Founders in Focus
Founders in Focus
Podcast Description
We're taking you behind the scenes of startup innovation, acceleration, and investment in this new podcast from Plug and Play Tech Center and BSM Partners. Hear from visionary founders, including Barry McDonogh of Hinalea Imaging, Dr. Daphne Preuss and Francesca Gallucci of Nataur, and Sebastian Doyle of Medipups, as they traverse the Plug and Play Agtech & Animal Health accelerator program, learn how and why they became entrepreneurs, what keeps them up at night, and innovations that are poised to drive positive change for people, animals, and the planet.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on entrepreneurship within the startup realm, highlighting innovation, sustainability, and personal challenges. Episodes feature topics such as balancing business and family life, food safety advancements, and sustainable nutrition solutions, exemplified by interviews with dynamic founders navigating the Plug and Play Agtech & Animal Health accelerator program.
We’re taking you behind the scenes of startup innovation, acceleration, and investment in this new podcast from Plug and Play Tech Center and BSM Partners. Hear from visionary founders, including Barry McDonogh of Hinalea Imaging, Dr. Daphne Preuss and Francesca Gallucci of Nataur, and Sebastian Doyle of Medipups, as they traverse the Plug and Play Agtech & Animal Health accelerator program, learn how and why they became entrepreneurs, what keeps them up at night, and innovations that are poised to drive positive change for people, animals, and the planet.
In this episode of Founders in Focus, we pass the mic to three powerhouse mentors guiding the next generation of innovators in animal health, agtech, and pet nutrition. Recorded live at the Plug and Play Agtech and Animal Health June Expo in Topeka, Kansas, hear from Dr. Trish Jackson, Dr. Kevin Hahn, and Cole Ahlvers as they share candid advice on founder mindset, navigating regulation, understanding risk, and reading investor signals. From regenerative agriculture to veterinary care and pet food trends, their insights are as practical as they are thought-provoking. Whether you’re building your first startup or mentoring one, this episode is packed with wisdom you won’t find in a pitch deck!
Helpful Links
🔗 Learn more about Link Innovation Labs, a multi-use innovation space designed to support agtech, animal health, and deep-tech entrepreneurs: https://www.gotopeka.com/link-innovation-labs/
📺 Check out local news coverage of the Link Innovation Labs groundbreaking event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EmXSTbYpAY
🐱 Explore some of the cat food innovations mentioned by Cole Ahlvers:
- Made by Nacho, a cat food brand by Chef Bobby Flay
- Petlibro Smart Feeder
- BistroCat Smart Feeder
🌱 Learn more about Soil Regen, a regenerative agriculture company mentioned by Dr. Trish Jackson in the episode: https://www.agsoilregen.com/
🤝 Connect with Dr. Trish Jackson, Dr. Kevin Hahn, and Cole Ahlvers on LinkedIn.
Show Notes
00:00 – Welcome back!
02:13 – Introducing the panel
04:21 – Ideas the needle in agtech and animal health
10:48 – True innovation vs chasing trends
13:11 – Balancing research needs with the breakneck pace of innovation
16:49 – What the industry has gotten wrong on sustainability
21:41 – Selling regenerative ag to farmers
23:52 – Hardest lessons learned in the startup ecosystem
29:29 – Common misconceptions for first-time founders
32:25 – Making data-driven decisions
34:11 – Strategic hiring tips
40:36 – The power of cross-industry collaboration
44:56 – If your career had a theme song…
47:10 – Wrap-up and stay tuned!
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