Startup Sioux Falls introduces Fall 2025 CO.STARTERS Business Accelerator participants

Published October 23, 2025

On Sept. 18, 16 founders gathered for their first of 10 sessions for the fall CO.STARTERS Business Accelerator Program.

The cohort is facilitated by multi-talent entrepreneur Melissa Johnson, founder and CEO of Oh My Cupcakes!, Sweet Cream Candle Co., and
Melissa J. Creative. Johnson is a dedicated speaker and writer focused on fostering meaningful connections and encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their goals.

“I believe in people before they believe in themselves,” she said. “I find purpose in helping people discover and engage their own greatest gifts
and I’m on a mission to spread the message of empowerment and growth with a positive mindset.”

At the end of the 10-week program, participants will have gained clarity and direction, walking away with an actionable roadmap for their
business venture.

Meet the Founders

Ready to meet this next class of starters? Scroll through our Founder introductions below to learn more about the entrepreneurs and their
business ventures.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

● Amber Meyer, Freedom Forage
● Amanda Weinzetl, Legendary Tails
● Michelle Meinerts, Your Aging Navigator
● Natasha Berg, Tashi at Home
● Matthew Camacho, Camacho Hair
● Elizabeth Kor, SonnyLove
● Carmen Toft, Three Birds Group LLC
● April Nelson, April Nelson, RN
● Teresa Wrich, dandilion
● Suzanne Warwick, Tender Sleep Company
● Kinsey Zayzay, Lanterns Medical Daycare Center
● Eli McGowan & Nick Pavlus, Green & Clean Lawn Co.
● Rodrigo Balmaceda
● Mary Konvalin
● Chris Pearson, Thin Blue BBQ

Founder: Amber Meyer

Business Name: Freedom Forage

Tell us about your venture.

New to the Sioux Falls area, I homeschool three boys, and my vision is to create a nostalgic getaway close to home, where wild spaces inspire wild
imaginations and connection comes easy.

Founder: Amanda Weinzetl

Business Name: Legendary Tails

Tell us about your venture.

We are a local 3D print shop out of Hartford customizing in taxidermy forms. We also print many other fun, trendy items such as holiday decor,
lithophanes, bird houses, wall art and helpful around the house gadgets.

Founder: Michelle Meinerts

Business Name: Your Aging Navigator

Tell us about your venture.

At Your Aging Navigator, we help aging adults and their families confidently navigate life’s next stages by offering personalized guidance
and connecting them with trusted professionals in housing, care, legal, and support services. My co-founder, Leah Jones, and I were inspired to
start this company after experiencing firsthand the challenges that come with aging transitions. As COO, I bring nearly 25 years of
experience in operations, marketing, IT, and business development to help families make informed, stress-free decisions with clarity and
confidence.

Founder: Natasha Berg

Business Name: Tashi at Home

Tell us about your venture.

I started Tashi at Home after rediscovering my love for crochet during the winter of 2024. Combining my passion for fiber arts and women’s
fashion, I launched the business that May and have since built a vibrant community on Instagram and YouTube. Today, I offer crochet kits,
patterns, yarn-lover subscription boxes, and sustainably made crochet wearables, all created to inspire creativity, celebrate the art of crochet,
and promote awareness of ethically and sustainably sourced fashion.

Founder: Matthew Camacho

Business Name: Camacho Hair

Tell us about your venture.

With over 12 years of experience as a hairstylist, I am bringing a fresh, innovative concept to Sioux Falls- one designed to redefine the
traditional salon experience and transform the way you think about hair care.

Founder: Elizabeth Kor

Business Name: SonnyLove

Tell us about your venture.

My name is Elizabeth, and I’m a proud wife to Eric, mom to my sweet three-year-old Sonny, and dog-mom to Nellie Jane. Alongside my
full-time work as a cosmetologist at Vanessen’s Hair Design, I run SonnyLove, a clean-ingredient treat business offering gluten-free,
dairy-free, and vegan options. My mission is to help people feel good from the inside out by creating nutritious, delicious, and guilt-free snacks
for families, athletes, and anyone who cares about what’s on the label.

Founder: Carmen Toft

Business Name: Three Birds Group

Tell us about your venture.

I’m Carmen Toft, Founder of Three Birds Group, a communications and strategy firm that helps mission-driven organizations connect with the
people who matter most. With more than 15 years of experience, I’ve led national campaigns, increased engagement by over 100 percent, and managed large-scale events for nonprofit, ag, and legal clients. Deeply rooted in my community, I also co-host an annual menstrual products drive
serving thousands and serve as vice president of the board for Immunize South Dakota.

Founder: April Nelson

Business Name: April Nelson, RN

Tell us about your venture.

I’m a registered nurse utilizing my skills to directly empower people to take charge of their health through active listening, nursing advocacy,
and education.

Founder: Teresa Wrich

Business Name: dandilion

Tell us about your venture.

I’m Teresa Wrich, founder of dandilion, a fintech platform that helps banks and nonprofits build CRA-aligned programs that expand access to
credit, track impact, and unlock sustainable funding. Through Teresa Wrich Consulting, I advise organizations in banking and fintech, facilitate
strategic planning that bridges big-picture vision with actionable execution, and lead Dutch pour team-building workshops that spark
creativity and collaboration. My work blends strategy, innovation, and artistry to help organizations grow with both purpose and precision.

Founder: Suzanne Warwick

Business Name: Tender Sleep Company

Tell us about your venture.

I’m Suzanne Warwick, a certified pediatric sleep consultant and newborn sleep specialist, and the founder of Tender Sleep Company. I work with
families of newborns to help establish healthy sleep habits from the very beginning, and I also support parents of older children in building
positive, lasting sleep routines. As a mom of three, I understand how essential rest is for both children and parents, and I’m passionate about
guiding families toward calmer nights and healthier sleep for the whole family.

Founder: Kinsey Zayzay

Business Name: Lanterns Medical Daycare Center

Tell us about your venture.

I am a pediatric nurse and work with families that have children with medical complexities that are looking for more consistent nursing care
for their children in a medical daycare setting.

Founders: Eli McGowan and Nick Pavlus

Business Name: Green & Clean Lawn Co.

Tell us about your venture.

We are Eli McGowan and Nick Pavlus, co-owners of Green & Clean Lawn Co, a Sioux Falls local company delivering greener and cleaner results.

Founder: Rodrigo Balmaceda

Tell us about your venture.

I’m Rodrigo Balmaceda, an emerging leader passionate about helping organizations unlock the full potential of their people. I’m launching a
consulting business that supports small and medium-sized enterprises with research-backed strategies to strengthen human capital, build
learning systems, and align employee growth with organizational success. Grounded in collaboration, authenticity, and continuous
improvement, my mission is to create workplaces where individuals and teams thrive together.