Jim Walsh

Visionary, Entrepreneur and Industry Pioneer

Jim Walsh is a distinguished entrepreneur whose career spans multiple industries, including technology, agriculture, consumer goods, and mental health. His journey began in the late 1980s with the founding of Hawaiian Vintage Chocolate, where he pioneered Hawaii's modern cocoa industry. Walsh established the first commercial cocoa operation in Hawaii, and his work with Hawaiian Vintage Chocolate laid the groundwork for what would become a luxury brand that put Hawaiian-grown cocoa on the global map. By creating unique varieties for high flavor and resistant to disease he created what is now known as the Vintage approach to fine chocolate.

Building on this success, Walsh expanded his vision for functional foods and agricultural technological innovation into the beverage industry. As Chairman and CEO of KIMO INC., he co-founded Kimo Sabe Mezcal, a premium agave spirits brand in Zacatecas, Mexico, in 2015 with his daughter Ashley. Kimo Sabe Mezcal became the new taste in mezcal, featuring a new proprietary sonication flavor system that allowed mezcal from all regions to be blended. Kimo Sabe Mezcal also reflects his commitment to social entrepreneurship, aiming to uplift the Mexican middle class through sustainable practices. Expanding his vision, Walsh has grown Kimo INC (KIMO) into a publicly traded "better for you" beverage house with a highly innovative incubation corporate structure. This includes Surf City Still Works, a distillery and restaurant, Trusted Friend’s Cocktail and Sabe Mezcal, Aga Vie, and the soon-to-be-launched "good for you" alcohol, Drs Honey Milk.

Walsh's singular approach extends into the realms of energy and consciousness. As Founder and Chairman of the Human Energy System Alliance Institute, he pioneers mind-matter technologies to revolutionize human health. He also leads Mind Over Matter AI, an IP development firm that holds two foundational patents for Quantum AI and develops related applications. Serving as Chairman of Inner State, Inc. a psychedelic biotech company he is committed to advancing women's health and wellness research.

Walsh's expertise is widely recognized across various fields, particularly in food and lifestyle. His insights have been featured in prestigious publications such as The New York Times, USA Today, The Economist, and Time magazine, as well as on major television networks including CNN, Fox News, and ABC’s Good Morning America. His influence extends to academia and philanthropy, where he has served on the boards of several public companies and esteemed institutions like the Institute for Advanced Studies in Spirituality and Wellness at the Chicago Theological Seminary, and the Center for Creating Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin Medical School. His involvement with the Badger Angel Capital Network (BACN) underscores his commitment to fostering technological innovation and supporting business startups, in collaboration with the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin.

Through these ventures, Walsh continues to push the boundaries of innovation, blending science, technology, and human potential to advance industries and promote global well-being.