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
Industrial tech leaders fuel ‘fire of innovation’ with startup mentality, partnerships
Getting foundational industries — like construction, manufacturing, and energy — to innovate isn’t easy, shared corporate leaders from three regional heavy hitters. “Everybody loves change,” joked Dustin Burns, vice president of innovation at McCownGordon. “They’re just asking for more change to be dumped on them all the time.” “In my experience, a lot of clients…
In their threads era: KC retailers answer demand for Swift-Kelce clothing
Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Missouri Business Alert, a member of the KC Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, Kansas City PBS/Flatland, and The Kansas City Beacon. Click here to read the original story. Sunday’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Chicago Bears brought together two powerful…
Haunted by retro influences: How skull-popping artwork time traveled into some of the nation’s biggest publications
Step into the retro world of John F. Malta, a West Bottoms-based artist whose creative journey is a blend of nostalgia, punk aesthetics, and a passion for eye-catching storytelling. His vibrant imagination took Malta from his early days doodling in the classroom to his recent collaborations with iconic publications like The New York Times and…
PorchFestKC set to transform these Midtown neighborhoods into a one-day, walk-up music festival
After a three-year hiatus, the original PorchFestKC — a music festival Kathryn Golden likens to stumbling on a neighborhood block party and being allowed to stay — is returning. And it’ll play out with a digital upgrade this year, said Golden. Launched in 2015, PorchFestKC — the city’s trend-setting, porch-packed community music celebration — will…

