Rooted and Reaching

Graphic designer Valerie Jairosi never set out to call herself an entrepreneur. Raised in Zimbabwe in a family of business builders, a mother who ran a successful wedding consulting business and a father who pioneered geographic information systems in their home country, she absorbed the rhythms of building something from nothing long before she had a word for it. In this impromptu Idea Week 2026...

Recorded live during Idea Week, this quick-hit conversation on Rooted & Reaching features Margaret Nanyombi, Founder of Money Movers, a board game built to teach entrepreneurs the real mechanics of fundraising. Originally from Uganda, Margaret moved to the U.S. in 2024 to pursue a Master of Science in Engineering, Science and Excellence through the STEAM program, graduating in 2025. With over...

Recorded live during IDEA Week, this episode of Rooted & Reaching brings host Marty Mechtenberg together with Logan Herzog, Executive Director of RISE, for a fast, candid conversation about what makes the South Bend Elkhart region one of the most welcoming entrepreneurship communities anywhere. Logan spent eight years running growth for early-stage startups around the world, working with start...

Recorded live during Idea Week, this episode of Rooted & Reaching brings host Marty Mechtenberg together with Joseph McKeirnan, Founder of Tingaponics, for a fast, candid conversation about the future of indoor vertical farming. Joseph is building a growing system that blends the affordability of hydroponics with the efficiency of aeroponics, a hybrid approach he named for the Greek word "ting...

Recorded at Idea Week 2026 in South Bend, this episode of Rooted & Reaching brings host Kris Priemer together with Priscilla Loomis, a former Olympian and entrepreneur whose career has been defined by grit, persistence, and resilience. With a background in television and film, Priscilla transitioned into entrepreneurship after retiring from the Olympics, focusing on storytelling, media, and bu...

When Rebecca Rogers started making videos during pandemic lockdowns, she had one goal: getting her students to turn their cameras on during online learning. She had no idea you could earn money on social media, no plan beyond connecting with the kids in her classroom, and no expectation that anyone else would ever watch. Today, that former social studies teacher reaches millions of students online...

Recorded during IDEA Week, this special episode of Rooted & Reaching brings host Kris Priemer together with Nate Spangle, an Indianapolis-based entrepreneur and content creator known as a passionate advocate for Indiana and its small cities. After dabbling in various ventures, including e-commerce and real estate, Nate found his stride in media and content creation, and in this conversation, h...

Muralist and curator Alex Ann Allen shares the story of quitting his factory job to pursue art full-time, growing from zero murals to over 120 across Indiana. In this conversation, Alex opens up about the discipline of creative entrepreneurship, the business of pricing murals, founding the Mural Mania festival, and why inspiring the next generation of artists matters most. Key Takeaways: ● You don...

In this episode of Rooted & Reaching, Marty speaks with Aiye Akhigbe, founder and owner of Sticky Spoons LLC. What began as a personal mission to create healthier, homemade food for her children, rather than relying on commercial baby food, Aiye's idea quickly evolved into something much bigger. In this episode, Aiye talks about her journey from making small batches of baby food to developing...

In this episode of Rooted & Reaching, Marty speaks with Ujaswin Jain, founder of NutriPop, to discuss Jain’s entrepreneurial journey of bringing a beloved Indian snack, popped water lily seeds, to health-conscious snackers in America. Ujaswin opens up about how his own fitness and nutrition journey sparked the idea to create a snack that hits all the cravings without the guilt. He shares what...

In this episode of Rooted & Reaching, Marty speaks with Kris Priemer, a visionary entrepreneur whose passion for building community has helped shape South Bend’s entrepreneurial scene. Kris shares the story of his career journey and how it led to the creation of Momentum, a dynamic space designed to bring innovators and creators together. They talk about the challenges he faced along the way,...

In this episode of Rooted & Reaching, Marty speaks with Ryan Blake, co-founder of Purely Press Organic, a local juicery that has grown dramatically since its early days. Marty and Ryan discuss the power of adaptability and innovation, especially in responding to shifting market trends and consumer needs. They explore what drew Ryan and his wife into the organic food industry, the role of commu...

In this episode of Rooted & Reaching, Marty speaks with serial entrepreneur John Nunemaker, Partner at Fireside.fm, to explore the winding path of building meaningful work. John shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey and the role he’s played in shaping the startup ecosystem across the South Bend and Elkhart communities. Their conversation touches on the importance of flexibility, cur...

In this episode of Rooted & Reaching, Marty sits down with Allie Shook, Executive Director of the Marshall County Lifelong Learning Network, for a thoughtful conversation about learning, work, and opportunity in rural Indiana. Allie shares her personal journey and the realities of strengthening educational pathways that serve both young people and adults as they build skills for today’s workfo...

This week, we sit down with Sunjay Agtey, Vice President of Revenue and Alliances at Nimbello, to explore the evolving landscape of modern business. We dive into the story behind Nimbello, a fintech startup rooted in South Bend, Indiana, and hear how Sunjay teamed up with his father to bring innovative solutions to life.  Sunjay shares his insights on accounts payable automation and how techn...

In this episode of Rooted and Reaching , we sit down with David Sims, the creative mind behind Smart Drain Pro, a breakthrough device that automates the draining of hot water heaters. Our conversation explores how a simple yet powerful idea can transform the way we care for our homes. David shares the often-overlooked truth about sediment buildup in water heaters, how it quietly affects efficiency...

This week, we explore the groundbreaking work of Dr. Tod Stillson, founder of ChatRx, an AI-powered telemedicine platform designed to transform how patients receive care. ChatRx offers a “doctor in your pocket” experience, enabling patients to get fast, reliable treatment through a simple chat interface, without the hassle of scheduling appointments. Drawing on his years as a rural family physicia...

Chad Mastagh, founder of Rides2U, joins us to share the story behind building a rideshare service tailored specifically for the South Bend–Elkhart region. Chad reveals how community trust and genuine relationships form the backbone of his entrepreneurial philosophy, and how these values shaped every aspect of his business. From his beginnings as a firefighter to becoming a trailblazing entrepreneu...

Originally inspired by the urgent need to protect schools during active shooter situations, Nick Ackerman and Adam Toland developed Door Blockade, a smart secondary security device designed to enhance safety in schools, hospitals, childcare centers, homes, and more. This week, we discuss how their mission has evolved to serve a wider range of vulnerable environments and dive into their entrepreneu...

This week on Rooted and Reaching, we’re diving into a conversation that hits close to home for so many entrepreneurs: stress management and burnout prevention. Joining us is Andie Hines-Lagemann, a trusted guide in emotional intelligence and a resource connector at Elevate Ventures. Entrepreneurship comes with incredible highs, but also real challenges that can take a toll if we’re not careful. Th...

Welcome to season three of Rooted and Reaching , where we talk with dreamers, doers, and difference makers building an innovative future right here in the South Bend-Elkhart region. This week, we sit down with Milad Alucozai—neuroscientist, serial entrepreneur, and proud Indiana native—to explore how deep local roots can spark big innovation. Milad shares his journey from South Bend to Silicon Val...

In this episode of Rooted and Reaching, we sit down with Max Yoder, co-founder of Lessonly and author of the book ‘Do Better Work.' Our conversation centers on the power of communication in teams, especially Max’s idea of “sharing before you’re ready,” a practice that encourages early feedback and deeper collaboration during the creative process. Max reflects on his journey of growing a small star...

We're speaking with Gage Bagwell, CEO and Automation Engineer at Innovated Manufacturing this week. Gage shares his inspiring journey of turning a simple idea into a thriving business aimed at helping those with limited mobility. Gage shares how his team developed an innovative arm-assisted rifle mount to support a quadriplegic boy earning his shooting badge at Boy Scouts, highlighting the company...

This week we speak with Niles Mat, Co-founder of the innovative health app Zahra, a platform tailored specifically for Muslim women's health needs. With features like cycle tracking, an Islamic calendar, and a community forum, Zahra aims to bridge the cultural and health education gap for women in the Middle East and beyond. Niles shares her experiences in fundraising, the importance of anonymity...

This week we speak with Tae’Lor Lake, Founder of Trophy Details. Tae’Lor shares her journey as a young entrepreneur and the innovative approach she brings to the mobile car wash industry. With a focus on convenience, Trophy Details provides high-quality detailing services directly to clients, freeing them from the hassle of traditional car washes. Tae’Lor discusses the inspiration behind her busin...