“StartUp Watertown” Ignites a New Era of Entrepreneurial Growth in South Dakota
- Steve Jurrens
- Mar 30
- 3 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - In a move aimed at transforming the economic landscape of the I-29 corridor, co-founders Michael Klatt and Angie Yahne officially introduced StartUp Watertown during a live broadcast with Northeast Radio SD on Monday. The initiative, born from a partnership with Sister Barb Youngers and the Mother of God Monastery, seeks to provide a permanent home for innovation, education, and community-driven business growth.
A Vision Rooted in History
Co-founder Michael Klatt reflected on the region’s economic evolution, noting that today’s Watertown is a far cry from the rural-focused, job-limited environment of the 1980s.
“I experienced Watertown in the 1980s... when the drought of 1976 occurred, and interest rates spiked over 18%. That was a very difficult time in this area,” Klatt shared. “Watertown has to have a culture of creating jobs and helping companies advance themselves. Once you stop doing that, communities can quickly get complacent or worse—die.”
Klatt emphasized that the I-29 corridor, stretching from Fargo to Sioux City, is poised for explosive growth over the next three decades, and StartUp Watertown is designed to ensure the local community is at the forefront of that movement.
The Incubator: More Than Just Office Space
The heart of the project is a “business incubator” located at the local monastery. Designed to mimic the collaborative “WeWork” model, the facility offers a professional environment for those moving their businesses out of garages and basements.
The space includes:
· An Atrium and Kitchenette for networking and casual collaboration.
· A Boardroom for formal presentations and meetings.
· Administrative and IT Support to reduce overhead costs for new owners.
“Many companies start in the garage or the basement,” Yahne explained. “We want to provide that next step—a space where they can get education, resources, and support.”
A Pipeline for Success
A key component of StartUp Watertown is its synergy with existing resources. Angie Yahne noted that the organization works closely with Dr. Melissa Meidinger at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to ensure entrepreneurs are fully prepared before seeking capital.
The “Success Pipeline” generally follows this path:
1. The Idea: An entrepreneur approaches the SBDC or StartUp Watertown.
2. The Foundation: Working with Dr. Meidinger to build business plans and financial projections.
3. The Launch: Returning to StartUp Watertown for help with funding, banking relationships, and scaling.
Empowering the Next Generation
Beyond established professionals, the founders are looking toward the future—specifically, students at Lake Area Technical College (LATC) and local high schools. Michael Klatt highlighted the need to shift vocational students' mindset from “employees” to “owners.”
“So many people go with the idea, ‘I’m going to go be a welder,’” Klatt said. “Maybe the idea is really that they want to own a welding shop. We want to have those conversations very early on, so when they think about their future education, they are thinking about running a business.”
Next Steps for the Community
StartUp Watertown is currently in its own “startup phase,” actively recruiting board members and finalizing its digital presence. The organization is inviting local bankers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs to participate in its upcoming workshops, which will include programs such as EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) and Co-Starters.
For those interested in getting involved or seeking support for their business idea, Angie Yahne can be reached via the Watertown Development Company or through the newly launched StartUp Watertown social media pages.
