Why Midwest Founders May Have the Advantage

Why Midwest Founders May Have the Advantage

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.

The Future of Social Media, Sales & Authentic Leadership

In this episode of The Germinate Podcast, Joe Sampson sits down with Jared Gibson for a conversation about personal branding, social media, sales, leadership, and the rapidly evolving relationship between technology and trust. What begins as a discussion about content creation quickly becomes a broader conversation about authenticity, human connection, and why people still buy from people in an increasingly digital world. Jared shares the story behind Outworks and explains why he believes today’s buyers want more than polished marketing campaigns and corporate messaging. Instead, they want access to the people behind the business — the founders, executives, and leaders responsible for building the company. As traditional marketing continues to lose effectiveness, Jared argues that trust is increasingly built through personal visibility and authentic communication. The conversation explores how social media has evolved over the last decade and why platforms like LinkedIn have become powerful tools for executives and business leaders. Jared explains that many companies still operate with outdated marketing playbooks that prioritize corporate messaging over human connection. Meanwhile, the leaders who are willing to share their experiences, perspectives, and personalities are creating stronger relationships with customers long before a sales conversation ever begins. Joe and Jared discuss the challenges many professionals face when it comes to putting themselves online. For many executives, creating content feels uncomfortable, vulnerable, or even unnecessary. Jared explains that one of the biggest obstacles is consistency. Most people experiment with content creation for a short period before giving up, never allowing enough time to build trust, credibility, or an audience. Through Outworks, his team helps leaders develop a long-term content strategy that highlights their expertise, personal stories, industry opinions, and passions outside of work. Another major theme throughout the episode is authenticity. Jared explains that some of the most engaging content often has little to do with business itself. Whether it is coaching youth sports, spending time with family, or pursuing unique hobbies, these personal moments help humanize leaders and make them more relatable. Joe reflects on the importance of storytelling and why people connect more deeply with individuals than they do with logos or marketing campaigns. Artificial intelligence also plays a significant role in the discussion. Jared shares how AI is transforming content creation, research, and marketing workflows while helping businesses operate more efficiently. At the same time, both Joe and Jared agree that technology cannot replace genuine human experiences, personal stories, and authentic relationships. As AI-generated content becomes more common, the ability to communicate real experiences and build trust may become even more valuable. The episode closes with a broader conversation about the future of business and communication. Joe and Jared discuss how social media, content creation, and personal branding are changing the way companies attract customers, recruit talent, and build relationships. Throughout the discussion, there is a strong focus on authenticity, consistency, storytelling, and the idea that while technology continues to evolve, trust remains the foundation of every meaningful business relationship.

From Silicon Valley to Ag: Building Real Relationships

In this episode of The Germinate Podcast, Joe Sampson sits down with Greg Kay of WSD Wheel Systems for a wide-ranging conversation about sales, competition, artificial intelligence, family business, and the evolving future of manufacturing and agriculture. Greg shares his journey from working in the fast-paced world of enterprise software sales to joining his family’s business in the agricultural industry. After building a successful career in technology, Greg reflects on the moment a conversation with a trusted mentor caused him to reevaluate his future and consider what it would mean to become part of the company his father built over the last three decades. Joe and Greg spend significant time discussing the nature of sales and why many of the best salespeople are driven by competition, resilience, and the ability to handle rejection. Greg explains how his background as a competitive athlete shaped the way he approaches business, leadership, and failure, while Joe reflects on how losses and setbacks often become the moments that teach the most valuable lessons. The conversation also explores the major differences between technology sales and manufacturing sales. Greg explains how software operates at an incredibly fast pace with short sales cycles and constant pressure to produce results, while the agricultural and manufacturing industries require patience, relationship building, and long-term trust. Over time, Greg realized that the strongest business relationships are built through consistency, reliability, and genuine human connection rather than transactions alone. Artificial intelligence becomes another major topic throughout the episode as Joe and Greg discuss how AI is rapidly changing modern business operations. Greg shares how his company is already integrating AI tools into workflows, recruiting, and data analysis while emphasizing that technology should enhance human relationships rather than replace them. Both agree that while AI will improve efficiency, the future of business will still ultimately come down to trust, communication, and strong teams. Another central theme throughout the episode is the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. Greg talks openly about how close friendships, mentorship, and strong teams have shaped both his personal and professional life. Joe and Greg reflect on how success is rarely built alone and why finding the right “neighborhood” of people is one of the most important factors in long-term growth. The episode closes with a conversation about leadership, hiring, and the future of business. Greg explains that what excites him most is building strong teams, developing people, and creating an environment where talented individuals can grow together. Throughout the discussion, there is a strong focus on adaptability, work ethic, competition, and the idea that while technology will continue changing the way businesses operate, genuine relationships and good people will always remain at the center of success.

AI, Anxiety, and the Next Generation

In this episode of The Germinate Podcast, Joe Sampson sits down with his daughter, Emery Sampson, just hours after her high school graduation for a heartfelt conversation about growing up, stepping into adulthood, and navigating the uncertainty of what comes next. What begins as a reflection on graduation day quickly turns into a deeper discussion about purpose, pressure, faith, technology, and the realities of being part of today’s younger generation. Recorded during a milestone week that included Emery’s graduation party, 18th birthday, and final day of high school, the episode captures a unique snapshot in time between father and daughter. Emery opens up about the emotions of leaving childhood behind while preparing for her next chapter at Iowa State University, where she plans to study psychology and pursue a future career as a pediatric psychologist. Joe and Emery discuss the common misconceptions surrounding younger generations, particularly around social media and artificial intelligence. Emery explains that while technology and AI are heavily integrated into modern education, genuine human connection, friendship, and personal growth still matter deeply to students today. The conversation also explores how competitive swimming helped shape her work ethic, resilience, and ability to push through difficult moments both mentally and emotionally. Faith becomes another central theme throughout the episode as Emery shares how challenging seasons often bring her closer to Jesus and help ground her perspective during stressful moments. Joe reflects on the defining experiences that shaped his own life — parenting, career changes, loss, and personal growth, while encouraging Emery to trust the process ahead rather than worry too much about the future. The episode closes with a meaningful exchange about identity, community, and the importance of finding purpose in every stage of life. Throughout the conversation, there is a strong focus on growth, family, faith, and the emotional complexity of entering adulthood while balancing excitement, fear, ambition, and hope for the future.

How VT Changed Farming

In this episode of The Germinate Podcast, Joe Sampson sits down with Rodney Hake of Great Plains Manufacturing for an in depth conversation on the evolution of tillage, the rise of vertical tillage, and how innovation reshaped modern farming practices over the last two decades. What starts as a conversation about equipment history quickly becomes a broader discussion about soil health, crop emergence, technology adoption, and the future of agriculture. Rodney reflects on Great Plains’ early acquisition of Kent Manufacturing and the influence leaders like Roy Applequist and Tom Evans had on shaping the company’s future. At the time, agriculture was entering a difficult economic cycle, and Great Plains recognized the need for new ideas and products that could help farmers remain productive even during challenging market conditions. The conversation centers around the development of the Turbo Till and how it ultimately helped launch the vertical tillage movement. Rodney explains that the original concept was not intended to be revolutionary, but rather an effort to create a tool that fit changing farming practices. Early adopters were primarily no till farmers who were struggling with uneven crop emergence caused by cold, wet soils and heavy residue. They needed a way to lightly manage the soil surface without destroying the benefits of no till farming. Rodney walks through the agronomic reasoning behind vertical tillage and explains how traditional horizontal tillage tools can create density layers beneath the seed bed. These layers impact root development by forcing roots to spread laterally instead of penetrating deeper into the soil profile where moisture and nutrients are located. Vertical tillage aimed to eliminate those density layers while still managing residue and preparing an effective seed bed. Joe and Rodney discuss how studies conducted by agronomist Ken Ferrie helped validate the performance advantages of vertical tillage. Through multi year trials, Ferrie found measurable yield increases compared to more conventional tillage practices, particularly in environments where moisture availability became limiting during the growing season. Rodney credits these studies with helping establish vertical tillage as a legitimate agronomic practice rather than simply another equipment trend. The conversation also explores how the market evolved over time. As vertical tillage gained popularity, nearly every equipment manufacturer entered the category with their own interpretation of the practice. Rodney explains that many tools labeled as vertical tillage were not truly vertical tillage tools, but instead hybrid systems designed primarily for residue management. This created confusion in the market and led to different performance outcomes depending on soil conditions and farming practices. Another major theme throughout the episode is how data and technology are changing modern farming. Rodney notes that today’s farmers have access to more information about their soils, yields, and field variability than ever before. This has created a more analytical approach to equipment decisions and management practices, where farmers are increasingly focused on return on investment and understanding how specific tools impact productivity across different soil types and environments. Throughout the discussion, there is a strong focus on innovation, adaptability, and the constant evolution of farming practices. Rodney explains that the future of agriculture will continue moving toward greater efficiency, fewer passes across the field, and increased automation, but ultimately the goal remains the same: helping farmers improve productivity while protecting the long term health of their soils.