Accelerate Mitchell

CO.STARTERS is a program designed to provide you with insights, relationships, and tools to turn your idea into action and a sustainable business. 

If you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned entrepreneur looking to launch a new product or service, CO.STARTERS is for you. The one requirement is that you have to have a concept you are ready to test and be willing to study, shape, and fine-tune in a supportive, collaborative, and welcoming environment. If you're creative, community-minded, and serious about turning your passion into a thriving business, we want you.

Don't miss your chance to enroll in the CO. STARTERS business accelerator program!

Program Details

During CO. STARTERS, you’ll develop and fine-tune your idea, critically examining every part of it and plan your next steps through feedback from people in the community. The program is facilitated by active local entrepreneurs and educators, and guest speakers include specialists and professionals from the Mitchell area in marketing, branding, legal and finance agencies, as well as other entrepreneurs. The course consists of ten sessions; the last session will be a Startup Pitch Night featuring cohort members. We are currently running one cohort per year starting in May 2022. Please check back for the dates of the upcoming cohort. During that time, we'll cover the following topics:

Click here to apply. 

Our next session will start on January 12, 2026, and run every Monday from 5-8 p.m. until March 30, 2026, with the exception of January 19 and March 9. We will meet in person on January 12, 2026, and March 30, 2026, at the Kelley Center at Dakota Wesleyan University. All other sessions will be virtual over Zoom. 

This cohort is offered for just $25! Payments can be mailed or dropped off at the Mitchell Chamber of Commerce. They are due before the first session. 

Applications are available now! This is a 10-person class, and it is on a First-come, first-served basis. You will be notified if you are accepted by December 15, 2025. Apply here. 

The first and last sessions will be held at the Kelley Center, located in the Dakota Wesleyan University School of Business, Innovation, and Leadership. All other sessions will be offered via Zoom. Links will be provided before each session. 

Dr. Diana Goldammer is the director of the Kelley Center for Entrepreneurship and an associate professor at Dakota Wesleyan University. With expertise in leadership, coaching, and innovation, she helps individuals and organizations think entrepreneurially from wherever they are. A farm wife, mom, and community leader, she brings real-world wisdom—and harvest-season grit—to every training she leads.