# Kimberlie Le

> Kimberlie Le is the co-founder and CEO of Prime Roots, the Berkeley food company she started with Joshua Nixon in 2017. Born in Edmonton and raised largely in California, she combined a chef’s-family upbringing with microbiology research at UC Berkeley to develop meat alternatives from koji fungi. A 2018 Thiel Fellow and a 2024 Inc. Female Founders honoree, she has steered the company toward freshly sliced deli products.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Prime Roots
- **Organizations:** Prime Roots, Thiel Fellowship
- **From:** Edmonton, Canada
- **Nationality:** Canadian
- **Education:** University of California, Berkeley
- **Known for:** 2018 Thiel Fellowship recipient., Co-founded Prime Roots in 2017., Led Prime Roots through its $30 million Series B announced in May 2023.

## Career timeline

- **2013** — Moved to Berkeley to attend UC Berkeley, according to a 2023 business profile.
- **2017** — Co-founded the business originally called Terramino Foods with Joshua Nixon, following work at UC Berkeley’s Alt: Meat Lab.
- **2018** — Selected as a Thiel Fellow.
- **2020** — Prime Roots launched koji bacon direct to consumers and introduced prepared meals at selected Bay Area Whole Foods stores.
- **2022** — Discussed the company’s shift toward deli meats and bacon from its new 20,000-square-foot Berkeley facility.
- **2023** — Prime Roots announced a $30 million Series B.
- **2024** — Named to Inc.’s Female Founders 250 and recognized by Deli Business as a Deli Changemaker.

## Achievements

- 2018 Thiel Fellowship recipient.
- Co-founded Prime Roots in 2017.
- Led Prime Roots through its $30 million Series B announced in May 2023.
- Included in Inc.’s 2024 Female Founders 250.
- 2024 Deli Business Changemakers award recipient.

## Latest updates

- **2026-03** — Appeared on The Wild Party Podcast to discuss fungi fermentation, product development and the choice to focus on deli sandwiches.
- **2025-08** — Reported steady growth in existing markets and positive unit economics, while describing nationwide expansion during 2026 as a goal.
- **2024-06** — Recognized in Deli Business’s annual Changemakers awards.

## Links

- Website: https://www.primeroots.com/
- LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/kimberliele

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/kimberlie-le
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-25