Prairie Capital Summit

Prairie Capital Summit is a dynamic conference designed to fuel the success of entrepreneurs and startups by connecting them with vital resources. This event brings together a vibrant community of entrepreneurs, investors, and community builders to ignite conversations around private capital in the Midwest. Whether you're looking to invest, seeking funding, or simply wanting to learn more about the venture capital landscape, this event is your gateway to new opportunities.

Join our Community Driving Innovation & Economic Growth

What can I expect at Prairie Capital Summit?

Immerse yourself in a day filled with inspiring keynote speakers, insightful panel discussions, and targeted educational tracks tailored for fund managers and those eager to learn the intricacies of raising capital. Engage with industry leaders, gain valuable knowledge, and network with peers and potential investors.

Our Mission:

  • Showcase Deal Flow: Highlighting funds raised and success stories of local entrepreneurs.
  • Investor Engagement: Featuring investors who have invested in North Dakota companies.
  • Startups: Discover potential investors, understand the capital landscape in North Dakota, and refine your pitch.
  • Investors: Identify promising startups, explore investment opportunities, and learn why North Dakota is an attractive investment destination.

Who is this event for?

  • Entrepreneurs: Seeking to explore equity financing as a pathway for growth.
  • Investors: Actively investing in early-stage startups.
  • Community Organizations: Focused on supporting entrepreneurs with state or public resources.
  • Students: Aspiring to careers in venture capital or entrepreneurship.
  • Support Professionals: Legal, financial advisors SBDC representatives, and more.
  • Government Officials: Involved in funding initiatives.

Prairie Capital Summit was held on October 1, 2024 in the Odditorium at Brewhalla.

Speakers

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Event Host

Kodee Furst

Director
50 South Capital

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Elizabeth Tweedale_
Keynote Speaker

Elizabeth Tweedale

Founder & CEO
Coco Coders

Meet Elizabeth Tweedale

Elizabeth Tweedale is the Founder and CEO of Coco Coders, a leading EdTech company revolutionizing how children aged 6-14 learn coding. A thought leader in the field of educational technology, Elizabeth is dedicated to making coding accessible and fun through Coco Coders’ innovative subscription model. The company has grown its global footprint, now serving students in over 21 countries.

With a Master’s degree in Architecture, Elizabeth’s background in technology and design has driven her to the forefront of AI development and corporate real estate optimization. She co-founded GoSpace AI, where she created a pioneering AI system that optimizes workplace allocations, significantly reducing CO2 emissions, saving money, and improving corporate connectivity.

An accomplished author of multiple books on coding education, Elizabeth is particularly focused on inspiring the next generation, especially young girls, to explore careers in technology. Her contributions to the EdTech space have earned her numerous accolades, including Great British Pivot Entrepreneur of the Year and a spot on the FT Top 30 Females in Tech list.

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Michael Ledecky
Mainstage Speaker

Michael Ledecky

Managing Partner 
Clay Path Partners

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Fireside Chat

Hear as Victor Gutwein, Founder and Managing Partner at M25 discusses his company's investment in Bryce Wuori's Pavewise.

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Victor Gutwein

Founder & Managing Partner
M25

Meet Victor Gutwein

Victor Gutwein is the Founder and Managing Partner of M25 in Chicago. After starting M25 as a 23 year old in 2015, they have become one of the most active investors in the Midwest backing 145 preseed and seed software teams across different industries, including seeding success stories Kin Insurance, Astronomer, Loop Returns and Branch Pay. In North Dakota they have led funding rounds in Pavewise and Chipp AI.

An Indiana native and graduate of the University of Chicago, Victor lives with his wife and three kids in Chicago's South Side. He stays active running, swimming and playing euro-style board games.

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Bryce Wuori

CEO
Pavewise

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Mental Resilience in Founders Panel

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Moderator

Jennifer M.N. Schillinger

Founder
Sojourner Institute

Meet Jennifer

Jennifer is passionate about experiential learning and the transformational power of relationships. Following an undergraduate degree in Education, Communication Studies and Psychology, she received her MS in Counseling and Student Affairs from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2012. She has since received an Executive MBA from Quantic University, and an MA in Global Theology from Trinity Bible College.

With 12+ years of teaching, training, coaching, and facilitation experience, Jennifer has worked as an Academic and Career Counselor, Adjunct Professor, Programs Director for The Barry Foundation, owner of Strengths Advantage, a training and strategic facilitation consulting company, and former Executive Pastor of Heartland Community Church. Jennifer is currently service as the Program Director for the Problems to Possibilities (P2P) program at NDSU, a Licensed Professional Counselor at Birchwood Therapeutic Services, and Founder of the Sojourner Institute, where she journeys with individuals as they integrate and embody wholeness.

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Michelle Kommer
Panelist

Michelle Kommer

CEO & President
HighRoad Partners

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Panelist

Clint Howitz

Founder
TransVeil

Meet Clint

I'm a North Dakota native, born in Mayville and primarily raised in Wahpeton. I still have many friends and family members in the Red River Valley and consider it home.

I started my career path in the automotive industry working for Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn and the Twin Cities field organization. I have also held several other corporate roles including Bobcat Company.

My entrepreneurship story centers around the dog product industry following my passion for dogs. dogIDs is my current company and is the third business I've been involved with building in the dog products space.

Though I still hold the dog product industry near and dear to my heart, my real passion is mental health, the alternative healing space and transformation. Supporting people in transcending their veil of conditioning, remembering how to heal themselves and ultimately become who they really are is my purpose. I've spent the last few decades, especially the last 10 years, gaining as much experience and training as I can related to meditation, mindfulness, non-traditional healing modalities and sacred medicines. I'm currently in the process of launching TransVeil, a safe space for people to go for support in their spiritual awakening process.

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Panelist

Josh Riedy

Founder & CEO
Thread

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Lessons Learned After the First Raise Panel

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Moderator

Ted Maidenberg

Investor
Tribe Capital

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Josh Klug
Panelist

Josh Klug

Founder & Chief Operating Officer
Aethero

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Anthony Molzahn
Panelist

Anthony Molzahn

CEO
Devii

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How/ Why We Pivoted Panel

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Moderator

Sarah Louise

Managing Director of Conferences
Gener8tor

Meet Sarah Louise

Sarah Louise is the Managing Director of Conferences at gener8tor, a globally ranked venture capital firm. Through the conference platform, she catalyzes startup growth by facilitating meaningful connections between startups and investors. Sarah previously managed the gBETA North Dakota startup accelerator programs, working with companies to investigate what it means to be "venture-backable." In addition to her work with startups, Sarah serves as Operations Coordinator for the North Dakota chapter of the national LGBTQIA+ athletic organization Stonewall Sports. Sarah spends her 5-to-9 mostly outdoors, either camping or horseback riding, playing kickball, or hiking with her dog.

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Panelist

Jon Cabak

Co-Founder
Detect Auto

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Jimmy Slagel
Panelist

Jimmy Slagle

CEO & Co-Founder
GenerAI

Meet Jimmy Slagle

Jimmy started his entrepreneurial journey in 2020 when he founded a TikTok marketing agency that helped brands like Amazon and Lyft go viral on the platform. He then created a marketplace connecting brands with content creators.

Seeing AI as the future of content creation, Jimmy shifted focus to develop AI-powered video ad generation tools. During this time, he grew his TikTok following to 100,000 by sharing insights about AI.

Currently, Jimmy runs a consultancy that applies AI solutions to various business challenges.

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Trey Welstad
Panelist

Trey Welstad

Founder
Snowbird

Meet Trey Welstad

Trey has always had an interest in business and technology. He began writing code when he was 12 years old, ran a web development firm throughout college, and kept coding as a hobby ever since. While working in the finance industry, Trey spent some of his spare time learning to program microcontrollers. A water leak in his basement led him to create a prototype that eventually became the Home Monitor. That first device connected to wifi, monitored water leaks, temperature, humidity, and power outages, and sent alerts by text message. Knowing it would be useful to the older demographic of snowbirds, it was designed to be as simple as possible. After a successful entry into the remote sensor market, he is rebranding the company with the new name, Snowbird, and is ready to grow his business into a national name.

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Breakout Session Speakers

Life After Closing

Erik Barner

Managing Partner
Broadwater Capital

Meet Erik Barner

Erik Barner is the founder and Managing Partner of Broadwater Capital where he applies his expertise and leadership to create lasting value for investors and communities.

Erik has an extensive career background in finance and private equity. His past positions include Investment Banking Analyst at Piper Jaffray, Analyst at Norwest Mezzanine Partners, Research Analyst at Institutional Capital, and Chief Investment Officer at Gen7 Investments. His experience includes investment strategy and underwriting, sourcing, structuring, capital deployment, and portfolio management.

Erik holds a BA in Finance from the University of St. Thomas and an MBA from Columbia Business School, where he was also a member of the Value Investing Program.

Outside his professional pursuits, Erik is an avid outdoorsman and also holds a private pilot’s license. In the summer he enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, family and friends at Pelican Lake, especially Broadwater Beach, which inspired the name Broadwater Capital.

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Life After Closing

Amber Ferrie

Partner
Eide Bailly

Meet Amber

Since 2004, Amber specializes in business transaction advisory services, providing sell-side advisory services to lower and middle market clients who are looking to sell their business, as well as buy-side advisory services for parties interested in purchasing an existing business.

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Decoding Diligence

Blaine Crissman

Partner
Badlands Capital

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Hiring for Startups

Alexis D'Souza

Founder & President
AD Consulting Solutions

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Decoding Diligence

Asher Kraut

Partner
Generational Partners

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Ben Stanley
Venture 101

Ben Stanley

Principal
Gener8tor

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Decoding Diligence

Tim Weelborg

Co-Founder and Managing Partner
Homegrown Capital

Meet Tim Weelborg

Tim Weelborg is the co-founder and managing partner of Homegrown Capital—a venture capital firm investing in early-stage technology companies in the northern plains.  

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Neil West
Life After Closing

Neil West

Senior Managing Director
LongWater Opportunities

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