We're taking you behind the scenes of startup innovation, acceleration, and investment in this new podcast from Plug and Play Tech Center and BSM Partners. Hear from visionary founders, including Barry McDonogh of Hinalea Imaging, Dr. Daphne Preuss and Francesca Gallucci of Nataur, and Sebastian Doyle of Medipups, as they traverse the Plug and Play Agtech & Animal Health accelerator program, learn how and why they became entrepreneurs, what keeps them up at night, and innovations that are poised to drive positive change for people, animals, and the planet.
The Founder Mindset: Why Obsession, Flexibility, and Resilience Matter More Than You Think
Anna Agnello, Selçuk Uğurlu, and Annette Graneli discuss their startups—Pointer Health, ChemCode, and Green-On—and how they leverage technology to address significant challenges in animal health, food safety, and sustainable ingredient production in this interview.
1 Oct 2025
Building Longer, Healthier Lives for Dogs with Arterra Pet Science
Jonathan Willbanks, Arterra Pet Science Founder and CEO, discusses the science and innovation behind pet supplements and shares insights on entrepreneurship, resilience, and integrity in this interview.
17 Sept 2025
Three Founders, Two Truths, One Lie: The Future You Didn't See Coming
Anna Agnello, Selçuk Uğurlu, and Annette Graneli, startup founders, discuss their innovative companies focused on AI-powered disease prediction in dogs, accessible mycotoxin detection, and sustainable food production using electricity, water, and CO2, showcasing how they transform science fiction into commercial solutions.
18 Jun 2025
The Mentor Effect: Hard Truths and High Impact Advice for Founders
Mentors Dr. Trish Jackson, Dr. Kevin Hahn, and Cole Ahlvers share hard-won truths about founder mindset, regulation, risk, and investor signals within the animal health and agtech industries, offering practical wisdom for both startups and mentors in this interview.
14 May 2025
Getting a Gripp on Modern Agriculture with Tracey Wiedmeyer
The last time you sat down for a meal, did you think about where that food came from? What about the farmers who tended those fruits and veggies, or raised that cow? Modern agriculture is facing an age-old problem—a lack of streamlined record-keeping to keep up with the expensive equipment and assets necessary to grow and raise our food. This is where Tracey Wiedmeyer, founder of Gripp, comes in. In this episode, we sit down with Tracey to explore how one deceptively simple platform is tackling the overlooked pain points of farm management. We’ll discuss how Gripp is helping bridge the generational knowledge gap with tools that are as intuitive for grandkids as they are for grandparents, as well as the underestimated power of solving “schlep work,” the role of professionalization in the future of farming, and why Gripp's simplicity is its greatest strength—and strategic moat.
Helpful Links
🌱 Learn more about Gripp: https://www.gripp.ag/ (https://www.gripp.ag/)
🤝 Connect with Tracey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wiedmeyer/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/wiedmeyer/)
📖 Read Paul Graham’s essay on “Schlep Blindness” here: https://www.paulgraham.com/schlep.html (https://www.paulgraham.com/schlep.html)
💸 Check out C2 Venture’s fund for startups investing in jobs that are “dull, dirty and dangerous:” https://techcrunch.com/2022/07/12/c2-ventures-raises-new-fund-to-invest-in-the-dull-dirty-and-dangerous/ (https://techcrunch.com/2022/07/12/c2-ventures-raises-new-fund-to-invest-in-the-dull-dirty-and-dangerous/)
Show Notes
00:00 – Welcome back!
01:18 – Introducing Tracey Wiedmeyer
04:11 – Getting a Gripp
08:02 – Bringing digitalization to agriculture
11:03 – Solving the “schlep work”
16:02 – Keeping it simple
17:54 – Building a brand around those who need it
21:00 – The Plug and Play accelerator experience
22:56 – Taking good (and critical) feedback
25:18 – Balancing startup life with personal life
28:16 – Painting the future of agtech
30:24 – Gripp today, tomorrow, and beyond
33:28 – Where to learn more about Gripp
34:06 - Wrap-up and stay tuned!
16 Apr 2025
From Fermentation to Fundraising: How Startup Founders Are Scaling Smarter
Join co-hosts Jordan Tyler and Mark McAllister as they sit down with three visionary startup teams transforming the future of animal health, food innovation, and sustainability. Inside the episode, Barry McDonogh of Hinalea Imaging shares how his AI-powered hyperspectral imaging platform is finding unexpected applications; Dr. Daphne Preuss and Francesca Gallucci of Nataur reveal how microbial fermentation is unlocking cleaner, petroleum-free ingredients like taurine for pets, people, and beyond; and Sebastian Doyle of Medipups takes us inside the journey of building a transparent, human-grade supplement brand for dogs—balancing science, branding, and palatability. From resilience in the face of personal sacrifice to lessons in building the right partnerships, this episode captures the raw, real, and rewarding path of entrepreneurship.
Helpful Links
Learn more about Hinalea Imaging: https://hinalea.ai/ (https://hinalea.ai/)
Learn more about Nataur: https://www.nataur.com/ (https://www.nataur.com/)
Learn more about Medipups: https://medipups.com/about-us/ (https://medipups.com/about-us/)
Read more about the Plug and Play Topeka June Expo: https://www.gotopeka.com/plug-and-play-expo/ (https://www.gotopeka.com/plug-and-play-expo/)
Tune in to this Barking Mad episode (https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/from-seed-to-success-how-saeed-amidi-built-an-entrepreneurial-engine-in-silicon-valley) about the Plug and Play Tech Center.
Connect with Barry McDonogh on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrymcdonogh/)
Connect with Dr. Daphne Preuss (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daphne-preuss-26031b/) and Francesca Gallucci on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/fmg2023/)
Show Notes
00:00 – Welcome back!
01:40 – Checking in with Barry McDonogh and Hinalea Imaging
04:52 – Barry’s commercialization strategy
06:43 – Getting Hinalea ready for the Plug and Play Topeka June Expo
08:47 – On-shoring production
10:30 – Family First
13:54 – Checking in with Dr. Daphne Preuss and Francesca Gallucci of Nataur
17:07 – Surprising applications for microbial taurine
20:41 – Prioritizing consumer education
22:15 – Recent business updates from Nataur
26:10 – How Nataur is preparing for June Expo
27:26 – Daphne’s personal passion for impactful innovation
29:25 – Checking in with Sebastian Doyle and Medipups
30:31 – How Medipups formulates its dog supplements
32:07 – How Sebastian measures success beyond revenue
34:48 – Maintaining a solid ingredient supply amid tariff threats
36:00 – How to be an opportunistic entrepreneur
37:56 – Recent updates from the Plug and Play program
39:50 – Rehearsing for the big pitch at June Expo
41:10 – If you could solve one current challenge with Medipups, what would it be?
42:23 – Wrap-up and stay tuned!
Show Notes
19 Mar 2025
Cracking the Code on Canine Cancer: ProPetDX’s Groundbreaking Approach to Early Disease Detection
What if the secret to startup success was a 1986 Sony Walkman? In this episode, Preston Williams, Co-Founder and CEO of ProPetDX, will make the case for foolproof productivity fueled by cassette tapes—but of course, that’s just part of the story. Join us as we dive into how ProPetDX is leveraging multiple aspects of biology and AI-powered analysis to transform early cancer detection in dogs, cats, horses, and beyond. You’ll also hear about the unique challenges of launching a biotech startup in the veterinary space, and how Preston balances the joys and demands of entrepreneurship with the joys and demands of family life.
Helpful Links
Learn more about ProPetDX: https://www.propetdx.com/ (https://www.propetdx.com/)
Get in touch with Preston Williams at preston.williams@propetdx.com (mailto:preston.williams@propetdx.com)
Connect with Preston on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/preston-williams-01616840/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/preston-williams-01616840/)
Tune in to this Barking Mad episode (https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/from-seed-to-success-how-saeed-amidi-built-an-entrepreneurial-engine-in-silicon-valley) about the Plug and Play Tech Center.
Show Notes
00:00 – Welcome back!
02:00 – Introducing Preston Williams and ProPetDX
04:50 – Behind the technology
09:15 – Beyond early cancer detection
12:57 – Startup hurdles, scientific challenges, and key milestones
15:25 – The Plug and Play accelerator experience
18:11 – Balancing entrepreneurship and family
19:44 – Finding the right partners
22:20 – Preston’s advice for other founders
25:09 – A surprising productivity hack!
27:21 – The future of pet diagnostics
31:10 – How to keep up with Preston and ProPetDX
32:32 – Final thoughts and stay tuned!
19 Feb 2025
Entrepreneurship Unfiltered: The Realities of Balancing Business, Family, and Health
What does it take to build and scale a startup while navigating personal challenges, industry shifts, and market volatility? In this episode of Founders in Focus, we catch up with three dynamic entrepreneurs—Sebastian Doyle of Medipups, Barry McDonough of Hinalea Imaging, and Daphne Preuss of Nataur—each of whom are pushing the boundaries of innovation in pet health, food safety, and sustainable nutrition.
Inside the episode, hear how Sebastian balanced running two startup businesses while evacuating from devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, how Barry’s technology could reduce food recalls and how he juggles work with family life and personal health, and the complex nuances of bringing groundbreaking new sustainable ingredient to market.
Tune in for unfiltered insights, hard-earned lessons, and a behind-the-scenes look at the Plug and Play Agtech & Animal Health accelerator program—where startups are redefining the future of agtech, animal health, and sustainability.
Helpful Links
Learn more about Hinalea Imaging: https://hinalea.ai/ (https://hinalea.ai/)
Learn more about Nataur: https://www.nataur.com/ (https://www.nataur.com/)
Learn more about Medipups: https://medipups.com/about-us/ (https://medipups.com/about-us/)
Tune in to this Barking Mad episode (https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/from-seed-to-success-how-saeed-amidi-built-an-entrepreneurial-engine-in-silicon-valley) about the Plug and Play Tech Center.
Connect with Barry McDonogh on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrymcdonogh/)
Connect with Dr. Daphne Preuss on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daphne-preuss-26031b/)
Show Notes
00:00 – Welcome back!
01:40 – Entrepreneurship in the face of natural disaster with Sebastian Doyle
05:38 – Making headway with Medipups
08:59 – Producing viral content that resonates
10:45 – An update on the Plug and Play program
13:26 – Sebastian’s cannabis venture
15:20 – A natural brand-builder
17:47 – Recapping recent food safety snafus with Barry McDonogh
20:33 – Proactive versus reactive approaches to food safety
23:45 – What makes Hinalea’s technology unique
25:33 – Insights from the Plug and Play program
27:10 – Balancing work, family, and personal health
34:46 – The importance of price parity with Daphne Preuss of Nataur
37:14 – Daphne’s advice for other founders
41:38 – From downtown Chicago to a small town in Maine
43:02 – Other interesting applications for microbial taurine
46:23 – Wrap-up and stay tuned!
15 Jan 2025
Taurine, Traceability, and Tenacity: Inside the Minds of Visionary Entrepreneurs
Join us for the first official episode of Founders in Focus, a podcast series showcasing the incredible journeys of entrepreneurs with big ideas to revolutionize the way we think about the global food system. Hear from visionary founders Barry McDonogh of Hinalea Imaging, Dr. Daphne Preuss and Francesca Gallucci of Nataur, and Sebastian Doyle of Medipups, as they traverse the Plug and Play Agtech & Animal Health accelerator program, learn how and why they became entrepreneurs, what keeps them up at night, and innovations that are poised to drive positive change for people, animals, and the planet.
Helpful Links
Learn more about Hinalea Imaging here (https://hinalea.ai/) and TruTag here (https://trutags.com/)
Learn more about A Song for Charlie: https://www.songforcharlie.org/ (https://www.songforcharlie.org/)
Learn more about Nataur: https://www.nataur.com/ (https://www.nataur.com/)
Read more about the melamine recall of 2007: https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/melamine-pet-food-recall/ (https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/melamine-pet-food-recall/)
Learn more about Medipups: https://medipups.com/about-us/ (https://medipups.com/about-us/)
Tune in to this Barking Mad episode (https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/from-seed-to-success-how-saeed-amidi-built-an-entrepreneurial-engine-in-silicon-valley) about the Plug and Play Tech Center.
Connect with Barry McDonogh on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrymcdonogh/)
Connect with Dr. Daphne Preuss (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daphne-preuss-26031b/) and Francesca Gallucci on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/fmg2023/)
Show Notes
00:00 - Welcome to Founders in Focus!
02:38 - Introducing Dr. Daphne Preuss of Nataur
07:38 - Using Microbes as Bio-Based Taurine Factories
11:32 - Meet Francesca Gallucci of Nataur
13:40 - The Environmental & Business Cases for Bio-Based Taurine
19:11 - Not Just for Nutrition!
23:48 - Introducing Barry McDonogh of Hinalea Imaging
27:37 - Barry's Journey to Entrepreneurship
31:09 - The Surprising Story Behind TruTag
34:57 - Barry's Pitch at the 2024 Plug and Play Silicon Valley Summit
37:22 - More on Hinalea Imaging and the Risk of Recalls
40:54 - Innovating for The Greater Good
42:00 - Introducing Sebastian Doyle of Medipups
45:21 - Insights from a Former Rockstar
47:17 - More on Medipups
51:49 - Starting Young
55:25 - Wrap-Up and Stay Tuned!
14 Jan 2025
Introducing Founders in Focus: Meet the Hosts and Hear What's In Store
Join us as we pull back the curtain on the world of startups and innovation! In this trailer for Founders in Focus, co-hosts Jordan Tyler and Mark McAllister introduce themselves and chat about what you can expect from this inaugural season. Discover how visionary founders are leveraging their expertise and networks to tackle complex global problems in industries ranging from food safety and financial technology to animal welfare and beyond.
And don’t miss the first official episode on January 15, 2025, featuring inspiring founders like Barry McDonough of Hinalea Imaging, Dr. Daphne Preuss and Francesca Gallucci of Nataur, and Sebastian Doyle of Medipups.
Helpful Links
Connect with Jordan Tyler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanctyler/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanctyler/)
Connect with Mark McAllister on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mar-callister/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mar-callister/)
Learn more about BSM Partners: https://bsmpartners.net/ (https://bsmpartners.net/)
Learn more about Plug and Play Tech Center: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/ (https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/)
Check out Barking Mad's deep-dive into the Plug and Play Ecosystem here! (https://bsmpartners.net/the-pet-industry-podcast/from-seed-to-success-how-saeed-amidi-built-an-entrepreneurial-engine-in-silicon-valley)
Show Notes
00:00 - Welcome and Introduction
01:32 - Meet Co-Host Mark McAllister
04:58 - Meet Co-Host Jordan Tyler
06:21 - About Plug and Play
08:42 - About BSM Partners
09:52 - Building Ecosystems and the Inspiration Behind This Podcast
10:50 - What to Expect
14:06 - More On the Founders Who Will Be Featured
15:23 - Unique Startups, Unique Stories
18:03 - Stay Tuned Through June!
Who has been a guest on Founders in Focus
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Anna Agnello
Selçuk Uğurlu
Annette Graneli
Jonathan Willbanks
Dr Trish Jackson
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
3,475
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 22 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
18
Social presence
0
YouTube
68
Engagement
0
Contact Founders in Focus
Guest appearances
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