TechAccel Promotes Mike Rohlfsen to Chief Commercial Officer

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Feb. 8, 2020—TechAccel LLC, a private venture development organization investing in scientific breakthroughs to produce healthier plants, animals and foods, today announced the promotion of Mike Rohlfsen to Chief Commerical Officer.

Rohlfsen joined TechAccel in 2019 as Vice President of Business Development. He helped the company develop new business vertical markets, and expand project and go-to-market collaborators. He also established rapid commercialization initiatives, identifying opportunities with near-term commercial potential and lower risk than core assets in the TechAccel portfolio.

“Mike will drive the TechAccel revenue growth and go-to-market strategies for our portfolio of assets,” said Michael Helmstetter, Ph.D., founder, president and CEO of TechAccel. “Mike takes on a critical role at this important growth phase of the company as our assets mature toward market. Our foundation is scientific and technical success, and now Mike sets the tone for our commercial success, too.”

Rohlfsen brings deep international agribusiness, agtech, and entrepreneurial expertise to new the role. Prior to joining TechAccel, Rohlfsen served 18 years with Cargill Inc. in a variety of financial, strategic marketing, product and business development positions. Most recently, he founded and led Somaris Global, a Minneapolis-based business development firm working in next-generation agriculture technology. His career has consistently focused on applying new technology spanning the aquaculture and organic food supply chains, sustainable biomass product development and precision agriculture.

“I’m excited to be in a position to drive TechAccel’s new breakthrough technologies into commercial markets,” he said. “Our portfolio has several advanced assets with potential to improve agriculture and animal health in ways that are innovative, sustainable and beneficial to humans, animals and our environment.”

The TechAccel business model invests in and advances innovations to produce healthier plants, animals and foods, while protecting and rejuvenating the environment. The company’s portfolio includes several agtech, animal health and biotech products in field trial and advanced stages of preparation for market.

In addition to Rohlfsen, the company promoted Jeff Inman to Principal. Inman joined the TechAccel as associate in January 2020, providing support to business development and due diligence of emerging opportunities. In his new role, he will add deal sourcing, focused areas of strategic relationship outreach, and analysis in valuation and modeling.

About TechAccel

TechAccel, LLC, was founded in 2014 as a technology and venture development organization in the agriculture, animal health and foodtech sectors. TechAccel sources, acquires and invests in early-stage innovation. Through collaborations with universities and research institutions, TechAccel conducts advancement and de-risking research and development to advance technologies for market adoption and commercialization. TechAccel also makes equity investments in start-up companies through its Equity+TM program where an adjacent business opportunity exists. For more information, visit www.TechAccel.net. Follow us on Twitter at @Tech_Accel.

Media Contact:

Nancy Shawver
Nancy@TechAccel.net
816-916-1141