LISTEN: Meet the partners behind Plug and Play Topeka’s growth (and impact)
October 10, 2025 | Austin Barnes
On a special episode of Startland News’ 12-part podcast series diving deeper into Plug and Play, we explore how the Topeka-based program and its partners work to turn bold ideas into Kansas success stories.
Cole Ahlvers, NQV8 Fund, right, speaks on a panel at the Plug and Play Animal Health & AgTech Expo in Topeka; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
Guests includes Bret Lanz from Kansas State University’s Technology Development Institute; John G. Brown of StenCo; and Cole Ahlvers from NQV8 Fund.
RELATED: Global startups plug into Topeka: How Kansas connections are powering their innovation
Together guests unpack collaboration across universities, corporations, and investment firms is accelerating innovation in the Midwest — fueling everything from advanced manufacturing to agtech and animal health.
Recorded live at the Plug and Play Animal Health & AgTech Expo in Topeka, hear how Plug and Play connects these players, why Kansas is quietly becoming a national hub for commercialization, and what it takes to turn breakthrough ideas into scalable companies.
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
C2FO closes $140M funding round amid record growth, expanded focus on underserved companies
Editor’s note: C2FO is a financial supporter of Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. Kansas City fintech powerhouse C2FO grows best when it’s accelerating access to capital for those traditionally underserved by the banking industry, said Sandy Kemper, announcing a $140 million funding round for the Leawood-based company. Led by Third Point Ventures — a multi-stage investor…
Joining 500 Global’s Japanese accelerator will test KC proptech startup’s market fit for Asian expansion
Access to acceleration has been unlocked, David Biga said, announcing Particle Space has joined a newly launched accelerator program from 500 Global that could give rise to a fully functioning startup ecosystem in Aichi, Japan — while helping the startup further realize its own potential. “One of the things we’ve been exploring with our API services…
Accelerator taps first 7 startups to help bring KC back from the edge of global health crisis
Seven Kansas City tech startups have taken the leap to launch new technologies and startups in response to challenges posed by COVID-19 — and have received technical and financial assistance through Comeback KC Ventures to accelerate their efforts. “These innovations were conceived after two years of the coronavirus pandemic revealed and ignited a need for…
How two college students are bringing the fight to Jeff Bezos as supply chain breakdown rages
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. MANHATTAN…