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
2019 Startups to Watch: Pepper secures defense against invasive Chinese-made devices
Editor’s note: Startland selected 12 Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. The following is one of 2019’s companies. Click here to view the full, ranked list of Startups to Watch. Pepper’s elevator pitch: Pepper is an independent, multi-tenant Internet of Things communications platform. What Nest or Ring, or these…
2019 Startups to Watch: Zohr steers deeper into new markets with new spin on tire sales
Editor’s note: Startland selected 12 Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. The following is one of 2019’s companies. Click here to view the full, ranked list of Startups to Watch. Zohr’s elevator pitch: Zohr – Tires Delivered & Installed is basically a tire shop that comes to you. We…
2019 Startups to Watch: ShotTracker sensors detect high-scoring year for sports tech firm
Editor’s note: Startland selected 12 Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. The following is one of 2019’s companies. Click here to view the full, ranked list of Startups to Watch. ShotTracker’s elevator pitch: ShotTracker is a sensor-based technology that tracks statistics and analytics for basketball practice and games in real-time.…
KCultivator Q&A: Morgan Perry reads KC on egos, excuses — no Northland passport required
Editor’s note: KCultivators is a lighthearted profile series to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Library shelves offer more than the theatrics of the written word, said Morgan Perry. Though she sees power in learning through entertainment, the resources available to vulnerable and other hungry audiences in need are anything but…