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 five years of entrepreneurship experience spanning ecosystems in Uganda, the U.S., and Chile, she brings a rare, cross-continental view of what it actually takes to fund and grow a startup.Margaret walks through how a familiar problem sparked the idea: most startups fail because they run out of money, and financial jargon keeps too many founders in the dark. Working alongside colleagues at her current role with EnFocus, she set out to turn a dense funding curriculum into something practical and playable. The result is Money Movers, a group game that moves players from the pre-seed stage through seed and Series A, letting them weigh investment offers, trade equity for capital, and make strategic decisions in a risk-free environment.The conversation covers where the idea came from, who the game serves best, and why gamifying financial education works when a classroom often falls flat. Margaret also shares hard-won advice for anyone hesitating to launch, along with what South Bend's willingness to share has meant to her own journey. It is a warm, energizing look at building something useful and doing it fast.Key Takeaways:● There's never a right time to start. Margaret and her team built an MVP in under a year by choosing to begin rather than wait for perfect conditions.● Most startups fail because they run out of money. Money Movers exists to close the funding-literacy gap that trips up so many founders.● Learning by doing beats memorizing jargon. Playing through the pre-seed, seed, and Series A stages makes abstract terminology concrete.● Strategy is the heart of the game. Players decide how much control to give up for how much capital, mirroring real equity and valuation trade-offs.● The game serves more than solo founders. Entrepreneur support organizations, classrooms, and investors all benefit from playing in a group setting.● Fail fast and pivot. Margaret's approach is to learn quickly, fail quickly, and adjust rather than stall out of fear.● Community accelerates growth. In South Bend, people are willing to share and advise, which helped Margaret improve as she built.Resources Mentioned:● Proof of Concept Fund, a micro-grant fund from Startup South Bend Elkhart: https://www.startupsouthbendelkhart.com● EnFocus: https://www.en-focus.org/● Idea Week: https://ideaweek.com/● World Health Summit: https://www.worldhealthsummit.org/Connect:● Rooted & Reaching Podcast: https://www.southbendelkhart.org● Host: Marty Mechtenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/● Guest: Margaret Nanyombi, Founder of Money Movers, https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-nanyombi/#RootedAndReaching #SouthBend #CreativeEntrepreneur #CommunityBuilding #Elkhart #Entrepreneurship #IdeaWeek #Startups #Fundraising #MoneyMovers #EdTech #BoardGames #SupportLocalEntrepreneurs

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 startup communities in roughly 20 countries, and he does not hedge his conclusion: relative to those places, he has never been in a more open, accessible, and competent entrepreneurship community.At RISE, Logan leads an organization built to empower emerging entrepreneurs. Its primary program, Startup Moxie, is a dual-credit high school program that builds real startups with 60 students across 23 startups this year. Logan explains what actually changes for those young builders over the course of the program: the growing confidence that they can build, and the assurance that the community will welcome them when they do. He argues that progress should be measured relative to each person, whether that means chasing serious revenue or, for a reserved student, launching Instagram Lives with local bands as a first step toward a podcast.The conversation also digs into what genuinely moves the needle for early-stage founders. Logan's hot take: at the earliest stage, access to capital matters far less than access to the information needed to take action and generate revenue now. He makes the case for go-to-market education over grant chasing, celebrates the bootstrap DNA of the region, and reframes mentorship around finding the person just a few years ahead of you rather than waiting decades to give back.Key Takeaways:● Michiana punches above its weight. After working with startup communities in roughly 20 countries, Logan calls this the most open entrepreneurship community he has ever experienced, warm, accessible, and competent, with very little gatekeeping.● Young people deserve a seat at the table. Startup Moxie proves high schoolers can build real startups, with 60 students across 23 startups this year.● Confidence and welcome are the real outcomes. The biggest shifts Logan sees in students are the belief that they can build and the assurance that the community will receive them when they do.● Measure relative progress, not one universal goal. Success looks different for every founder, from maximizing revenue to a reserved student launching Instagram Lives with local bands.● Education beats capital at the earliest stage. Logan's view is that go-to-market knowledge and revenue generation matter more than chasing grants that can cost more time than they return.● Bootstrapping is a transferable skill. Learning to generate your own capital in a region without abundant investment funding is a capability you carry anywhere.● Find the mentor just ahead of you. Someone a few years down the road can answer granular, in-the-arena questions that a 20-year veteran may have forgotten.● Give back along the way. You provide far more value than you realize by mentoring early rather than waiting for later years.Resources Mentioned:● RISE, an organization empowering emerging entrepreneurs: https://raisingtheregion.org/● Startup Moxie, RISE's dual-credit high school startup program: https://raisingtheregion.org/startup-moxie/● IDEA Week, the regional entrepreneurship event where this episode was recorded: https://IDEAweek.com/● Proof of Concept Fund, a micro-grant fund from Startup South Bend Elkhart offering equity-free grants of up to $5,000: https://www.startupsouthbendelkhart.comConnect:● Rooted & Reaching Podcast: https://www.southbendelkhart.org● Host: Marty Mechtenberg, https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/● Guest: Logan Herzog, https://www.linkedin.com/in/logan-herzog-6526b09a/#RootedAndReaching #SouthBend #CreativeEntrepreneur #CommunityBuilding #Elkhart #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #StartupMoxie #IDEAWeek #RISE #YouthEntrepreneurship #Michiana #Bootstrapping #Mentorship

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 "tingo," meaning dip. The result is a method that dips plant roots in nutrient-rich water and then raises them back into the air, aiming to outperform existing systems on both yield and operational efficiency.Joseph traces the roots of the idea back to the small family wheat farm in Washington where he grew up, and to the mechanical engineering and management training he later brought to the problem. With farms facing foreclosure pressure, rising fertilizer costs, and produce prices climbing at the grocery store, he sees vertical farming as a timely opening. His goal is a fully automated product that serves both everyday consumers and commercial operators: plant a seed, plug it in, and let the system handle watering, lighting, and nutrients.The conversation also turns to the entrepreneurial ecosystem that helped a self-described very new founder get off the ground. Joseph reflects on how accessible and well-connected the South Bend Elkhart region has been, from grant funding that supported his prototype to the mentorship and financial backing that first-time entrepreneurs so often lack. His advice for the next builder with half an idea is simple and hard-won: build your team, seek out the support that is already there, and do not be afraid to fail.Key Takeaways:● Tingaponics is a hybrid system that combines hydroponics and aeroponics, dipping roots in water and raising them into the air to capture the strengths of both methods.● Vertical farming is the broad category of growing produce in a controlled environment; hydroponics is one form of it, which is why all hydroponics is vertical farming but not all vertical farming is hydroponics.● Hydroponics is cost-effective and beginner-friendly, while aeroponics grows plants faster but costs more and demands more maintenance. Tingaponics aims to blend the best of both.● Real market pain points drive the design: customers said they lacked a green thumb, the time, energy, or money to grow plants, and a way to keep plants alive while traveling.● The product is designed for both consumers and businesses, with a fully automated, plug-it-in experience that handles watering, lighting, and nutrients.● Startups often fail from a lack of money, support, or mentorship, and Joseph found all three in the South Bend Elkhart region.● For new founders: build and find your team, seek out the support that already exists, and do not be afraid to fail.Resources Mentioned:● Proof of Concept Fund, a micro-grant program from Startup South Bend Elkhart offering equity-free grants of up to $5,000 to early-stage entrepreneurs● Startup South Bend Elkhart● South Bend Elkhart Regional Partnership● Indiana Small Business Development Center● The Awesome Foundation● McCloskey Venture● Idea Week 2026Connect:● Rooted & Reaching Podcast: https://www.southbendelkhart.org● Host: Marty Mechtenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/ ● Guest: Joseph McKeirnan, https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-mckeirnan/#RootedAndReaching #SouthBend #CreativeEntrepreneur #CommunityBuilding #Elkhart #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #VerticalFarming #Agriculture #Hydroponics #IdeaWeek #Startups #Sustainability

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 building her own ventures. In this conversation, she traces the winding path from a childhood lawn-mowing business to competing on the world's biggest stage to building a motivational speaking career and nonprofit from the ground up.Priscilla opens up about the parts of entrepreneurship most people never talk about: failing at multiple nine-to-five jobs, hearing "this is going to fail" from the very people she asked for help, and learning the hard way that ideas are a dime a dozen while execution is everything. She explains how she applies the Olympic discipline of training backwards from a fixed deadline to running a business, why she refuses to block her blessings, and how knowing her lane, staying creative in Canva while hiring out the taxes, kept her moving when things got hard.This is a candid, funny, and deeply practical conversation about resilience for anyone building something of their own. Whether you are a creative, a founder, or a community builder in Michiana and beyond, Priscilla's message lands: expect the no's, protect your boundaries, get in new rooms, and keep going, because you are only one yes away.Key Takeaways:● Ideas are a dime a dozen. Everyone has an idea; the real work is execution and planning, and Priscilla admits she "was not ready" and "was not prepared" when she started.● Train backwards from the deadline. The Olympics taught Priscilla to set a fixed goal and reverse-engineer the plan yearly, quarterly, monthly, and weekly, adjusting for setbacks while still executing toward the target.● Know your lane and hire out the rest. Priscilla leans into her creative strengths and refuses to do her own taxes, a lesson Kris echoes after doing his books manually in Excel for years before switching to QuickBooks.● Be ready for the blessing you asked for. As a mentor reminded Kris, if there is no real problem and everything is going well, you asked for a full plate and you got it, so be prepared to carry it.● Boundaries are non-negotiable. Athletes have to be "selfish" about their mindset, body, and time, and Priscilla brings that same protective discipline to family, friends, and business.● Know the difference between a mentor, an advisor, and a coach. A mentor supports you, an advisor pushes you to go, and a coach holds you accountable even when it is uncomfortable.● Get in new rooms. Growth requires meeting new people in new places; staying in your bubble means nothing grows.● Expect the no's. Priscilla has been told no many times, which she reads as a sign her asks are big, and reminds entrepreneurs that when people do not see your value, it does not lessen your value, you are just in the wrong room.● You are one yes away. Resilience and persistence are the throughline from the track to entrepreneurship: "I can fail 10,000 times and I will, then 10,001, I will get it."Connect:● Rooted & Reaching Podcast: https://www.southbendelkhart.org ● Host: Kris Priemer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopherpriemer/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristopherpriemerYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCL3lsN7A878BtyvR5Y1xQLw ● Guest: Priscilla Loomis, Former Olympian and Entrepreneur - [LinkedIn TK]Website: https://priscillaloomis.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priscilla-loomis-oly/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/priscilla_frederick/#RootedAndReaching #SouthBend #CreativeEntrepreneur #CommunityBuilding #IdeaWeek #Olympian #Resilience #Entrepreneurship #MotivationalSpeaker #Michiana #Elkhart #Grit #StartupSouthBendElkhart

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. In this Idea Week 2026 conversation, host Kris Priemer sits down with Rebecca, a Content Creator and former classroom teacher, for an unfiltered talk about the winding road from the trenches of teaching to a thriving creative career.Rebecca is a former classroom teacher who transitioned into content creation. Though no longer teaching in a traditional classroom, she continues to inspire millions of students through online platforms. In this episode, she opens up about the moment a monetization dispute with her county pushed her to put in her notice with no safety net, only to receive a life-changing YouTube shorts bonus the very next week. She unpacks the entrepreneurial mindset she never had a word for, why she refuses to tell current teachers how to teach, and how she engineers a daily content strategy where every post serves a distinct purpose.The conversation moves from laughter over rosé chai and unread text messages to genuinely moving territory, as Rebecca shares why she chose to be publicly open about surviving domestic violence and divorce. What began as personal catharsis became a mission when a younger cousin recognized her own bad situation after hearing Rebecca speak. It is a warm, story-driven look at reinvention, reliability, community, and the courage to talk about the things most people keep private.Key Takeaways:● You don't need to know the destination to leave. Rebecca put in her notice with no concrete plan, assuming she would land an ed tech job, then discovered a week later she could support herself through her content.● Respect the work you left behind. Rebecca refuses to coach current teachers on classroom methods because the education climate changes drastically every year, and anyone out of the room simply cannot know what it is like now.● Reliability is a superpower. Whether it is a friend needing help rescuing dogs abroad or a professional deadline, showing up when you say you will is what builds trust and opportunity.● Every piece of content should have a purpose. Rebecca posts several pieces a day, each with a distinct goal: reposts of proven winners for guaranteed reach, podcast clips to drive longer views, lifestyle skits for the core audience, and question posts to show personality.● Solving problems is the throughline. What looked like being a natural teacher and "mom friend" was really an entrepreneurial instinct to make plans, handle crises, and find the way forward.● Vulnerability can change lives. By speaking openly about her divorce and surviving abuse, Rebecca has helped others recognize warning signs, proving that normalizing hard conversations matters more than protecting privacy for its own sake.● Community sustains a creative career. In the social media world, the people who succeed tend to be the ones who show up for each other, even when they only connect once a year.Connect:● Rooted & Reaching Podcast: https://www.southbendelkhart.org● Host: Kris Priemer, https://www.instagram.com/kristopherpriemer, ● Guest: Rebecca Rogers, Content Creator https://www.youtube.com/@Rebecca.Rogers #RootedAndReaching #SouthBend #CreativeEntrepreneur #CommunityBuilding #IdeaWeek #ContentCreator #Teachers #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #SocialMedia #Michiana #Reinvention

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, he explains how storytelling, energy, and relentless consistency turned a personality-driven Instagram presence into a full-blown media company covering the state.Nate opens up about the mindset shift that changed everything: the day a friend quoted Scott Welch's line, "dabblers die," and named him "Exhibit A." That wake-up call pushed Nate to stop hedging with side hustles and pour his whole heart into a business where his skill set finally matched the work. He and Kris trade honest notes on first-time leadership, decision fatigue, the loneliness of building without investors, and why "time to friendship" matters as much as time to revenue when you're trying to convince founders and families to plant roots in Indiana.From the data-driven Monday meetings that track every newsletter and follower to the "bulk and cut" strategy behind launching new publications, Nate offers a candid look at the discipline underneath the energy. This is a story about grit, community, and the belief that you can build something meaningful right where you are.Key Takeaways:● Dabblers die. Nate spent years treating ventures as side hustles with an arm's length of protection, until he committed fully to media and content and found the work that matched his skills.● Grow where you're planted. Rather than chase mountains or coastlines, Nate built roots in Indiana and became a tour guide for the people, history, and makers of small cities.● Relevancy is the currency. In a media business built on eyeballs, staying relevant means being chronically online and knowing how to insert yourself authentically into the news that matters.● Distribution is a craft, not an afterthought. Nate studies what modern brands like Morning Brew and Barstool are doing, then adapts their delivery methods for an Indiana niche and tracks the results every week.● Transparency builds trust with a team. As a first-time manager, Nate tells his team plainly what he is still learning and invites feedback, leaning on informal mentors for the rest.● Nate isn't scalable, so the platform is. The goal is to give other creators a voice, because "my Indiana's not your Indiana," and audiences want to see people who share their experience.● Friendship is the missing piece of relocation. Funding and space aren't enough; people move when they believe they'll have someone to watch the game with on Saturday.● Celebrate the wins authentically. It's easy to keep raising the bar, but Nate is learning to slow down, recognize the team, and find satisfaction in how far the work has already come.Resources Mentioned:● Proof of Concept Fund from Startup South Bend Elkhart: https://www.startupsouthbendelkhart.comConnect:● Rooted & Reaching Podcast: https://www.southbendelkhart.org● Host: Kris PriemerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopherpriemer/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristopherpriemer● Guest: Nate Spangle -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-spangle/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natespangle/#RootedAndReaching #SouthBend #CreativeEntrepreneur #CommunityBuilding #Indiana #Entrepreneurship #ContentCreation #MediaCompany #IdeaWeek #SmallBusiness #GrowWhereYourePlanted

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't need permission to start. Alex had never painted a mural before his first commission, but he walked into it with guts and figured it out on the wall.● Planning makes the leap possible. Before going full-time, Alex journaled budgets and saved six months of expenses to create a financial runway for his creative career.● Preparation is the real work. Up to 70% of a mural project happens before the artist ever touches the wall, a reality most people never see.● Versatility keeps the work alive. Shifting between geometric, floral, portrait, and other styles prevents burnout and serves a wider range of client needs.● Community accelerates growth. A group text with 15 fellow muralists, supportive clients, and mentors who appeared along the way have been essential to Alex's development as both an artist and a business owner.● Pricing evolves with your portfolio. Alex charges by square footage with a minimum rate, a practice that protects his time and attracts the right clients.● Showing the process builds the brand. Sharing behind-the-scenes reels of mural creation draws more engagement than posting finished work alone.● The starving artist myth needs to end. Alex is proof that a creative career is financially viable with discipline, planning, and business sense.Chapters:● 00:00 - Meet Alex Ann Allen: Full-Time Muralist and Curator● 01:05 - From Factory Work to Following a Passion● 03:31 - The First Mural and Falling in Love with Large-Scale Art● 06:15 - Artistic Evolution: Geometrics, Florals, and Beyond● 09:20 - The Business of Murals: Pricing, Clients, and Discipline● 14:06 - Sacrifice, Preparation, and the 70% Nobody Sees● 17:10 - The South Bend Museum of Art and the Transitory Nature of Murals● 22:37 - Mural Mania: Building a Festival from Scratch● 31:13 - Advice for Aspiring Creatives and Inspiring the Next GenerationGuest Info:Alex Ann Allen● Full-time muralist, curator, and creative entrepreneur● Based in South Bend, Indiana● Founder and curator of Mural Mania, an annual mural festival in South Bend (entering its 5th year)● Over 120 indoor and outdoor murals completed across Indiana● Currently co-project managing a new mini mural festival in La Porte, Indiana with the Lubeznik Center for the ArtsResources Mentioned:● Mural Mania Festival: July 29 through August 2 (Year 5, South Bend)● Lubeznik Center for the Arts, La Porte, Indiana: www.lubeznikcenter.org● Indy Arts Council: www.indyarts.org● South Bend Museum of Art: www.southbendart.org● DTSB (Downtown South Bend): www.dtsb.com● Splice (video editing app for reels): www.spliceapp.com● Cameron Moberg, curator from Rensselaer who inspired the Mural Mania concept● J2 Marketing, South Bend (Alex's first mural commission)Connect:● Rooted & Reaching Podcast: www.southbendelkhart.org● Host: Marty Mechtenberg#RootedAndReaching #SouthBend #Elkhart #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #SmallBusiness #MuralMania #PublicArt #Murals #CreativeEntrepreneur #SouthBendArt #SupportLocalArtists #CommunityArtMentioned in this episode:Proof of Concept Funding for South Bend & Elkhart RegionProof of Concept Fund

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 a full line of handcrafted jams made with simple, real ingredients, fruit, sugar, and time-honored recipes, without fillers or preservatives. Marty and Aiye, talk about the power of community, the importance of staying true to your values, and the resilience it takes to grow a brand. RESOURCESSticky Spoons Jam: https://stickyspoonsjam.com/ CONTACTMartin Mechtenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/ Mentioned in this episode:Proof of Concept Funding for South Bend & Elkhart RegionProof of Concept Fund

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 it was like leaving his corporate data analyst job, stepping out of his comfort zone, and chasing a dream that seemed impossible at times.They also dive into what makes NutriPop special, its nutrient-packed profile, the fun of introducing something totally new, and the clever marketing moves that help it stand out in a crowded snack world.RESOURCESNutriPop: https://snacknutripop.com/ CONTACTMartin Mechtenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/ Mentioned in this episode:Proof of Concept Funding for South Bend & Elkhart RegionProof of Concept Fund

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, the wins that made it worthwhile, and why collaboration and community are at the heart of every successful venture.Kris shares why creating inspiring spaces matters and how nurturing talent can spark long-term innovation across an entire region.RESOURCESMomentum: https://momentumsb.com/CONTACTMartin Mechtenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/Mentioned in this episode:Proof of Concept Funding for South Bend & Elkhart RegionProof of Concept Fund