Episode 3

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Published on:

23rd May 2024

Plugging the Gap: How Josh Rodgers is Using a High Tech Llama to Solve the Substitute Teacher Crisis

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/

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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.