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!