Adam Keune, co-founder of Coralville-based Higher Learning Technologies, has been named the new executive director of the 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 also received the center’s Young Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2021.
“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,” Amy Kristof-Brown, dean of the Tippie College of Business, said in a prepared statement.
Keune was active in the Iowa JPEC as a student at the University of Iowa. A JPEC alumnus, he started Higher Learning Technologies in 2012.
“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,” Keune said in a prepared statement. “I’m looking forward to providing the kind of opportunities to students and faculty that I received from JPEC while building my own startup.”
Keune’s statewide involvement includes working as a mentor in the Cedar Rapids-based Iowa Startup Accelerator, serving as executive board member of Greater Iowa City Inc., and as a board member of the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Iowa Innovation Council.
He said his priorities as director include connecting Iowa JPEC alumni with business coaching and mentoring opportunities, launching a university venture fund for Iowa student, faculty and alumni businesses and a UI alumni network of angel investors who can help entrepreneurs with early-stage funding for their businesses.
Keune replaces David Hensley, who stepped down as Iowa JPEC director in December 2023 after leading the organization for more than 20 years. Hensley continues as Iowa JPEC’s director of undergraduate studies and as director of the university’s enterprise leadership major. Lynn Allendorf served as interim director of Iowa JPEC following Hensley’s retirement.
