Dr. Michael Helmstetter serves as Founder and President of TechAccel LLC (Technology Acceleration Partners (TechAccel).TechAccel is a first-of-its-kind private capital development company that invests in, acquires, and accelerates early-stage discoveries and technologies in agriculture, animal health, and food ingredient sectors. TechAccel targets higher risk innovatons in need of advancement capital coupled to scientific expertise. The innovations are advanced in collaboration with Global Strategics, Universities and/or emerging start-up companies.
Before founding TechAccel, Michael served as the fifth President and Chief Executive Officer of MRIGlobal – one of the nation’s most prominent research institutions. Over his 14 years with MRIGlobal (formerly Midwest Research Institute), he was critical to the growth of MRIGlobal from 2 locations to 17 locations in 9 states, as well as several international locations. He was integral to the spin-off of several companies and played a leadership role in the company’s win of a $1 billion Department of Energy contract.
Prior to joining MRIGlobal, he held a series of laboratory management positions at Applied Marine Research Laboratory in Norfolk, Virginia, before becoming the Program Manager for the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in Fort Pierce, Florida. In 1993, Dr. Helmstetter served as President and Chairman of startup Brevard Teaching and Research Laboratories, a post he held until 1999 when MRIGlobal acquired BTR Labs and retained Dr. Helmstetter as Director of its Florida Division.
Michael has more than 30 years of experience working with both the private sector and government agencies. His start-up, spin-off and technology advancement expertise spans many sectors including agriculture, defense and biotechnology. His personal success in laboratory research and development covers biotechnology, toxicology, chemical instrumentation, sampling designs and complex data analysis.
Michael received a Ph.D. in Chemical Toxicology/Oceanography from Old Dominion University and a B.S. in Biology from Allegheny College. He has been a panelist, keynote speaker, lecturer, reviewer to several journals, and is the author of numerous publications, technical articles, book chapters, and technical reports. He is a contributing opinion writer for Forbes.com.
He serves as Chairman of the Board of RNAissance Ag, a TechAccel subsidiary that focuses on development of safe and specific biopesticides and RNA-interference products. He has served on numerous boards and committees including:
Michael lives in suburban Kansas City. You can reach him via the TechAccel website (www.TechAccel.net), on Twitter (@Tech_Accel) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhelmstetter). His email is Michael@TechAccel.net.
