Founders in Focus

Meet the innovators behind Pointer Health, ChemCode, and Green-On—three startups currently involved in the Plug and Play AgTech and Animal Health accelerator program based out of Topeka, Kan. Anna Agnello of Pointer Health is building an AI platform that predicts over 170 diseases in dogs with 96% accuracy; Selçuk Uğurlu of ChemCode makes lab-quality mycotoxin testing as simple as brewing coffee; and Annette Graneli of Green-On is bypassing agriculture completely by making fats and oils from electricity, water, and CO2. From predicting disease in dogs to detecting toxins in food to creating sustainable ingredients from thin air, these founders are turning science fiction into commercial reality, using breakthrough technology to solve problems that affect millions of lives, both human and animal.

Helpful Links

Learn more about each of the three startups featured in this episode:

• Pointer Health 🐶 https://pointerhealth.com/
• ChemCode 🔬 https://chemcode.com.tr/en/home/
• Green-On 🌱 https://www.green-on.se/

Connect with Alan Millan, Selçuk Uğurlu and Annette Graneli on LinkedIn.

🎧 Hear more about the Plug and Play global ecosystem from Founder Saeed Amidi and the Plug and Play Topeka team in this episode of Barking Mad: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/from-seed-to-success-how-saeed-amidi-built-an-entrepreneurial-engine-in-silicon-valley

🚀 Learn more about the Plug and Play AgTech and Animal Health accelerator: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/locations/topeka

Joins us as we sit down with Jonathan Willbanks, Founder and CEO of Arterra Pet Science, to explore how one rescue dog inspired a movement to redefine pet supplements. Jonathan shares the science behind Arterra’s innovative approach, the hurdles of formulating a pet supplement, and the breakthroughs that made it all possible. Along the way, he offers candid insights on resilience, entrepreneurship, and why integrity is essential for long-term success. Whether you’re a pet owner, veterinary professional, or entrepreneur, this episode delivers practical lessons in science, longevity, and mission-driven leadership you won't want to miss.

Helpful Links

🐶 Learn more about Arterra Pet Science here.

📖 Read more about the cutting edge of canine longevity in Pet Food Processing magazine: https://www.petfoodprocessing.net/articles/18191-canine-longevity-emerges-as-next-frontier-in-pet-supplements

Check out Blockbuster, an award-winning podcast produced by Jonathan!

Meet the innovators behind Pointer Health, ChemCode, and Green-On—three startups currently involved in the Plug and Play AgTech and Animal Health accelerator program based out of Topeka, Kan. Anna Agnello of Pointer Health is building an AI platform that predicts over 170 diseases in dogs with 96% accuracy; Selçuk Uğurlu of ChemCode makes lab-quality mycotoxin testing as simple as brewing coffee; and Annette Graneli of Green-On is bypassing agriculture completely by making fats and oils from electricity, water, and CO2. From predicting disease in dogs to detecting toxins in food to creating sustainable ingredients from thin air, these founders are turning science fiction into commercial reality, using breakthrough technology to solve problems that affect millions of lives, both human and animal.

Helpful Links

🔸 Learn more about each of the three startups featured in this episode:

• Pointer Health 🐕 https://pointerhealth.com/
• ChemCode 🧪 https://chemcode.com.tr/en/home/
• Green-On 🌱 https://www.green-on.se/

🤝 Connect with Selçuk Uğurlu and Annette Graneli on LinkedIn.

🎧 Hear more about the Plug and Play global ecosystem from Founder Saeed Amidi and the Plug and Play Topeka team in this episode of Barking Mad: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/from-seed-to-success-how-saeed-amidi-built-an-entrepreneurial-engine-in-silicon-valley

🌐 Learn more about the Plug and Play AgTech and Animal Health accelerator: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/locations/topeka

Show Notes

00:18 – Welcome back to Season Two!

01:13 – Introducing our three founders and their startups

02:02 – Meet Anna Agnello of Pointer Health

06:49 – How Pointer Health works for pets and vets

10:06 – Building out the data with high accuracy

12:26 – Using data to support vets’ recommendations

14:59 – How to support Pointer Health

16:32 – Meet Selçuk Uğurlu of ChemCode

23:18 – Making mycotoxin detection accessible across the food chain

29:39 – Selçuk’s advice for other biotech entrepreneurs

31:06 – ChemCode’s priorities for support

33:26 – Meet Annette Graneli of Green-On

38:03 – Making food with water, CO2, and electricity

39:25 – Commercially validating this “power-to-X” tech

40:44 – Green-On’s primary target markets

42:15 – How a sustainable food startup measures success

44:23 – How Green-On has leverages Sweden’s startup ecosystem

46:06 – Annette’s advice for other founders

46:59 – How to support Green-On

47:47 – Today’s key takeaways

48:17 – Stay tuned for more startup stories!

In this episode of Founders in Focus, we pass the mic to three powerhouse mentors guiding the next generation of innovators in animal health, agtech, and pet nutrition. Recorded live at the Plug and Play Agtech and Animal Health June Expo in Topeka, Kansas, hear from Dr. Trish Jackson, Dr. Kevin Hahn, and Cole Ahlvers as they share candid advice on founder mindset, navigating regulation, understanding risk, and reading investor signals. From regenerative agriculture to veterinary care and pet food trends, their insights are as practical as they are thought-provoking. Whether you're building your first startup or mentoring one, this episode is packed with wisdom you won't find in a pitch deck!

Helpful Links

🔗 Learn more about Link Innovation Labs, a multi-use innovation space designed to support agtech, animal health, and deep-tech entrepreneurs: https://www.gotopeka.com/link-innovation-labs/

📺 Check out local news coverage of the Link Innovation Labs groundbreaking event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EmXSTbYpAY 

🐱 Explore some of the cat food innovations mentioned by Cole Ahlvers:

• Made by Nacho, a cat food brand by Chef Bobby Flay
• Petlibro Smart Feeder
• BistroCat Smart Feeder

🌱 Learn more about Soil Regen, a regenerative agriculture company mentioned by Dr. Trish Jackson in the episode: https://www.agsoilregen.com/

🤝 Connect with Dr. Trish Jackson, Dr. Kevin Hahn, and Cole Ahlvers on LinkedIn.

Show Notes

00:00 – Welcome back!

02:13 – Introducing the panel

04:21 – Ideas the needle in agtech and animal health

10:48 – True innovation vs chasing trends

13:11 – Balancing research needs with the breakneck pace of innovation

16:49 – What the industry has gotten wrong on sustainability

21:41 – Selling regenerative ag to farmers

23:52 – Hardest lessons learned in the startup ecosystem

29:29 – Common misconceptions for first-time founders

32:25 – Making data-driven decisions

34:11 – Strategic hiring tips

40:36 – The power of cross-industry collaboration

44:56 – If your career had a theme song…

47:10 – Wrap-up and stay tuned!

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/

🤝 Connect with Tracey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wiedmeyer/

📖 Read Paul Graham’s essay on “Schlep Blindness” here: 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/

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!

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/  

Learn more about Nataur: https://www.nataur.com/

Learn more about Medipups: https://medipups.com/about-us/

Read more about the Plug and Play Topeka June Expo: https://www.gotopeka.com/plug-and-play-expo/

Tune in to this Barking Mad episode about the Plug and Play Tech Center.

Connect with Barry McDonogh on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Daphne Preuss and Francesca Gallucci on LinkedIn 

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

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/

Get in touch with Preston Williams at [email protected]

Connect with Preston on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/preston-williams-01616840/

Tune in to this Barking Mad episode 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! 

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/  

Learn more about Nataur: https://www.nataur.com/

Learn more about Medipups: https://medipups.com/about-us/

Tune in to this Barking Mad episode about the Plug and Play Tech Center.

Connect with Barry McDonogh on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Daphne Preuss on LinkedIn

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!

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 and TruTag here

Learn more about A Song for Charlie: https://www.songforcharlie.org/

Learn more about Nataur: https://www.nataur.com/

Read more about the melamine recall of 2007: https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/melamine-pet-food-recall/

Learn more about Medipups: https://medipups.com/about-us/

Tune in to this Barking Mad episode about the Plug and Play Tech Center.

Connect with Barry McDonogh on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Daphne Preuss and Francesca Gallucci on LinkedIn

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!

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/

Connect with Mark McAllister on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mar-callister/

Learn more about BSM Partners: https://bsmpartners.net/

Learn more about Plug and Play Tech Center: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/

Check out Barking Mad's deep-dive into the Plug and Play Ecosystem here!

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!