Mika Eberl

About Mika Eberl

I help organizations move from ambition to real business and sustainability impact.I’m an AI, digital strategy, and innovation executive with 15+ years of global leadership experience across enterprise transformation, agrifood systems, sustainability, and venture-backed innovation. My work consistently sits at the intersection of AI, digital technologies, and scale — connecting strategy to execution in complex, regulated environments.In my current role as Head of AgroStart, AI Lead, and Regional Digital Officer for BASF Agricultural Solutions in North America, I lead regional AI, data, and digital strategy and run BASF’s open innovation and startup engagement platform. A significant share of my work focuses on applying AI and digital technologies to sustainability challenges such as regenerative agriculture, digital agronomy, resource efficiency, carbon and sustainability data, and climate resilience across global agrifood value chains.I’m known for building the operating models that make AI, data and digital work in practice: clear problem framing, structured intake and prioritization, responsible governance, strong enablement, and close partnership between business, IT, and data teams. This allows AI and digital initiatives to move from pilots to sustained adoption — delivering measurable commercial, operational, and sustainability outcomes.My background spans enterprise AI and digital strategy, innovation portfolios, AI enablement and adoption, venture and startup collaboration, and organizational change. Across roles and geographies, my focus has remained consistent: connect innovation to outcomes, sustainability to scale, and technology to people.Focus areas: AI & GenAI strategy, digital transformation, sustainability and climate innovation, agrifood systems, open innovation and startup partnerships, venture clienting, enterprise AI adoption and enablement, executive advisory.

Experience

1. Head of Agrostart, Ai Lead and Digital Officer - Agricultural Solutions Na

   BASF

   Mar 2022 — Present · Los Angeles, CA, US

   I lead the regional AI, data, and digital strategy and steward a broad innovation portfolio across commercial, marketing, and operational domains. I also run AgroStart, BASF’s open innovation and startup engagement platform, connecting agrifood and agtech startups with enterprise teams to accelerate pilots, partnerships, and scale.My role is centered on executive advisory and co-innovation: partnering with senior leaders to frame ambiguous, high-stakes challenges and translate them into actionable AI, digital, and innovation engagements. I work at the intersection of enterprise strategy, sustainability, and emerging technology, connecting startups, technology partners, and internal teams to move solutions from exploration to scale.A significant part of my work focuses on applying AI and digital technologies to sustainability and global impact, including regenerative agriculture, digital agronomy, resource efficiency, carbon and sustainability data, and climate resilience across global agrifood value chains.I design and operate the operating models that make AI and digital work in practice — structured intake and prioritization, responsible governance, and strong enablement — allowing innovation to move fast without losing rigor or trust. I regularly engage with executive leadership, founders, and cross-functional teams to ensure AI and digital initiatives deliver sustained business, operational, and sustainability outcomes in complex, science-driven environments.I work closely with executive leadership, founders, and cross-functional teams to move AI from experimentation to sustained adoption — ensuring measurable business, operational, and sustainability outcomes in highly regulated, science-driven environments.

Education

• University of Mannheim

  Master

  2004 — 2009