About us
Our team lives the challenge
Rooted is built by families who grew up between languages and understand the struggle of maintaining and teaching your home language.
Our mission
To help every child grow up connected to the language, culture and family they come from.
Meet the team
How it started → how it’s going
Sony Gajjala
Chief Executive Officer & Co-FounderRooted connection: Sony started school in America before she spoke English, and a small gesture from her dad helped her feel at home. Rooted is her way of giving children growing up between cultures that same sense of love and belonging, through the languages and stories that connect them to family.
Professional background: Sony brings startup experience and strong customer discovery skills, along with firsthand insight into the challenges families face in preserving their language and culture.
Nelly Tehrani
Chief Product Officer & Co-FounderRooted connection: Nelly grew up in Iran and is now raising a U.S.-born daughter, and she hopes to share her own journey with her in Farsi. Rooted is her way of honoring immigrant journeys and helping children stay proud of where their families come from.
Professional background: A first-generation Iranian-American mother, Nelly lives the challenge of passing on language and culture every day. She brings a PhD in engineering, experience co-founding and managing a nonprofit, and a holistic approach to designing learning experiences for children.
Batisse Kashanchi
Chief Technology Officer & Co-FounderRooted connection: Growing up Iranian-American, Batisse loved being an American kid but found it hard to hold on to his Persian language and heritage. With Rooted, he wants to make sure children growing up between cultures never have to choose between them.
Professional background: A former tech consultant, Batisse has built and launched enterprise digital products. He pairs software architecture expertise with a personal connection to the mission as a second-generation Iranian-American.
Ailyn Song
Data & Linguistic Research DirectorRooted connection: Growing up with multiple languages, names and cultures taught Ailyn that language carries family stories, traditions and memories. Through Rooted, she hopes to help children feel they belong to every world they come from.
Professional background: Ailyn speaks four languages and won a gold medal at the national Linguistics Olympiad. She brings a background in business, data science and quantitative research, plus tech and nonprofit consulting, including user research at a tech company.
Jenn Umanzor
Marketing DirectorRooted connection: With her immigrant mom always working, Jenn lost her family’s language as English took over, and reclaiming it as an adult helped her reconnect with who she is. She’s helping build Rooted so children can stay connected to their language, with support that fits the lives of working families.
Professional background: Jenn has hands-on experience creating brand kits and websites for wholesale and personal brands. Her background spans marketing, messaging strategy and customer acquisition.
Our values
What we hold onto
Connection
Language is the bridge to family. We help kids cross it, one story at a time.
Trust
Every story is read and checked by a person. Built with parents, for parents.
Identity
Kids grow proud of where they come from.
Join the families growing up rooted.
The free winter beta opens January 6.