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 Valley, reflecting on how his time at Purdue and early experiences in the South Bend-Elkhart region shaped his entrepreneurial path. He opens up about the power of community, the importance of mentorship, and how collaboration at the local level often drives breakthrough ideas.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

08:21 - The Journey from Academia to Entrepreneurship

12:59 - The Path to Leadership: Early Experiences and Lessons Learned

19:29 - Transition to Startup Impact

27:56 - The Legacy of Organ Preservation

RESOURCES

Milad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miladalucozai/ 

CONTACT

Martin Mechtenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/ 

Susan Ford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-howard-ford-8446441/