Batch startups in the agtech, animal health, food safety packaging and defense industries have completed participation in Topeka's nine-month Plug and Play program.

More than a dozen startups from around the world — including companies from Canada, Switzerland, Germany and across the United States — are seeking partners, customers and investors as they scale.

The companies share solutions in sustainable packaging, pet health, AI-driven agriculture, diagnostics and more.

What does the nine-month program entail?

The goal of the program is to help the early stage, startup teams connect with resources, mentors and partners to help commercialize their technologies faster.

Lindsay Lebahn, executive director of Plug and Play Topeka, said the program aims to make it as difficult as possible for these startups to fail. Among the assistance is providing resources like new lab space.

The startups have worked with experts and corporate partners for mentorship opportunities and have collaborated on technology validation projects with Kansas State University.

"I think what we've done really well now in engaging the ecosystem at the beginning of the program, and so it's led to a lot more collaboration within the region," said Lebahn. "So, more startups are coming in and they're really able to get an experience when they're here because they've already made those connections to the K-States of the world.

"To the mentors that they've gotten to know through the program. Now they get to see them here, and it's not just meeting them at the end of the program at the expo."

Providing guidance through the program

Sebastian Doyle, owner of MediPups, said he has scaled multiple companies to high revenues, but faced issues with relying on third-party logistics and manufacturing. To address this, he built his own manufacturing and shipping facility to have more control over the scaling process.

Medipups is a dog supplement manufacturer using drug-free, medical-grade, natural ingredients. It offers supplements targeted for specific issues including joint care, skin and coat, digestive health and anxiety relief.

"And being a startup, studies like that cost a lot of money," Doyle said. "For me to just go out and start going to a lab and ask them to do an analysis on my products is very expensive. So, in the program they helped us with Go Topeka and they gave us access to K State and their labs who did an analysis.

"What they did was 127 pages per study, which was just unbelievable. So they and I read the studies. They validated the products, the ingredients ... they're actually validating what we've put all our sweat and blood into."

Katelijne Bekers, MicroHarvest co-founder and CEO, said the program allowed for mentorship that was tailored to her company's specific needs.

MicroHarvest is a biotech developer of alternative protein, based out of Germany. The company uses the power of microorganisms to produce nutritious, sustainable proteins that can be used in pet foods and treats, as well as aquaculture feed and human food.

"So that really can give you a lot of insights on product market fit and other questions around the products that you have by now," Bekers said. "Also, we're also looking for partnerships, etc. So that's also the network that they have is also really valuable."

What startup companies participated?

Stephanie Moran, senior vice president of innovation at The Greater Topeka Partnership, said the 10 companies that completed the program are typically in their early development phase.

"So connecting with partners who can help them move that technology forward is kind of a key component for them right now," said Moran.