This is a paid piece from Startup Sioux Falls.

Simplified: Tanna Soukup, founder of marketing firm Strategie, can point to the moment when her business was ready to scale and grow: a roller blading date with friend and now-Strategie Creative Partner Sara Lum. Today, the duo operates a four-person marketing agency in downtown Sioux Falls. Here's a look at how it came to be and how Startup Sioux Falls played an instrumental role in their success.

Why it matters

  • Soukup first launched Strategie in July 2021 after going through Startup's Co.Starters 10-week business accelerator program, which helped her vet and build out her business idea while also connecting with other entrepreneurs in the community.
  • It was the relationships built in that program that ultimately led her to her future business partner, Sara Lum, who brings a background in architecture, design and marketing as Strategie's creative partner.
    • Before bringing Lum on board, Soukup further developed the business through Startup's Growco program – a year-long cohort dedicated to increasing revenue and building scalable, sustainable businesses.
  • Another reason for that growth is the sheer amount of time Soukup has spent just putting her head down and doing the work, Lum said, noting that Soukup put in three years of work building and establishing the business before bringing on a co-owner to scale it.
"It's really easy to have this big idea," Lum said. "But sometimes, you just have to go and fly the plane and figure out how to land it."

Tell me more

Now, Strategie is months away from celebrating five years in business. Last fall, the company opened a brick-and-mortar location in the Cascade building on Phillips Avenue downtown.

  • They've also expanded their team to include two additional employees, and they've built a strong book of business.

Soukup and Lum both noted the importance of establishing genuine connections with people and then seeing those connections come back in the form of clients, referrals and even a chance to give back to the next generation of business leaders.

"Surrounding yourself with other people who are also growth-minded, also big thinkers, visionaries – there's just something about it," Soukup said. "I think entrepreneurs and business owners just think differently."

What's Strategie's advice to an aspiring business owner?

Soukup said your best bet is to do the work and work the program. Startup Sioux Falls has a number of resources for entrepreneurs at any stage, and their curriculum is proven to help businesses grow and scale.

  • It's also important to create a support system because the world of entrepreneurship can get pretty lonely.
"There are times where it's scary," Soukup said. "It pushes you further than you think you can go. In those moments, it's good to have somebody who can talk you off the ledge a little bit."

For Lum, it's also all about doing the work, but it's also important to get specific about the problem your business is trying to solve.

How can I learn more about Strategie?

You can connect with Strategie over on their website, where you'll find work samples, services and contact information.

How can I learn more about Startup Sioux Falls?

Start here, and you can get connected with Startup's various resources, community meet-ups, events, co-working space and courses for founders

Applications also open soon for GrowCo, a 12-month cohort-based program to help operating-stage founders and startups to build stable, sustainable, and scalable businesses. Learn more here.