The Mentor Effect: Hard Truths and High Impact Advice for Founders

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 FlayPetlibro Smart FeederBistroCat 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 Notes00:00 – Welcome back!02:13 – Introducing the panel04:21 – Ideas the needle in agtech and animal health10:48 – True innovation vs chasing trends13:11 – Balancing research needs with the breakneck pace of innovation16:49 – What the industry has gotten wrong on sustainability21:41 – Selling regenerative ag to farmers23:52 – Hardest lessons learned in the startup ecosystem29:29 – Common misconceptions for first-time founders32:25 – Making data-driven decisions34:11 – Strategic hiring tips40:36 – The power of cross-industry collaboration44:56 – If your career had a theme song…47:10 – Wrap-up and stay tuned!