LISTEN: Founder on his third startup shares his ‘toilet test’ for culture, talks the lonely eship rollercoaster from Ireland to Topeka
August 29, 2025 | Austin Barnes
On this episode of Startland News’ new Plug and Play Topeka founder podcast series, we chat with Barry McDonogh — CEO of Hinalea Imaging — to uncover how cutting-edge hyperspectral imaging is changing the way industries see the world.
From food safety and agriculture to pharmaceuticals and defense, Hinalea’s technology reveals the invisible — capturing data far beyond the limits of the human eye. And along the way, we’ll hear how McDonogh has learned a range of lessons about being a founder, and how to build alongside the right kind of team.
Recorded live at the Plug and Play Animal Health & AgTech Expo in Topeka, this episode continues Startland News’ 12-part series on the founders transforming the future of animal health and agtech — and putting Topeka on the map as a national innovation hub.
Listen to a teaser below or click here for the full podcast episode.
Featured Business

2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Healthy hip-hop duo remixes rap for exercise, education tech
Raised in the urban core of Kansas City, Roy Scott grew up idolizing gangster rap. Inspired by 90s hip-hop artists such as N.W.A. and Bell Biv DeVoe, he always hoped to become a famous rapper. But years later when raising his own son, a light bulb went off for Scott when he heard his 4-year-old…
CNBC: Kansas City is a top place to affordably ‘live large’
Kansas City was once again nationally recognized as a locale in which residents can live well on a base salary that’s comparatively low to coastal cities. CNBC named Kansas City No. 9 on its list of 12 cities “where you can live large on $60,000.” “The best places are likely the ones where you can…
Listen: Madison Flitch founder carves a furniture firm with KC stories ingrained
Editor’s note: In partnership with the KC Greats podcast, hosted by Scott Parman, Startland News hopes to offer its audience more avenues to learn about entrepreneurs in Kansas City. Opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. In this episode, Parman chats with Madison Flitch founder John Pryor, who shares the story of bootstrapping his…
Meet the Kauffman Foundation’s newest board member
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has added a new member to its high-caliber board of trustees. The foundation announced Thursday that Esther L. George — the current president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City — will serve on its board. As a member of the board, George will support the foundation’s…

