Adam Keune, co-founder of Coralville-based Higher Learning Technologies, is the new executive director of the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC) at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business.
Keune was Iowa JPEC’s entrepreneur-in-residence in 2023-24 and has served on the center’s advisory
board since 2018. He was named the center’s Young Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021. A 2010 Iowa JPEC alumnus, Keune co-founded Higher Learning Tech in 2012 as a company specializing in educational and training applications. He said Iowa JPEC played a critical role in launching HLT, including tapping into many of his Iowa JPEC instructors to help get the business off the ground.
"I've been involved as a student, startup founder, board member, and staff member, and now I get to use my experience to get people excited about Iowa JPEC" said Keune. "I'm looking forward to providing the kind of opportunities to students and faculty that I received from Iowa JPEC while building my own startup."
Experienced entrepreneur
Amy Kristof-Brown, dean of the Tippie College of Business, said Keune’s startup experience was key in his hiring.
“It underscores his commitment to economic growth and business innovation coupled with higher education,” she said. “His track record aligns perfectly with our mission to empower the next generation of Iowa entrepreneurs. Adam represents the perfect blend of entrepreneurial experience and working with higher education professionals. His familiarity with the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Iowa offers tremendous opportunity for Iowa JPEC to expand its influence and build reputation within the state and nationally.”
Keune’s statewide network includes work as a mentor in the Cedar Rapids-based Iowa Startup Accelerator, as executive board member of the Greater Iowa City Inc., and as a board member of the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Iowa Innovation Council.
Alumni outreach will be priority
He said his priorities as executive director will be to reconnect with Iowa JPEC alumni and get them more involved as mentors and business coaches. He also plans to launch a university venture fund for Iowa student, faculty, and alumni businesses as well as an Iowa alumni network of angel investors to provide funding that helps entrepreneurs with early-stage funding for their businesses.
Iowa JPEC was founded in 1996 with a gift from John Pappajohn, a 1953 University of Iowa alumnus who went on to become one of the state’s leading venture capitalists. The organization provides dozens of educational, training, and other resources to student and faculty entrepreneurs across the University of Iowa campus and to entrepreneurs throughout the state.
Keune replaces David Hensley, who stepped down as Iowa JPEC executive director in December 2023 after leading the organization for more than 20 years. He continues as Iowa JPEC’s director of undergraduate studies and as director of the university’s enterprise leadership major.
“Adam is an outstanding choice to lead Iowa JPEC,” said Hensley. “His experience, enthusiasm, and network will help accelerate new venture creation at Iowa and across the state. I know John Pappajohn would be pleased to have an Iowa JPEC alum and co-founder of an Iowa education technology company leading the entrepreneurship program at his alma mater.”
Iowa JPEC has been led on an interim basis since Hensley stepped down by Lynn Allendorf, director.