Adam Helms Email & Phone Number

Strategy Development | Management Consulting | Strategic Planning | Portfolio Management | Business Development | Project Management | Agriculture | Biotechnology

Durham, North Carolina, Us

• Led strategic collaboration with Bayer Crop Science for a total investment of >$100 million designed to deliver gene-editing traits to agriculture crops (corn, soybean, canola, wheat, cotton) and the development of a novel gene editing tools, the success of which led to 5-year renewal in 2023• Responsible for relationship management of partners that span from privately held family run entities (Plant Sciences), multinationals (Bayer), government agencies (USDA) and academics which included investment into Pairwise as well as Pairwise investment of venture equity into third parties• Led the development and improvement of the agriculture industry’s first gene editing to consumer-packaged goods phase gate framework which de-risked the first launched gene edited produce for consumers in April 2023, Conscious™ Greens• Conducted company-wide annual planning process, developing goals and timelines tied to capital allocation requirements, and de-risking options for existing and future business portfolios to achieve 5-10 year revenue goals by bringing differentiated produce to consumers for global markets• Developed company cultural education to enable Pairwise to effectively scale through project management (80 participants) and technical communication training (25 participants)

Cambridge, Massachusetts, Us

• Developed and executed strategy to acquire 200+ lines of elite corn, soybean, and wheat germplasm through licensing and asset purchasing in relevant crop markets for North America which enabled the hiring of 10+ employees to further develop and commercialize the germplasm base• Built and operationalized global seed supply network utilizing third party vendors to establish long-term supply relationships, quality management and regulatory standard operating procedures• Identified U.S. expansion site for commercial operations, laboratory, greenhouse, and field space in Indiana. Led engagement through deal execution which resulted in the hiring 50+ employees, an 8-figure economic incentive, which played a crucial role in the company’s successful $89 million Series C financing• First member of Inari business team recruited by Flagship Pioneering post-Series A to develop global crop, product, and market strategies. Actively recruited other key members of leadership and operational management teams

Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, De

• Managed $100+ million global trait portfolio and pipeline for cotton and corn assets by collaborating with cross-functional teams from multiple countries to ensure market acceptance through product efficacy and regulatory control.• Developed financial model for long-term market value projections for cotton and corn assets in key countries through market research and expert analysis for the CropScience global planning process.

Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, De

Grower Strategy Project Manager (2015- 2016)• Led a team of 25 colleagues to develop initiatives and tactics to determine how Bayer Crop Science will market to and interact with broad acre and horticulture growers.• Developed innovative grower financing products and programs: grower interest rate buy downs, channel partner portfolio offers, insurance products, and cash flow hedges that utilize derivative markets. Seeds Business Support (2015)• Analyzed Bayer business and federal crop insurance data to ensure adequate accruals for the cottonseed shared risk program. • Developed a risk corridor tool that predicts shared risk payments based off historical data to provide controlling an early season assessment using current year weather data.Digital Farming Project Manager (2015)• Actively managed relationships with external cooperators to develop trial protocols, sought internal approval through engagement with procurement, legal, and field personnel for $2M in pilot expenditures. • Conducted market research for an integrated weed management software tool for the purpose of identifying market needs to aid management in directing Digital Farming resources.• Developed an alternative go-to-market approach for the Digital Farming business which gained internal support and was successfully pitched to Bayer venture capital partners.Strategic Marketing for Fibermax and Stoneville Cottonseed Brands (2014)• Constructed dynamic financial models for the cottonseed business to evaluate market moves in response to competitor trait launches in a $1 billion global market.• Led a group of global colleagues to articulate a business plan for sustainable cotton production, which included value propositions for up-and-downstream stakeholders, competitor analysis, and market sizing.• Managed the analysis of a 3rd party trait for potential in-licensing by determining the market value potential, costs of deregulation, and intellectual property landscaping.

• Initiated business relationships for two faculty members which led to over $500K of first round funding in precision agriculture and biologic crop protection research.• Identified new business relationships and opportunities with private sector for commodity and specialty crops to target investments in research for pre-commercial product development.• Advise researchers through one-on-one consulting on strategies for effectively marketing their technologies to industry, creating attractive value propositions, understanding existing market conditions, and responding accordingly through effective and targeted communication.

• Led discussions to generate new business with more than 6 companies in oil & gas, bioenergy, wheat, turfgrass and biological pest control with entities in the US, Germany, Switzerland, England and Israel; management portfolio of funded projects totaled $30M. • Developed and finalized $15M in new business through two contracts which led to guaranteed funding for more than 15 faculty members through 2016.• Spearheaded project management of two previously funded bioenergy research programs valued at $15M; maintained external and internal stakeholder relationships and communicated with 25+ faculty members to ensure milestones were met and delivered according to pre-negotiated project terms. • Successfully led efforts in 2011 to renew and renegotiate 5 year extensions to the above projects for additional $15M.

Owner and operator of a land improvement construction company. I installed various types of on-site sewage facilities in addition to land clearing, landscape construction, landscape irrigation and trucking for hire.

• Managed project funded by John Deere Agri Services valued at $60K to develop and implement precision agriculture practices on Texas Blackland Prairie; research quantified subjective knowledge of experienced agricultural producers for incorporation into a soil, water and crop research model.• Taught 25 junior and senior level undergraduate students in soil morphology and interpretation lecture and field laboratory course.

Master Of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

Master'S Of Science, Soil Science, Thesis Option

Bachelor'S Of Science, Agronomy