Rooted and Reaching Start Up South Bend Elkhart

This week host Marty Mechtenberg and Susan Ford explore the fascinating world of food analytics with Rian McDonnell, Co-Founder of FloVision Solutions. Rian shares his journey from rural Ireland to establishing a cutting-edge company in the South Bend Elkhart region, focused on optimizing the food chain, particularly within the protein industry. He shares how FloVision Solutions employs AI and sensor technologies to improve yield, reduce waste, and enhance the overall quality control of food production.
Listen as Marty, Susan, and Rian discuss the broader implications of AI in food production, touching on sustainability, and optimizing limited resources.

QUOTES"A third of human climate impact comes from food in some way. Either food waste, food packaging, or food production.” -Rian McDonnell [07:45]

"FloVision Solutions uses AI and other sensors to measure yield, measure waste, and control quality to optimize the food chain.” -Rian McDonnell [17:04]

TIMESTAMPS
(03:42) AI-Driven Camera Systems for Food Production Efficiency
(05:23) Using Video Analysis to Reduce Food Waste in Cafeterias
(10:37) From Cafeterias to Protein Lines: A Startup's Journey
(15:30) The Evolution and Application of AI in Food Waste Management
(23:05) Navigating AI in Food Tech and Global Expansion
(31:14) Navigating Entrepreneurship with Support and Advice


RESOURCES
Rian McDonnell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rianmcdonnell 

CONTACT
Martin Mechtenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/ 
Susan Ford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-howard-ford-8446441/

This week host Marty Mechtenberg and Susan Ford talk with Richard Worsham, Co-Founder of Janus Motorcycles. Richard shares his journey Richard Worsham transitioned from architecture to designing custom motorcycles and founding Janus Motorcycles. He discusses the importance of relationships and the role of community and local resources in his entrepreneurial journey.
Marty, Susan, and, Richard discuss the evolution of Janus, from making custom mopeds to producing DOT-certified motorcycles, and the significance of maintaining a human connection in the digital age. 
 QUOTES
"Motorcycles serve humanity; they give control and agency back to the rider.” -Richard Worsham [26:42]“The most important thing you can do is develop connections with your customers.” -Richard Worsham [53:59]

TIMESTAMPS
(00:12) Richard Worsham's Entrepreneurial Journey with Janus Motorcycles
(06:35) Moped Army: From Fun Rides to Pushing Legal Boundaries
(16:03) Building Custom Mopeds and Motorcycles from Scratch
(25:43) The Unique Human Connection to Motorcycles and Mechanical Watches
(35:22) Launching a Unique Product with Organic Marketing and Local Support
(50:03) The Importance of Relationships in Business Success
(55:35) Advocating for Better Urbanism 






RESOURCES
Richard Worsham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardworsham/ 

CONTACT
Martin Mechtenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/ 
Susan Ford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-howard-ford-8446441/

This week host Marty Mechtenberg and Susan Ford talk with Mike Brown, Founder of SOULSTIR Publishing. Mike shares his remarkable journey from personal reflection during 2020’s challenges to the establishment of his publishing company. In sharing his family’s impactful story and his deep-rooted connections with Notre Dame, Mike reveals how he found his purpose and began to inspire others through empowering stories.
Listen this week as we explore the publishing industry, creative control, and the South Bend-Elkhart community’s schools and organizations. 
QUOTES
“I tried to figure out what I could do. What I learned through that process is that I'm an invigorating force. I bring a lot of energy to any room that I enter. I inspire people. I motivate people. So I decided to take what that meant, and it became something that stirs your soul.” -Mike Brown [02:18]

“Publishing, to me, still feels old-fashioned in a sense. I think it's easy to romanticize publishing. There's something about the craft of holding a book in your hands, the artwork, the design, and even the choices of the font in the book and the thickness of the pages.” -Mike Brown [19:08]



TIMESTAMPS
(00:12) Mike Brown's Journey to Founding SOULSTIR Publishing
(04:51) Honoring A Grandmother's Legacy Through Community Service And Storytelling
(16:02) The Journey of Self-Publishing and Building a Publishing Company
(31:57) Using Voices and Engagement to Enhance Children's Storytime
(34:23) Community Engagement and Collaboration in South Bend


RESOURCES
Mike Brown: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mb7231979/  

CONTACT
Martin Mechtenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/ 
Susan Ford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-howard-ford-8446441/

This week host Marty Mechtenberg and Susan Ford talk with Len Morris, CEO of Viewrail, a modern stair company in Goshen, Indiana. Len’s background is multifaceted, having once been a pastor, he transitioned into an entrepreneur and business leader in the South Bend-Elkhart region. He shares the core values of Viewrail and the pivotal moments that have shaped his entrepreneurial outlook. Len discusses the need for entrepreneurs to constantly iterate and solve real problems for customers, how culture and mission drive every aspect of business, and why continuous forward-thinking is necessary to maintain a competitive edge in the industry.
Listen this week as we discuss the impact of culture in business and celebrate the manufacturing prowess of the South Bend Elkhart region.
QUOTES
“Life is about leading people for me, and it's about seeing more in people than they probably see in themselves.” -Len Morris [03:16]

“If it is an organized system and somebody else has already figured it out, I'm probably not interested. I think if you really are an entrepreneur, you're probably not interested in systems that are already figured out.” -Len Morris [23:38]



TIMESTAMPS
(01:31) Cultivating Excellence and Nurturing Flourishing Cultures
(07:31) Customer Communication
(15:15) Innovating Beyond Established Margins to Solve Real Problems
(20:26) Fostering Entrepreneurial Success Through Community Support
(27:55) Celebrating Midwestern Manufacturing and Secondary Market Leadership


RESOURCES
Len Morris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenmorris/ 

CONTACT
Martin Mechtenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/ 
Susan Ford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-howard-ford-8446441/

This week host Marty Mechtenberg and Susan Ford sit down with Josh Rodgers from Mili Llama to dive into the entrepreneurial mindset transforming the educational landscape in the South Bend-Elkhart region of Indiana. With a focus on community-based solutions, Mili Llama aims to address the substitute teacher shortage by leveraging local talent. Josh Rodgers shares his moving story of crossing from the security of traditional employment to the unpredictable yet rewarding world of startups. 
Listen this week as we discuss the essence of entrepreneurship—the risks, the passion, and the unwavering belief in one's mission, proving that a tight-knit community and local engagement are key to any startup's success story.
QUOTES
“You get comfortable with receiving no. There comes a time when you receive so many nos that the flame dims in you. But when you receive that one yes, no matter how small it is, it means so much more because you've been told no 300 times.” -Josh Rodgers [08:12]
“Sometimes there's a high demand for things, but people don't want to plug the solution in, and that's the problem that we're having. Schools recognize this demand, this problem, and they want to find a solution, but they're dealing with a thousand other things at the same time.” -Josh Rodgers [18:02]



TIMESTAMPS
(03:39) Unveiling the Reality Behind Mili Llama
(07:45) Embracing Rejection on the Entrepreneurial Journey
(10:11) Cultivating Lasting Customer Relationships in Early Business Stages
(15:31) Localizing Education: South Bend's Untapped Talent
(23:33) Building Trust and Relationships in Educational Technology
(33:35) Embracing Community Diversity and Business Growth in South Bend


RESOURCES
Josh Rodgers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-rodgers-60aaaa82/ 

CONTACT
Martin Mechtenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/ 
Susan Ford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-howard-ford-8446441/

This week on the Rooted and Reaching podcast Marty Mechtenberg and Susan Ford are joined by a vibrant panel of entrepreneurs and startup founders at IDEA Week, a festival hosting business, technology, and entertainment events to inspire and further innovation in communities. Ray Fraser, Cofounder of Vital View Technologies, Riley Ellingsen, Cofounder of heARsight, Joshua Rodgers, Chief Growth Officer of Mili Llama, and Lynn Greenberg, Founder, and CEO of Pivt, share their unique paths to entrepreneurship. They impart critical lessons on identifying the right time to raise capital and share how startups can utilize resources by leveraging personal and community connections. 
Listen this week as we dive deep into the world of startups and fundraising with industry experts pushing the boundaries of innovation in the South Bend Elkhart region.


QUOTES"Knowing what you don't know is one of the biggest strengths you can have as being a founder." -Lynn Greenberg

“ I think everyone on the stage has to deal with a little bit of chaos in the startup community. So I want the chaos, I want the loudness, I want the unknown.” -Josh Rodgers



TIMESTAMPS
(00:24) Panel Introduction and Backgrounds
(02:54) Learning from Startup Challenges
(04:07) Recommended Books for Startup Leaders
(07:15) Finding the Path to Startup Leadership
(12:43) Positioning for Fundraising and Closing Rounds
(18:50) Avoiding Time Wasters During Fundraising
(25:22) Current Market Challenges in Fundraising
(28:02) Advice for Individuals Starting to Raise Funds
(35:01) Metrics for Gauging Venture Funding Needs



RESOURCES
IDEA Week: https://ideaweek.com/ 


CONTACT
Martin Mechtenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/ 
Susan Ford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-howard-ford-8446441/