Episode 7

full
Published on:

18th May 2023

Entrepreneurship, Giving Back, And Using AI In Coding with Alex Sejdinaj

This week hosts Nick Kuhn and Bethany Hartley talk with Alex Sejdinaj, Co-founder of Code Works, a digital product studio based in South Bend that designs and develops tech solutions for clients with digital needs. Alex talks about the importance of tech literacy and how it gave her the skills to start her own business. She shares how Code Works is offering coding classes, internships, and other resources to the community, as well as the Give Grove initiative, which matches local volunteers with nonprofits to help them reach their goals.

QUOTES

  • “Anyone can learn how to code. We have had students of all ages as young as three. We've had a woman in her 70s learning how to code with us. So I think that there's not one particular type of person who's going to be good at coding. A lot of times I think we think, if we aren’t good at math, then we probably can't code. That is the furthest thing from the truth because there are so many different languages out there.“ -Alex Sejdinaj [07:51]
  • “A lot of things can be really cumbersome if you're a small organization and part of a small team. With Give Grove, we've made it really affordable with no contracts and no hidden fees. We don't make money until you make money. So it makes it a lot easier for organizations of all sizes, to be able to just test out ideas for fundraising to benefit their works.” -Alex Sejdinaj [11:21]

TIMESTAMPS

02:55 Alex’s Journey from Pre-Med to Co-Founding South Bank Code School

07:22 Innovating During the Pandemic

09:26 Code Works, Give Grove, and the Digital Storefront Grant Program

13:18 Exploring the Benefits of Chat GPT for Small Businesses





RESOURCES

Code Works

Give Grove


CONTACT

Nick Kuhn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kuhnnick/ 

Bethany Hartley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethanyhartley/

Alex Sejdinaj: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-sejdinaj-205aa26a/

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About the Podcast

Rooted and Reaching
Stories about local Startups and Founders in South Bend and Elkhart
There’s a job to do, and in the South Bend - Elkhart region, a midwestern work ethic is changing the narrative from rusty to ready. Our cities are opening up and working together as a region—universities are engaging beyond their campuses, sharing their brainpower and realizing that they’re bigger and better with the community behind them. Organizations are reaching out to newcomers and helping them build local networks, leveling the playing field. Infrastructure is being creatively adapted to be gathering places where new deals are made, new collisions happen, and new entrepreneurs take root. Join the Rooted & Reaching podcast, where we discuss the startup life with entrepreneurs with connections to the South Bend - Elkhart region.

In doing this, we will inform the general public and ourselves about what resources are available and the major pain points of entrepreneurs in our region. This podcast is also intended to tell the amazing stories of our local entrepreneurs in the hope that it will inspire another person in the region considering an entrepreneurial pursuit to take that leap of faith and see the supportive atmosphere in the area.