Jon Veldhouse
Principal, Veldhouse Advisory · Minneapolis, Minnesota
Short Bio
Founding CEO of Qore, the Cargill and HELM joint venture that brought QIRA® to commercial scale. Twenty-five years at Cargill across fermentation development, capital projects, and commercial leadership. Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI). B.S. Biotechnology, St. Cloud State University.
Qore LLC (Cargill | HELM AG Joint Venture) — Founding CEO
Built and led a $350 million industrial biotechnology joint venture from formation through commercial operation, establishing the financial, operational, and governance foundations for long-term success. Directed the design, construction, and commissioning of Qore’s flagship facility in Eddyville, Iowa, with a disciplined focus on capital efficiency, enterprise risk management, and shareholder alignment. Positioned QIRA® as a commercially proven bio-based material — named to TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025 (Lycra fiber made with QIRA) — and secured global offtake partnerships that provide durable value creation and market credibility.
Cargill, Inc. — 25 Years of Leadership Roles
Progressed through a series of increasingly technical and strategic leadership roles spanning fermentation process development, capital project execution, and commercial management. Led global teams integrating R&D, operations, and marketing to scale bio-based intermediates and specialty chemicals. Known for applying disciplined financial oversight and risk-based decision frameworks to advance growth initiatives, improve asset reliability, and deliver sustained profitability across diverse global business units.
Board & Advisory Roles
Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), a Minnesota nonprofit advancing value-added agriculture. Active advisor and board participant supporting organizations advancing ag-tech, renewable materials, and industrial biotechnology. Providing governance insight and pragmatic counsel on joint venture design, risk management, and strategic execution — helping leadership teams align innovation with long-term shareholder value.
