, ,

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.

Tagged , ,
Featured Business
    Featured Founder
      [adinserter block="4"]
      1738947381552

      Austin Barnes

      2025 Startups to Watch

        stats here

        Related Posts on Startland News

        Recap: Bill would gut Kansas Bioscience Authority

        By Tommy Felts | May 19, 2015

        A bill in the Kansas legislature if passed would dissolve the Kansas Bioscience Authority, which has recently served as a venture capital organization investing in early-stage bioscience firms. The measure — SB 305 — would shut down the organization and transfer its funds and obligations to the Kansas Department of Commence. Proponents of the KBA say…

        Kansas City named a top tech locale

        By Tommy Felts | May 19, 2015

        Kansas City again was touted as a top tech destination. Tech publication PC Magazine recently named Kansas City as one of “13 high-tech cities you’ll want to call home.” The magazine noted Kansas City’s access to Google Fiber, its low cost of living and communities such as the Kansas City Startup Village as reasons to…

        Flow Forward Medical raises additional $1.3M

        By Tommy Felts | May 18, 2015

        Flow Forward Medical boosted its latest funding round to further develop its device that helps improve outcomes for hemodialysis patients. The Olathe-based company closed a $1.3 million round of additional Series A financing led by the Kansas Bioscience Authority. Flow Forward previously raised $4.4 million, bringing its total funding raised to date to about $5.7 million.…

        Schukman: 5 reasons why KC is the capital of social entrepreneurship

        By Tommy Felts | May 18, 2015

        Take a walk in Kansas City’s startup scene and you’ll quickly hear something about KC’s devotion to becoming America’s most entrepreneurial city. This mantra is on everyone’s lips, from city leaders to corporate tycoons to scrappy startup founders. It’s amazing that in five years our city has created such clarity of purpose that millenials populating…