Austin Barnes

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.

Recorded live at the Plug and Play Animal Health & AgTech Expo in Topeka, this episode continues Startland News' 12-part series on the founders transforming the future of animal health and agtech — and putting Topeka on the map as a national innovation hub.

Recorded live at the Plug and Play Animal Health & AgTech Expo in Topeka, this episode continues Startland News' 12-part series on the founders transforming the future of animal health and agtech — and putting Topeka on the map as a national innovation hub.

“This showcase is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when young people are empowered with the tools and mentorship to turn their ideas into action,” said Christina Hocker at Startland. An event Thursday brings together educators and entrepreneurs for a first-of-its-kind networking hour intended to encourage collaboration between founders and teachers.

From life-saving medical devices to unexpected innovations taking orbit, Engenious Design — a white label manufacturing and design firm headquartered in Prairie Village — might be Kansas City’s best-kept success story, teased Chris Justice, principal and CEO.

Hack Midwest previously inspired Ben Barreth in 2012 to launch Home for Hackers — formerly a KCK-based space that rented room to developers in the first house in the world to obtain Google Fiber. The idea-launching coding event returns this weekend.

“Although several companies are taking a similar tack to improving real estate maintenance, we’re proud of the unique approach, technology and user experience we’ve developed,” said Bo Lais, announcing the new funding.

Family man Brett Jackson wears his evolution as a serial entrepreneur as proudly as the Kansas City-love engraved on his line of custom leatherwork, hats and apparel, he said. And it all started with a surprise gift.

Overland Park-based SnapIT Solutions has expanded its promise to deliver high-quality technology job training and educational services into Wichita, Neelima Parasker said, detailing a new partnership between the information technology firm and Wichita State University.

A key lesson from her 40 years in business (at such behemoths as Frito Lay and PepsiCo): develop your startup in reality — not just a state of love for your own ideas, Sally Williams said. She’s now quietly passing her wisdom to a new generation of Kansas City founders.