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

Barry McDonogh, CEO at Hinalea Imaging, center, shares a laugh with fellow Plug and Play Topeka cohort members on stage during the accelerator's Expo Day; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

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.

Barry McDonogh, Hinalea Imaging; photo by Austin Barnes, Startland News

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.

startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

Did you enjoy this post? Show your support by becoming a member or buying us a coffee.

2025 Startups to Watch

    stats here

    Related Posts on Startland News

    ‘We are each other’s bootstraps’: Pay-It-Forward cafe says pressure to serve neighbors is back

    By Tommy Felts | August 2, 2024

    The reopening of Thelma’s Kitchen — a pay-it-forward restaurant on Troost Avenue — not only flips the menu on the “soup kitchen” concept, but serves as an anchor of compassionate, community-focused care in the face of neighborhood gentrification, said Father Justin Mathews. “We view what we’re doing here as kind of like urban acupressure,” said…

    KC-infused Rally Gin pours capital investment into plans for expanding the brand south

    By Tommy Felts | August 1, 2024

    A liquor brand distilled from the vision of three Kansas City natives is expanding to Texas after landing national exposure and a key investment meant to elevate minority-owned spirit and beverage companies. Tim McCoy, co-founder of Rally Gin, shared his excitement and the impact of capital investment firm Pronghorn’s backing. “Pronghorn is just awesome. Their…

    Union Station tapped for GEWKC base camp; training for treps arrives Nov. 19-21 in KC

    By Tommy Felts | August 1, 2024

    When GEWKC pulls into Kansas City this fall, the metro’s largest educational entrepreneurship event will be stationed within one of the community’s crown jewels — a link to the past that points to a brighter future for the regions’ innovators, said Chante Keller. KCSourceLink on Thursday formally announced Union Station as the 2024 base camp…

    NXTSTAGE announces trio of KC ventures tapped for latest Enterprise Engagement cohort

    By Tommy Felts | July 31, 2024

    A record number of Kansas entrepreneurs joining the NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series means the program’s latest cohort will scale up its impact, said Amber Dunn. “It’s exciting to witness the relationships formed and the knowledge gained among cohort members and our enterprise partners, both new and returning,” said Dunn, program manager at Wichita-based NXTUS, which…