In this episode of The Germinate Podcast, Joe Sampson sits down with Mikayla Mooney for a conversation about entrepreneurship, innovation, venture capital, and the future of agricultural technology. What begins as a discussion about Mikayla’s startup journey quickly evolves into a broader conversation about problem-solving, customer obsession, startup ecosystems, and what it takes to build successful companies in the Midwest.
Mikayla shares the story of launching her first company, KinoSol, while still a student at Iowa State University. Inspired by a passion for agriculture, food security, and global development, she and her co-founders developed a solar-powered food dehydration system designed to help farmers in developing regions reduce food waste and extend the shelf life of nutrient-rich crops. What started as a student competition project eventually grew into a company that served farmers around the world.
The conversation explores the realities of building a startup at a young age and the unique advantages students often have when pursuing entrepreneurship. Mikayla explains how access to mentors, university resources, industry connections, and a willingness to learn created opportunities that helped accelerate the company’s growth. She emphasizes that even when startups do not succeed exactly as planned, the lessons learned through the process often become invaluable for future careers and ventures.
Joe and Mikayla spend significant time discussing the importance of solving real problems rather than simply building businesses. Throughout her entrepreneurial journey, Mikayla remained focused on understanding customer needs and creating solutions that delivered meaningful value. She explains that the most successful founders are often the ones who remain deeply connected to the people they serve and continuously seek feedback from customers.
Another major theme throughout the episode is venture capital and startup investing. After winding down U.S. operations at KinoSol during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mikayla transitioned into venture investing, first with ISA Ventures and later with Ag Startup Engine. She shares how her experience as a founder shaped the way she evaluates startups today and why empathy, transparency, and founder support remain critical components of successful investing.
The discussion also highlights the strength of entrepreneurship throughout the Midwest. Mikayla challenges the perception that innovation only happens in places like Silicon Valley and explains why Iowa and the broader Midwest continue to produce impactful startups. She argues that many Midwestern founders benefit from strong work ethics, capital efficiency, deep industry expertise, and close relationships with customers, all of which can contribute to long-term success.
Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies also play a role in the conversation as Joe and Mikayla discuss how founders are increasingly using AI tools to accelerate product development, improve operations, and reduce costs. While both acknowledge the transformative impact of AI, they agree that customer relationships, trust, and human connection will remain essential regardless of technological advances.
The episode closes with a discussion about the qualities that make successful founders. Mikayla explains that the entrepreneurs who stand out are often those who are deeply committed to solving meaningful problems, remain transparent when challenges arise, and stay relentlessly focused on serving their customers. Throughout the conversation, there is a strong focus on innovation, purpose, humility, resilience, and the belief that great companies are built by founders who genuinely care about the people they serve.