Technology & Entrepreneurship Summit to Bring Innovation, AI and Entrepreneurship Perspectives to Aberdeen, Northeast South Dakota

The 2025 Technology and Entrepreneurship Summit

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Northern Innovation & Startup Center in partnership with the Aberdeen Development Corporation is once again bringing bold ideas and innovative thinkers to northeast South Dakota for the Technology & Entrepreneurship Summit, taking place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Johnson Fine Arts Center on the Northern State University campus.

This year’s Summit features two keynote speakers, as well as a diverse lineup of speakers with experience spanning technology, storytelling, cybersecurity, entertainment and entrepreneurship.

Pixar veteran and storyteller Matthew Luhn will deliver the afternoon keynote presentation, “To Innovation and Beyond.” Luhn spent more than 20 years at Pixar Animation Studios, where he helped develop and storyboard films including “Toy Story,” “Monsters, Inc.” and “Finding Nemo.”

Microsoft TechSpark Community Engagement Manager Jeremy Satterfield will present the morning keynote, “Stay, Build, Adapt: AI Through a Rural Lens,” exploring the opportunities and challenges artificial intelligence presents for rural communities.

Other well-known presenters include writer, educator, and producer of Napoleon Dynamite Sean Covel; Founder of Calthorpe Associates, award-winning Urban Designer, and author Peter Calthrope; and co-founder of 3 Farm Daughters Mollie Ficocello. The Summit also will feature additional sessions exploring technology, innovation, entrepreneurship and the future.

“Technology is changing so quickly, and I think rural communities have a really unique opportunity to be part of that conversation,” said Bea Smith, director of the Northern Innovation & Startup Center. “Jeremy’s keynote is going to challenge us to think about how rural communities can stay, build and adapt as AI continues to change the way we live and work. Matthew brings a different, but really important, perspective by reminding us that technology doesn’t replace creativity or the power of a good story—it can actually help us bring those things to life in new ways.

“I’m excited to bring those two perspectives together because, at the end of the day, we want people to leave the Summit feeling like they can embrace technology, use it to their advantage and be part of what comes next, no matter where they live.”

Smith said the Summit is designed around the questions and challenges facing entrepreneurs, businesses and the broader community.

“Every year, we take a step back and really look at what we’re hearing from our founders, our businesses and our community,” Smith said. “What are people trying to figure out? Where are they seeing opportunities? And what do they need to better understand to keep moving forward?

“From there, we look for speakers who can bring those ideas to life and, more importantly, give our community something they can take back and actually use,” she added. “We’re not just bringing in speakers to talk at us—we want to create an opportunity for all of us to learn, ask questions and think differently about what’s possible.”