# Kiley Grimes

> Kiley Grimes is the Head of Ecosystem at Redbud VC, the early-stage venture fund co-founded by the founders of EquipmentShare, based in Columbia, Missouri. A 2025 Mizzou BSBA graduate, she built Soundcheck - a 24/7 on-demand music practice studio in Columbia's North Village Arts District - from a $6,500 seed check to profitability in under a year, winning $10,000 at Entrepreneur Quest along the way. Equal parts operator and community builder, she now channels that founder instinct into growing Redbud's startup ecosystem across the Heartland.

- **Role:** Head of Ecosystem at Redbud VC
- **Organizations:** Redbud VC, Soundcheck Practice Studios, EquipmentShare, University of Missouri - Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization
- **From:** Springfield, Illinois, USA
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BSBA in Business Administration, Economics, University of Missouri (Mizzou) - Trulaske College of Business
- **Known for:** Founded Soundcheck Practice Studios, a 24/7 on-demand music practice studio in Columbia, MO, Reached business profitability within approximately 3 months of opening (January 2025), Won $6,500 seed funding from Mizzou Entrepreneurship Alliance

## Career timeline

- **2021** — Enrolled at University of Missouri, Trulaske College of Business
- **2022-2024** — Venture Analyst, Allen Angel Capital Education (AACE) Program at Mizzou
- **2023-2024** — President, Mizzou Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization; Director of Marketing, Trulaske Consulting Association
- **2024-01** — Conceived Soundcheck idea after struggling to find piano practice space; father's band using a storage unit was the spark
- **2024-03** — Won $6,500 seed funding from Mizzou Entrepreneurship Alliance accelerator program
- **2024-04** — Placed second at Missouri Startup Weekend, winning $6,000 additional funding
- **2024-10** — Officially opened Soundcheck Practice Studios at 110 Orr St., North Village Arts District, Columbia, MO (ribbon cutting Oct 9, grand opening Oct 12)
- **2024** — Content Intern at Redbud VC; also interning at EquipmentShare as Branch Launch Marketing Program Coordinator
- **2025-01** — Soundcheck reached profitability
- **2025** — Won $10,000 as second-place winner at Entrepreneur Quest (Mizzou)
- **2025** — Graduated with BSBA from Mizzou Trulaske College of Business
- **2025** — Joined Redbud VC full-time as Head of Ecosystem

## Achievements

- Founded Soundcheck Practice Studios, a 24/7 on-demand music practice studio in Columbia, MO
- Reached business profitability within approximately 3 months of opening (January 2025)
- Won $6,500 seed funding from Mizzou Entrepreneurship Alliance
- Placed second at Missouri Startup Weekend, winning $6,000
- Won $10,000 as second-place winner at Entrepreneur Quest at Mizzou
- Served as President of Mizzou's Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization
- Venture Analyst at Allen Angel Capital Education (AACE) Program
- Appointed Head of Ecosystem at Redbud VC after graduation
- Expanded Soundcheck to include two instructors and an in-house audio engineer
- Featured in ShowMe Mizzou, COMO Business Times, Vox Magazine, and The Maneater

## Latest updates

- **2025-12** — Named in Redbud VC's 2025 Year-in-Review as new Head of Ecosystem hire
- **2025-05** — Graduated from University of Missouri with BSBA
- **2025-01** — Soundcheck Practice Studios reached profitability
- **2025** — Won $10,000 at Entrepreneur Quest (Mizzou second-place prize)
- **2024-10** — Grand opening of Soundcheck Practice Studios at 110 Orr St., Columbia, MO

## Links

- Website: https://soundcheck.studio
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiley-grimes/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiley.grimes/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/kiley-grimes
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-06