Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship

The Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship strives to provide a dynamic environment to build successful businesses. Its entrepreneurship ecosystem brings the area's most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders together with universities, venture capital, and civic and government agencies to increase the speed to launch and success rate of early-stage companies. Offerings through Zeal include business accelerator and incubation programs, mentoring and coaching, infrastructure, office and laboratory space, networking opportunities and resource referrals.

Zeal (formerly the SDTBC) was founded in 2002 and established through a partnership initiative between the Sioux Falls Development Foundation and the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce through Forward Sioux Falls. Since its inception, Zeal client companies have collectively created more than 728 new jobs with an average salary of nearly $70,000 and secured more than $172 million in equity funding. In addition, entrepreneurs associated with Zeal hold 65 patents with an additional 49 pending. For information, go to: www.realzeal.com.

Zeal Media Contact:
Melissa Ullerich, Remuda Communications
605.695.8350 | mullerich@gmail.com