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

    Mythical Games new office location at Power & Light

    LA game tech startup boosting its KC footprint with 100 new jobs, high-profile downtown HQ

    By Tommy Felts | June 29, 2022

    A rapidly expanding gaming technology studio hopes to put approachable blockchain technology in the hands of consumers — and it’s pressing play on a strategy to bring dozens of new jobs to Kansas City and give players, developers, and content creators “true ownership” within the games they love. Based in Sherman Oaks, California, Mythical Games…

    Meg Judy, EquipmentShare, and Brett Calhoun, Scale, accept the Midwest Madness win on behalf of Columbia, Missouri, from Katie Birge and Victor Gutwein, M25; photo courtesy of EquipmentShare

    ‘Homegrown unicorn’ helped this startup hub beat the bracket (and its top seed Kansas competition)

    By Tommy Felts | June 29, 2022

    Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. A…

    Emma Willis, Venture Noire

    Ulta, Venture Noire apply foundation with new beauty startup accelerator to ‘uplift minority founders’

    By Tommy Felts | June 28, 2022

    Ulta Beauty’s premier MUSE Accelerator is nothing short of life changing, said Emma Willis.  The national beauty retailer has partnered with Venture Noire to launch a 10-week, hybrid accelerator that supports Black, Indeginous and underrepresented founders of color as they prepare to break into and thrive in the beauty retail space, explained Willis, who serves…

    Darkmoon Comics

    Fund Me, KC: ‘Black Spartans’ returns with supernatural new chapter, summer crowdfunding push

    By Tommy Felts | June 28, 2022

    Startland News is continuing its “Fund Me, KC” series to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses or lend a helping hand to others. This is an opportunity for business owners and innovators — like Brandon Calloway’s third installment of the “Black Spartans” series — to share their crowdfunding stories and potentially gain backing…