Kevin Kimle

Kevin Kimle currently serves as the Rastetter Chair of Agricultural Entrepreneurship at Iowa State University, Director of the Start Something Agriculture program, and Teaching Professor in the Department of Economics.  Kimle’s work includes development and delivery of entrepreneurship curriculum and programs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, outreach programs to aspiring entrepreneurs and agribusiness executives, and research on entrepreneurship and innovation.

Prior to his appointment at Iowa State University, Kimle worked in a variety of capacities in agriculture. His professional experiences range from start-up companies, the seed industry, venture capital, commodity risk management, and agricultural and trade policy. Businesses founded or co-founded by Kimle include Ag Startup Engine (2016), Decision Commodities (2002), and E-Markets (1996). 

In recent years, Kimle has gained considerable experience in leading public-private partnerships between multiple international universities and agribusinesses in Europe, South America, China and Africa. Further, in early-stage venture development he brings incubation experience from programs he’s initiated at the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative. It serves as a model for programs at other universities and in countries outside the U.S., providing resources necessary for new business ventures.  Students involved in the Agricultural Entrepreneurship and its classes turn out more than 100 business plans each year for startup businesses, many in the agricultural technology space.  Agtech businesses to emerge from the ISU ecosystem include SmartAg, Performance Livestock Analytics, Gross-Wen Technologies, Nebullam, Tractor Zoom, Continuum Ag, Farmers Risk, and others.  

Business expertise that Kimle has gained in starting and running companies as well as incubating them includes equity capital formation, business model design, business plan development and financial model development and design.