Texas Crop Science Has a Singular Mission to Help Farmers Increase Yield Profitably and Sustainably
A family of genes that is well understood in human health, known as apyrases, is at the core. True to our overarching company theme of efficiency, our scientific founders from the University of Texas took the core principles from peer-reviewed medical research and explored the role of apyrases in plants.
What the University of Texas team discovered was remarkable. One apyrase gene particularly showed promise. We found it to be a key regulator of cellular energy management and a fundamental driver of plant growth and yield. Harnessing the power of this gene dramatically changes plant yields and efficiencies.
While still a student at the University of Texas, now CEO Simon Hiebert immediately recognized the commercial significance of that discovery. With intense focus, Simon launched Texas Crop Science. He assembled a team of industry veterans and top scientists who played significant roles in guiding TCS technology from development to the creation of two commercially viable product families.
Leveraging the immense resources and state-of-the-art facilities of the University of Texas, TCS could perform early-stage, commercial-quality development at a fraction of the cost of an in-house program. TCS conducted more than 68 field trials over 7 years and 9 growing seasons in multiple environments throughout North and South America. Our scientists have accumulated significant data and understanding of the mode of action of targeted apyrase genes in plants.
Based on our extensive knowledge of biological signaling pathways, TCS has also developed a chemical enhancer that addresses the foundation of pest resistance and boosts the performance of fungicide and herbicide actives between 20 percent and 30 percent.
With a scientific history of applying discoveries across different biological and chemical sciences to plants and plant pests, TCS takes a unique approach to help growers be more productive and profitable in a sustainable way. We specialize in doing more with less, from our research on underexplored biological pathways and molecular structures to our capital-efficient business model.
Meet Our Team
Simon Hiebert
Board Chair & Business Advisor
Simon founded Texas Crop Science in 2012, while enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin. Since his graduation in 2013, Simon has led the Company’s efforts to enhance on-farm profitability. In addition to his responsibilities at Texas Crop Science, he is actively involved with the Austin, TX chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and currently resides in Austin, TX with his wife Carolyn, their daughter Claire and dog Leo. An avid outdoorsman, Simon enjoys spending his free time fishing, hunting, playing sports and reading.
Simon Hiebert
Board Chair & Business Advisor
Eric Rey
Board Chair & Business Advisor
Mr. Rey brings more than 40 years of agribusiness experience to the TCS board. Now serving as an independent advisor, Mr. Rey most recently served as president and CEO of Arcadia Biosciences, which he founded in 2002. In this role, he was responsible for signing more than 50 development and commercial partnerships with the world’s leading agricultural companies, institutions, and government organizations; overseeing hundreds of successful regulatory filings around the world; and driving the company’s 2015 initial public offering on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Prior to Arcadia, Mr. Rey was a partner with the Rockridge Group, a management consulting firm focused on the agricultural biotechnology industry. He also served as vice president of operations for Calgene Inc. for 17 years, including two years following Monsanto Company’s acquisition of Calgene. He holds a bachelor’s degree in plant science from the University of California, Davis.
Eric Rey
Board Chair & Business Advisor
Scott Zodin
Board Director
Mr. Zodin has been an investment advisory professional since October 1987. Over that time, he worked as a financial advisor, and Registered Investment Advisor. In 2016, Scott founded Keel Wealth Management, LLC. Scott holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin, and a Master’s of Science in Science and Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas, Red McComb’s School of Business. In addition to professional and academic designations, Scott is a commercial rated pilot. He is a volunteer buddy at Helping Hand Home for Children.
Scott Zodin
Board Director
Fulton Murray
Board Director
Fulton Murray is an independent investor focused primarily on the life sciences. Prior to this, he was a Managing Director of Hunt BioVentures, a Dallas-based venture capital subsidiary of Ray Hunt’s Hunt Consolidated, for twelve years making clinical stage investments in both pharmaceutical and agbio companies. Mr. Murray holds a BA degree in Economics from Stanford University and an MBA degree from The University of Texas at Austin.
Fulton Murray
Board Director
Reid Walker
Board Director
Reid S. Walker, CFA runs Five T Investments, a Dallas based family office focused on equity and venture capital investments. Prior to Five T, he was co-founder and co-PM for Walker Smith Capital a Texas-based Small Cap Focused Hedge Fund for 16 years. He is also co-founder and Board Member of Capital for Kids, a charity focused on at-risk kids.
Reid Walker
Board Director
Max Korenvaes
Board Director
Max Korenvaes leads the biotech, agtech, medical device, healthcare services, and cyber security strategies at Korenvaes Management where he is a Principal and Managing Director. He is a co-founder of Arbor Diagnostics, Inc., Aspen Insights, and Ironwood Cyber, Inc. Max serves on the boards of Arbor Diagnostics, FEMSelect, Texas Crop Science, EndoGI, StrideCare, IronWood Cyber, Inc., and Aspen Insights. Max developed the “buy or build” philosophy at Korenvaes Management, wherein the office makes the determination to incubate and/or build companies or actively or passively invest. He also helps oversee a portfolio of alternative investments in private equity, hedge fund, and venture capital limited partnerships. Max graduated Cornell University with a BS in Industrial and Labor Relations and currently resides in Dallas, Texas with his wife-Lauren, son-Rex, and daughter-Sunny. He enjoys robotics, data analytics, programming, reading, and bobbing around in the pool with his family.
Max Korenvaes
Board Director
Meet Our Team
Simon Hiebert
Board Chair & Business Advisor
Simon founded Texas Crop Science in 2012, while enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin. Since his graduation in 2013, Simon has led the Company’s efforts to enhance on-farm profitability. In addition to his responsibilities at Texas Crop Science, he is actively involved with the Austin, TX chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and currently resides in Austin, TX with his wife Carolyn, their daughter Claire and dog Leo. An avid outdoorsman, Simon enjoys spending his free time fishing, hunting, playing sports and reading.
Simon Hiebert
Board Chair & Business Advisor
Eric Rey
Board Chair & Business Advisor
Mr. Rey brings more than 40 years of agribusiness experience to the TCS board. Now serving as an independent advisor, Mr. Rey most recently served as president and CEO of Arcadia Biosciences, which he founded in 2002. In this role, he was responsible for signing more than 50 development and commercial partnerships with the world’s leading agricultural companies, institutions, and government organizations; overseeing hundreds of successful regulatory filings around the world; and driving the company’s 2015 initial public offering on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Prior to Arcadia, Mr. Rey was a partner with the Rockridge Group, a management consulting firm focused on the agricultural biotechnology industry. He also served as vice president of operations for Calgene Inc. for 17 years, including two years following Monsanto Company’s acquisition of Calgene. He holds a bachelor’s degree in plant science from the University of California, Davis.
Eric Rey
Board Chair & Business Advisor
Scott Zodin
Board Director
Mr. Zodin has been an investment advisory professional since October 1987. Over that time, he worked as a financial advisor, and Registered Investment Advisor. In 2016, Scott founded Keel Wealth Management, LLC. Scott holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin, and a Master’s of Science in Science and Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas, Red McComb’s School of Business. In addition to professional and academic designations, Scott is a commercial rated pilot. He is a volunteer buddy at Helping Hand Home for Children.
Scott Zodin
Board Director
Fulton Murray
Board Director
Fulton Murray is an independent investor focused primarily on the life sciences. Prior to this, he was a Managing Director of Hunt BioVentures, a Dallas-based venture capital subsidiary of Ray Hunt’s Hunt Consolidated, for twelve years making clinical stage investments in both pharmaceutical and agbio companies. Mr. Murray holds a BA degree in Economics from Stanford University and an MBA degree from The University of Texas at Austin.
Fulton Murray
Board Director
Reid Walker
Board Director
Reid S. Walker, CFA runs Five T Investments, a Dallas based family office focused on equity and venture capital investments. Prior to Five T, he was co-founder and co-PM for Walker Smith Capital a Texas-based Small Cap Focused Hedge Fund for 16 years. He is also co-founder and Board Member of Capital for Kids, a charity focused on at-risk kids.
Reid Walker
Board Director
Max Korenvaes
Board Director
Max Korenvaes leads the biotech, agtech, medical device, healthcare services, and cyber security strategies at Korenvaes Management where he is a Principal and Managing Director. He is a co-founder of Arbor Diagnostics, Inc., Aspen Insights, and Ironwood Cyber, Inc. Max serves on the boards of Arbor Diagnostics, FEMSelect, Texas Crop Science, EndoGI, StrideCare, IronWood Cyber, Inc., and Aspen Insights. Max developed the “buy or build” philosophy at Korenvaes Management, wherein the office makes the determination to incubate and/or build companies or actively or passively invest. He also helps oversee a portfolio of alternative investments in private equity, hedge fund, and venture capital limited partnerships. Max graduated Cornell University with a BS in Industrial and Labor Relations and currently resides in Dallas, Texas with his wife-Lauren, son-Rex, and daughter-Sunny. He enjoys robotics, data analytics, programming, reading, and bobbing around in the pool with his family.
Max Korenvaes
Board Director
Max Korenvaes
Board Director
Max Korenvaes
Board Director
Max Korenvaes leads the biotech, agtech, medical device, healthcare services, and cyber security strategies at Korenvaes Management where he is a Principal and Managing Director. He is a co-founder of Arbor Diagnostics, Inc., Aspen Insights, and Ironwood Cyber, Inc. Max serves on the boards of Arbor Diagnostics, FEMSelect, Texas Crop Science, EndoGI, StrideCare, IronWood Cyber, Inc., and Aspen Insights. Max developed the “buy or build” philosophy at Korenvaes Management, wherein the office makes the determination to incubate and/or build companies or actively or passively invest. He also helps oversee a portfolio of alternative investments in private equity, hedge fund, and venture capital limited partnerships. Max graduated Cornell University with a BS in Industrial and Labor Relations and currently resides in Dallas, Texas with his wife-Lauren, son-Rex, and daughter-Sunny. He enjoys robotics, data analytics, programming, reading, and bobbing around in the pool with his family.
Mike Koziel
Board Director
Mike Koziel
Board Director
Meet Our Scientific Founder
Stanley Roux, Ph.D
Scientific Founder, Scientific Advisory Board Leader
Dr. Stanley Roux received his Ph.D. from Yale University in 1971. After completing his postdoctoral appointment at Yale in the lab of Dr. F.M. Richards, Dr. Roux joined the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh, then moved to the University of Texas at Austin (UT) in 1978. Since then, he has held multiple positions on campus including Chairman of the Botany Department, Chairman of the Division of Biological Sciences, Associate Director of the School of Biological Sciences, and Faculty Ombudsperson. Dr. Roux is also a member of the Academy of Distinguished Teachers at UT, and has been honored with state and national teaching awards. In support of his research at UT, Dr. Roux has received over three decades of funding from both the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He has published over 150 research articles in key journals. He has been given national research awards from the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research and the American Society of Plant Biologists, and was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2015.
Dr. Roux is the lead inventor of our apyrase control trait technology and the leader of our Scientific Advisory Board.
Stanley Roux, Ph.D
Scientific Founder,
Scientific Advisory
Board Leader