Entrepreneurs in Residence

Sean Akadiri, is the founder, president and CEO of Agric-Bioformatics Inc., a data analytics company in Oklahoma City. Akadiri is an ag-tech entrepreneur passionate about using data analytics to improve the performance and productivity of livestock.

At 19 years old, Akadiri came to the U.S. from Nigeria on a student visa to attend college. He received a bachelor's degree in biology, and a minor in chemistry from East Central University and earned an MBA from Mid-America Christian University. He also attended what is now the University of Oklahoma Gallogly College of Engineering for three years, studying chemical engineering. Akadiri has over 15 years of experience in the biotech and life science industries. He is also on the advisory board for the Moore Norman Technology Center’s Biotechnology Program.

Akadiri and his team developed AgBoost, the next-generation livestock management technology platform. AgBoost is a proprietary data-driven analytical tool used by livestock producers across the U.S. and around the world to make selective breeding, management and marketing decisions for animals using data about genetics, performance, health and nutrition data. Akadiri's vision is to increase consumers’ confidence and trust when it comes to food production and safety, by providing economical and viable tools that will help livestock producers become more efficient, produce safe, quality food products and meet market demands.

From startups to Fortune 250 companies, Pam Battle has had the privilege of establishing, leading and growing businesses for over 20 years. 

Battle's first entrepreneurial venture was opening a retail store in the San Francisco Bay area. With no experience, a lot of determination and gratitude for the many people who contributed to this venture, it became an experience that shaped her future. Since that time, Battle has been involved with startups in software development and financial services, leading to her current position as director of development for Bergen Enterprises, a local Norman company with new ventures in sustainability.

Battle is passionate about developing sustainable solutions for her community and thrives on fostering business growth. Throughout her career, Battle has connected people with their goals with a belief that collaboration, vision and execution can create amazing results.  

Mike Beckham graduated summa cum laude from the University of Oklahoma Price College of Business and Honors College in May of 2003. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance.

Beckham's first nine years out of college, he joined the worldwide nonprofit Christian ministry CRU. He led the ministry at the University of Oklahoma from 2009-2012. In 2009, he was a part of the founding team for an online auction business called QuiBids. During his time at QuiBids, Beckham served as chief analytics officer followed by chief operating officer and helped lead the company to nearly $800 million in cumulative revenue. From 2015 to present, Beckham has served as a co-founder and CEO of Simple Modern.

In addition to his work in the business world, Beckham also has served in an adjunct capacity at the University of Oklahoma and is a senior entrepreneur in residence for the Tom Love Division of  Entrepreneurship and Economic Development. 

Kristin Garcia serves as the strategic development and operations director of The Verge OKC, a 501(c)(3), that connects the rising entrepreneurial community to the people and resources they need to progress their vision, helping transform great ideas into impactful businesses. Garcia formerly served as the startup specialist for the Francis Tuttle Technology Center AXIS Programs and created a pre-accelerator. Prior roles include working at the University of Oklahoma's Tom Love Innovation Hub, where she managed the Code Lab and supported startup program development, and Purepost, a tech startup focused on solving veteran hiring problems.

With over 15 years in higher education and startup experience in Oklahoma, Texas and California, Garcia believes in the focus on entrepreneurship-led economic development and the value the entrepreneurial ecosystem brings toward innovation in the area. With a master's degree in organizational development from the University of the Incarnate Word, a certification in professional and executive coaching from the University of Dallas, and a bachelor's degree from OU's Price College of Business, she is focused on business and startup development and growth for the Oklahoma City metro. Garcia serves as coordinator of Oklahoma's Global Entrepreneurship Week; a member of the organizing team for 1 Million Cups Oklahoma City; an adjunct for OU's Tom Love Division of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development; and a former board member of Techlahoma.

Andy Moore founded Let's Fix This in 2016 as a grassroots effort to get regular, everyday people involved in politics. He is a licensed professional counselor who believes that taking the time to listen and build relationships with elected officials and between neighbors will pave the way to a better Oklahoma. He received a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in marriage and family therapy from Southern Nazarene University, as well as an MBA from the University of Oklahoma. In addition to his role with Let's Fix This, Moore is the executive director for Freedom of Information Oklahoma and People Not Politicians. He serves on the board of directors for the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund and the local board for Generation Citizen. He lives in Oklahoma City with his wife and has three fantastic kids and a smattering of pets. When he unexpectedly finds some spare time, Moore enjoys exploring the outdoors, gardening, running, cycling, eating tacos, and listening to live music.

Craig Shimasaki, Ph.D., is co-founder and CEO of Moleculera Labs, a neuroimmunology diagnostic laboratory focused on neuropsychiatric and behavioral disorders triggered by autoimmune response, based upon the research of Madeleine Cunningham, Ph.D., at the University of Oklahoma. He has over 35 years of biotechnology industry experience, starting his career at Genentech. His research and development work included epitope mapping for an HIV vaccine, SNP-based genetic breast cancer risk prediction biomarkers, a rapid influenza diagnostic, and therapeutic and biologic products for infectious and neuropsychiatric diseases. He co-founded nine companies and led five clinical diagnostic tests through FDA 510(k) approval and is a co-inventor on several patents. He was involved in raising over $30 million for these companies and participated in taking five companies public in the U.S. and Canadian stock markets.

Shimasaki received a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from the University of California at Davis, a doctorate in molecular biology from the University of Tulsa, and an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Business. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Oklahoma's Price College of Business and teaches biotechnology entrepreneurship. Shimasaki has authored and edited two books, The Business of Bioscience: What Goes Into Making a Biotechnology Product and Biotechnology Entrepreneurship: Starting, Managing and Leading Biotech Companies. His passion is to help translate scientific and medical discoveries into acutely needed products so that more patients can live healthier lives.