ENTREPRENEURS

Kern County has a rich history of producing pioneers and innovators in the fields of agriculture, oil/gas, renewable energy, and aerospace technology. Training, supporting, and funding the next generation of entrepreneurs and pioneers is vital to creating economic diversity, employment, and a successful future for our community.

SeedCore Foundation co-founder John Paul Lake and Richard Chapman of the Kern Economic Development Corporation founded Kern Initiative for Talent and Entrepreneurship (KITE) in 2019.

After incubating KITE from 2019 to 2025, SeedCore Foundation spun out KITE as a separate not-for-profit entity. SeedCore continues to support KITE financially as a donor in support of their mission to develop Kern County’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.