Research Park at SDSU Honors Settje Agri-Services & Engineering as 2024 Business of the Year and AeroFly as Start-Up of the Year at Brookings Economic Partners Business Mixer

The Research Park at South Dakota State University (SDSU) along with Brookings economic development partners, Brookings Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Brookings, and Visit Brookings, celebrated innovation and excellence alongside 70 guests at the Brookings Business Mixer on Thursday, November 21. The event recognized two standout companies for their achievements in 2024: Settje Agri-Services & Engineering as the Innovation Center Business of the Year, and AeroFly as the Innovation Center Start-Up of the Year.

Settje Agri-Services & Engineering: 2024 Business of the Year

Settje Agri-Services & Engineering, founded in 1997, has built a strong reputation as a leader in livestock facility design and agricultural engineering. In 2023, the company expanded to Brookings with its first satellite office, marking a key milestone in its growth. Since then, the satellite office has grown to five full-time employees, four of whom are SDSU alumni.

Settje provides services to livestock professionals, specializing in civil, mechanical, and agricultural engineering, and has a strong presence in renewable energy, particularly methane digesters. In 2024, Settje continued to expand its impact, securing major projects like the SDSU Cottonwood Research Facility in Philip, SD. Their innovations include AI technologies for livestock monitoring and carbon footprint models for sustainable operations.

Settje’s work has spanned across 25 states and internationally, with notable projects in Vietnam and Pakistan. Their achievements, such as being the preferred engineering firm for 65% of

Nebraska’s beef producers, highlight the company’s dedication to excellence in both engineering and sustainability.

“Settje Agri-Services & Engineering exemplifies the collaboration and innovation that make the Research Park a hub for growth,” said Dwaine Chapel, CEO of the Research Park at SDSU. “We are excited to see them continue to make a lasting, positive impact in the Ag industry.”

AeroFly: 2024 Start-Up of the Year

AeroFly, founded in 2021, is making significant strides in aerospace technology and space exploration, with a strong foundation rooted in SDSU’s cutting-edge research. The company began as a virtual operation with co-founders Dr. Todd Letcher and Dr. Marco Ciarcià and has rapidly grown into a recognized player in the aerospace industry.

AeroFly’s journey took a major step forward in 2022 when they moved to the Research Park to gain credibility for securing proposals. In 2024, they were awarded a NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I contract, which opened the door for an 18-month Phase II contract valued at approximately $850,000.

SDSU is AeroFly’s strongest and habitual partner because the space technology programs there provide validated, innovative solutions.  One of SDSU’s major achievements in 2024 was competing in NASA’s Break the Ice Challenge, where they built a robotic excavator and dump truck to transport materials on the moon. Their team placed in the top six globally, competing against some of the world’s elite aerospace institutions. Additionally, the SDSU RASC-AL team finished third in 2024, showcasing their ability to compete with major aerospace players like MIT and Stanford.

AeroFly’s strong connection to SDSU also extends to the University’s new Space Club, which now has 25-30 members. This initiative offers students the chance to work on real-world projects, providing a valuable talent pipeline for the company.

“Our success would not be possible without the support of SDSU,” said Dr. Gordon Niva, AeroFly’s CEO and CSE. “The partnership has allowed us to tackle complex challenges and build a world-class team that’s driving innovation in space technology.”

Celebrating Innovation and Collaboration

The annual awards highlight the impactful collaboration between the Research Park and its tenants, showcasing how partnerships between innovative businesses and SDSU foster economic growth and technological advancement when they have access to the resources needed to thrive.