McGowan Capital Group is a private equity firm based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, established in 2004. The firm specializes in growth capital investments, focusing primarily on early to mid-stage companies. By providing financial resources and strategic support, McGowan Capital Group aims to foster the development and expansion of its portfolio companies.

Established in 2011, Badlands Capital is a venture capital firm headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It primarily focuses on investing in companies operating within the manufacturing and business services sectors.

PrairieGold Venture Partners is a venture capital firm located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, that focuses on early-stage investments. The firm specializes in sectors such as life sciences, green technology, information technology, and alternative energy. PrairieGold typically invests between $0.25 million and $2 million in companies, with transaction sizes ranging from $0.25 million to $10 million. The firm aims to support companies in the Midwest region and often seeks a board seat in its portfolio companies to provide guidance and oversight.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) leads initiatives in food, agriculture, natural resources, and rural development. It aims to expand markets for agricultural products globally, foster alternative markets domestically, improve rural infrastructure, enhance food safety, promote nutrition education, and manage public lands collaboratively.

enCore Energy is a uranium developer focused on advancing its portfolio of in-situ recovery (ISR) and conventional uranium assets. It holds a significant private mineral rights position in New Mexico, including the Crownpoint and Hosta Butte deposits, with additional projects in Utah, Arizona, and Wyoming.

Bluestem Capital Company is a Sioux Falls-based private investment firm specializing in mid-market private equity, focusing on mezzanine financing, buyouts, and recapitalizations rather than startups or turnarounds. It targets companies in sectors such as business services, life sciences, natural resources, manufacturing, real estate and lodging, energy, healthcare, and information services, often pursuing diverse portfolios across the Midwest with some investments in California. The firm typically invests between 0.5 million and 3 million in portfolio companies and seeks significant equity positions, including board seats and majority stakes. Exits are typically through public offerings, management buyouts, or sales to strategic or financial buyers. Founded in 1989 and based in Sioux Falls, it operates as part of Kirby Capital Corp. The approach emphasizes growth-oriented, later-stage opportunities rather than early-stage ventures.

Bird Dog Equity Partners is a private equity firm based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, founded in 2010. The firm focuses on opportunities across the Midwest United States, investing in manufacturing and product-related companies as well as hotels and hospitality businesses, and it engages in real estate investments within the region.

SONIFI Solutions, Inc. is a provider of digital engagement and technology solutions primarily serving the hospitality and healthcare sectors. The company offers a range of hospitality solutions, including an Interactive Programming Guide that allows hotel guests to browse channels and purchase movies, as well as the STAY1000 modular system that transforms in-room entertainment into an interactive media platform. Additionally, the STAYConnect mobile app facilitates property branding for users. SONIFI Solutions also delivers connectivity solutions to manage Wi-Fi and broadband services seamlessly across various devices for hotels. In the healthcare sector, the company provides interactive patient engagement applications accessible via mobile devices, computers, and televisions, along with tools for staff to monitor patient interactions. Hospitals can utilize SONIFI's services to offer entertainment options such as movies, games, and educational content, as well as to communicate pre-admission and post-discharge information to patients. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, SONIFI Solutions was previously known as LodgeNet Interactive Corporation before rebranding in September 2013.

Union Pacific is the largest railroad company in North America, operating over 32,000 route miles across 23 states west of Chicago. It specializes in transporting a wide range of goods including coal, industrial products, intermodal containers, agriculture goods, chemicals, fertilizers, and automotive goods. Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, Union Pacific employs approximately 45,000 people.

Established in 1954, Pathward is a financial institution based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It offers a range of personal and commercial banking services, including checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, various types of loans, credit cards, cash management services, lines of credit, real estate loans, equipment loans, and livestock loans tailored for the agricultural sector.

NorthWestern Energy is a major utility provider serving approximately 668,300 customers across Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska with electricity and natural gas. Founded in 1923, the company operates one of the largest service territories in the U.S., covering 297 communities for electric and 169 for natural gas. NorthWestern Energy employs around 1,400 people and is headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Farmers Business Network is an independent agricultural technology platform that empowers farmers worldwide. It facilitates a farmer-to-farmer network, providing data-driven agronomic insights and tools for confident decision-making to ensure the economic viability of farms while promoting sustainable practices.

Established in 2020 and headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Drumbeat Ventures is a venture capital firm specializing in investments within the consumer brands sector.

Brinker International, Inc. operates casual dining restaurants, primarily under the brands Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy. Chili's is known for its bar and grill offerings, featuring a menu that includes signature items such as slow-smoked baby back ribs, craft burgers, fajitas, and tableside guacamole. Maggiano's specializes in Italian cuisine, offering a diverse menu that includes appetizers, chicken, seafood, veal, prime steaks, and desserts. As of June 2013, Brinker International's system included 1,591 restaurants across 50 states and Washington, D.C., as well as locations in various countries including Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. The company generates the majority of its revenue from the Chili's segment, reflecting its strong presence in the casual dining market.

Homegrown Capital is a venture capital firm based in Brookings, South Dakota, founded in 2021. It invests in technology companies, focusing on business-to-business software, agricultural technology, and financial technology, across the Northern Plains and broader Midwest regions, including the Great Lakes and Mountain areas.

Google is a multinational technology company renowned for its search engine, offering services such as Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, and YouTube. It specializes in advertising solutions through Google Ads and mobile operating systems with Android, while actively innovating in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The U.S. Department of Energy is a government agency established in 1977, located in Washington, D.C. Its primary mission is to ensure the security and prosperity of the nation by tackling energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges. The Department focuses on promoting transformative scientific and technological solutions to address these issues, thereby supporting the country's energy needs and environmental sustainability.

TT Capital Partners is the private equity arm of TripleTree and an independent investment firm based in Minnesota, with offices in Minneapolis and New York. It concentrates on growth equity investments in healthcare and technology companies, including healthcare services, clinical services and healthcare technology, aiming at innovative, high-growth firms expanding their customer base or entering new markets. The firm typically seeks majority stakes and combines principal investing with advisory capabilities rooted in its merchant banking heritage. TT Capital Partners focuses on opportunities within the healthcare and technology sectors and supports portfolio companies through strategic growth initiatives.

Established in 2016, DB1 Ventures is a corporate venture capital firm based in Frankfurt, Germany. It focuses on investing in early-stage to growth-stage companies operating within the fintech and technology sectors that align with Deutsche Börse Group's strategic interests.

Federal Railroad Administration enable the safe, reliable, and efficient movement of people and goods for a strong America, now and in the future.

Founded in 1972, Kleiner Perkins is a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California. It specializes in investing in early-stage, growth, and incubation companies across various sectors including technology, healthcare, life sciences, and consumer goods. The firm partners with founders from inception to IPO, supporting them to maximize the potential of their ideas.

DBL Partners is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage companies across cleantech, information technology, sustainable products and services, and healthcare. The firm pursues opportunities that combine innovative technology with positive social impact and solid financial returns. It supports entrepreneurs nationwide in the United States, helping nurture companies through the growth lifecycle and guiding them to scale sustainable solutions. By backing ventures that address environmental and social needs, DBL Partners aims to accelerate innovation while delivering economic value for investors and stakeholders.

The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency in the United States that funds and supports research and education in science and engineering. It funds fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering and administers non-dilutive funding programs to aid early‑stage technology development, helping translate discoveries into commercially viable products and services. Through grants and fellowships, the NSF supports researchers, educators, and startups, contributing to innovation and U.S. competitiveness. The agency operates with a substantial budget to advance science, engineering, and STEM education nationwide.

T. Rowe Price Group is a global investment management firm serving individuals, institutions, and retirement plans. It launches and manages equity and fixed income mutual funds and provides separate accounts and other advisory services to clients. The firm invests in public markets worldwide, using a combination of fundamental and quantitative analysis with a bottom-up approach, supported by in-house and external research. It emphasizes socially responsible investing with a focus on environmental, social, and governance factors. Founded in 1937, the company is headquartered in Baltimore and maintains a worldwide presence with offices across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Andreessen Horowitz is a venture capital firm founded in 2009 by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz and based in Menlo Park, California. It funds startups across the entire lifecycle, from seed to growth, with a broad focus on software and technology-enabled businesses. The firm backs companies in software, cloud infrastructure, digital platforms, data storage, and mobile and Internet services, as well as sectors at the intersection of technology with life sciences, such as bio healthcare and computational medicine. Its investments span artificial intelligence, fintech, consumer and enterprise software, crypto and blockchain, cybersecurity, and related infrastructure. Through strategic guidance and a hands-on approach, the firm aims to help portfolio companies scale and innovate.

BlackRock is a global investment management company based in New York City. It serves institutions, intermediaries, foundations, and individual investors, operating as a leading global asset manager that oversees and advises on a wide range of investment portfolios across multiple asset classes, strategies, sectors, and regions. The firm is noted for its emphasis on technology and financial solutions that support the broader financial industry, including risk management, advisory services, and integrated investment platforms. Through its diversified offerings, BlackRock aims to help clients pursue long-term goals across equities, fixed income, alternatives, and multi-asset strategies, while leveraging data and analytics to inform investment decisions and risk controls.

Platinum Equity is a global private equity firm that focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate divestitures, and leveraged buyouts of established companies. It pursues transactions across industries and geographies, typically taking majority stakes but may invest minority positions and pursue add-on acquisitions, recapitalizations, and select growth investments. The firm emphasizes operational improvements and value creation through strategic repositioning of portfolio companies. Founded in 1995, Platinum Equity is headquartered in Los Angeles and maintains offices in Dedham, Massachusetts; Greenwich, Connecticut; New York, New York; London; and Singapore. It engages in a broad range of deal types, including public-to-private transactions and special situations, serving industries such as finance, consumer, healthcare, industrials, media, natural resources, and technology.

Established in Singapore in 1974, Temasek Holdings is a lender that specializes in debt financing. It focuses on driving economic transformation by increasing middle-income populations, developing comparative advantages, and fostering emerging champions across various industries such as financial services, transportation, industrial, consumer goods, real estate, telecommunications, media, technology, and life sciences.

National Institutes of Health is a biomedical research agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, based in Bethesda, Maryland. It is the primary U.S. government organization devoted to biomedical and health research, conducting science through the Intramural Research Program and funding external research through the Extramural Research Program. The NIH comprises 27 institutes and centers and supports about 1,200 principal investigators and more than 4,000 postdoctoral fellows across basic, translational, and clinical research. It has contributed to major advances such as vaccines and therapies and is dedicated to advancing knowledge and translating discoveries into improvements in public health. Established in 1887, NIH operates as a central hub for medical research in the United States.

Founded in 1852, Wells Fargo is a diversified financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California. It provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services to individuals, businesses, and institutions worldwide.

Forerunner Ventures is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that focuses on the consumer economy, supporting founders who aim to meet evolving needs with funding, strategic guidance, and consumer insight. It backs early-stage companies, typically at seed or Series A, across sectors including consumer products, health and wellness, finance, commerce, entertainment, career and learning, security, productivity, and technology. The firm emphasizes brands that blend online and offline channels, e-commerce, internet marketplaces, and tools or services that enhance consumer experiences. It has backed notable consumer brands such as Dollar Shave Club, Warby Parker, and Hims & Hers, and tends to collaborate with local investors when the company is outside the Bay Area.

Battery Ventures is a technology-focused investment firm founded in 1983 and based in Boston, Massachusetts. It engages in venture capital and private equity investments in technology companies, with emphasis on software (including application and infrastructure software), IT infrastructure technologies, consumer internet and mobile services, industrial technologies, and life science tools. The firm seeks to back category-defining businesses with potential for scalable growth, often supporting companies through multiple stages and across select global regions.

Founded in London in 1997, Marshall Wace is an employee-owned investment management firm specializing in global long/short equity strategies. The company employs both fundamental and quantitative analysis to invest in public equity markets worldwide.

JDRF T1D Fund is a venture philanthropy organization dedicated to identifying and supporting early-stage commercial opportunities in Type 1 Diabetes research. By partnering with private capital, including venture capital, pharmaceutical companies, and other foundations, the fund aims to accelerate the development of treatments, preventions, and cures for T1D patients. With a focus on artificial pancreas systems, metabolic control, beta cell replacement, prevention, and beta cell restoration therapies, the fund prioritizes the most promising commercial opportunities in the field. Any profits generated are reinvested into new investments to advance the mission of finding a cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

Founded in 2009, RTW Investments is a global investment firm headquartered in New York with offices in London and Shanghai. It primarily focuses on the life sciences, big data, and digital health sectors across the United States, Europe, and beyond.

Founded in 2019 and based in New York, Commodore Capital is a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments within the biopharmaceutical sector.

Biotechnology Value Fund is a private investment partnership based in San Francisco, focusing on fundamentally-driven public biotechnology investments. Established in 1993, the fund aims to create concentrated, long-term investments in small-cap biotechnology firms. It emphasizes rigorous due diligence and continuous monitoring of its portfolio to ensure sustainable growth. Furthermore, Biotechnology Value Fund is dedicated to collaborating with its portfolio companies, fostering partnerships that support mutual success in the biotechnology sector.

Founded in Boston in 2004, RA Capital is an investment firm specializing in life sciences and drug development. Its team, with backgrounds in biology, chemistry, medicine, and industry experience, invests in early-stage companies with promising technologies and products across healthcare and life science sectors.

Founded in 2000, Lux Capital is a venture capital firm based in New York and Silicon Valley. It manages over $5 billion in assets, focusing on seed to growth investments at the intersection of technology and sciences. Lux actively supports entrepreneurs building successful businesses in high-growth sectors such as biochemistry, material science, electronics, infrastructure, aerospace, genomics, synthetic biology, and robotics.

Acre Venture Partners is a Santa Monica, California-based venture capital firm founded in 2016 that backs companies redefining the food system. It invests in platform businesses across the food value chain, with emphasis on agriculture, food tech, climate tech, and consumer verticals. The firm seeks disruptive ventures that address large-scale human and environmental health problems by delivering scalable, systemic improvements in food and agriculture.

Founded in 1946, Fidelity is a leading privately-owned investment manager offering a wide range of services including IRAs, retirement planning, wealth management, and securities execution. It serves individual investors, businesses, financial advisors, and institutions worldwide, managing equity, fixed-income, and balanced mutual funds through global public markets.

HUB International is a full-service insurance brokerage firm based in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1998. It provides a wide range of insurance products and services, including business insurance such as commercial property, general liability, cyber, professional liability, and automobile coverage. The company also offers employee benefits products like health and retirement planning, personal insurance for property, casualty, health, and life, and risk management solutions. Additionally, HUB International provides human resources consulting services. It serves various industries including agribusiness, construction, education, healthcare, hospitality, real estate, sports, and transportation. The company has offices across North America and Canada.

White Star Capital is a global multi-stage technology investment firm and venture platform headquartered in New York, with a presence across North America, Europe and Asia. It backs exceptional entrepreneurs building ambitious, internationally scalable tech companies, helping portfolio founders scale their businesses from Series A onwards through its experience, networks and value-add support. The firm invests across software, information technology and digital assets, operating a core venture program and a dedicated digital asset strategy that backs crypto networks and blockchain-enabled businesses. Its offices span New York, London, Montreal, Toronto, Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong, enabling it to partner with founders to expand internationally.

Waud Capital Partners is a Chicago-based middle-market private equity firm established in 1993 that invests across North America. The firm focuses on control-oriented investments, including growth equity, industry consolidations, buyouts and recapitalizations, with a preference for companies that generate strong cash flow and can be grown organically or with add-on acquisitions. It targets sectors such as healthcare, healthcare technology, software, information technology, and technology-enabled services, as well as business products and services, specialty distribution, and other tech-enabled segments. Waud Capital partners with management teams to build durable value through strategic acquisitions, operational improvements, and revenue growth, leveraging its experience in consolidations and sector expertise to create scalable platforms. The firm pursues active investment strategies and seeks to create market-leading platform companies across North America.

Fortune Brands Home & Security provides a wide range of products for residential home repair, remodeling, new construction, and security applications. It operates through three segments: Cabinets, Plumbing, and Doors & Security. The company offers custom cabinetry, faucets, kitchen sinks, entry doors, composite decking, locks, safes, and other security devices under well-known brands such as Moen, Master Lock, SentrySafe, Therma-Tru, and MasterBrand Cabinets. It serves various markets including home centers, retailers, wholesalers, builders, locksmiths, and original equipment manufacturers across North America, Europe, Asia, Central America, and Australia.

AngelPad is a seed-stage accelerator program founded in 2010 by Thomas Korte and Carine Magescas, based in San Francisco, California. The program is designed to assist web-technology startups in achieving product-market fit and securing initial validation in their target markets. AngelPad operates two mentorship cohorts each year, offering an intensive 10-week program in both San Francisco during the spring and New York in the fall. The firm focuses on a range of sectors, including B2B, B2C, SaaS, and technology, among others. Notably, AngelPad gained recognition for allowing its startups to opt for $100,000 in funding from venture capital firms at the beginning of their program. It has consistently ranked as one of the top accelerators globally, highlighting its impact on the startup ecosystem.

Breakthrough Energy Ventures is an investor-led venture capital firm based in Kirkland, Washington, focused on climate and energy technology. It makes minority investments across seed, early, and later stages in companies delivering environmental services, climate technology, and cleantech solutions. The firm seeks scalable technologies that provide reliable, affordable power while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supports innovations that address energy access, infrastructure, and transportation needs. Its mission emphasizes patient, impact-oriented investing to accelerate the transition to low-emission energy systems.

Tiger Global Management is a New York based investment firm that manages public and private market strategies to pursue technology-driven growth opportunities worldwide. Founded in 2001 by Charles (Chase) Coleman, the firm invests in leading global companies across various industries, with a particular emphasis on technology-enabled growth. In public markets it employs long/short and growth strategies, while in private markets it targets opportunities from early to late stage. The firm operates globally, including the United States, China, India, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, and works with portfolio companies across their lifecycle to drive long-term value.

Founders Fund is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that backs science and technology companies across multiple stages, from seed to late-stage. It pursues transformative technologies and follows a founder-friendly investment approach that provides substantial support with minimal interference. The firm invests in ventures solving difficult problems across sectors such as aerospace and transportation, artificial intelligence, advanced computing, energy, healthcare, biotechnology, cybersecurity, fintech, consumer internet, software, robotics, and related technology fields. It has backed notable companies early, including SpaceX, Palantir, and Facebook, reflecting a history of partnering with ambitious founders to scale breakthrough technologies.

Numotion specializes in providing mobility solutions for individuals with complex medical mobility limitations. The company offers a wide range of products, including complex power wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, and sports chairs designed for various activities like basketball and racing. Its offerings also include equipment tailored for children, such as customized seating systems, strollers, walkers, and assistive technology. In addition to wheelchairs and mobility aids, Numotion provides essential accessories like seat cushions, rehabilitation shower chairs, and hospital beds. The company emphasizes personalized services, including mobility assessments, equipment trials, insurance billing, and maintenance support. With a commitment to enhancing mobility and independence, Numotion has established itself as a responsive provider in the complex rehab industry since its founding in 2001, with headquarters in Hazelwood, Missouri, and additional operations in Madison, Wisconsin.