Self-described “adventure capitalist” Aman Brar backed Indianapolis-based software startup Yourco and Iowa-based marketing-tech startup Hummingbirds in 2023. Ground Game Ventures, co-founded by Brar in 2022, led a $2 million round of investment in Yourco, which offers a text messaging platform that employers can use to communicate with employees who don’t work in an office setting. Ground Game invested $3 million in Hummingbirds, which allows customers to build marketing campaigns with the help of local social media users. Brar launched Canvas, the world’s first text-based interviewing software, in 2017. The startup was acquired by Jobvite 16 months after launch. As former president of Apparatus, Brar helped lead the company through a strategic acquisition by Virtusa where he subsequently led the global infrastructure business unit. Selected as a “Top 50 SaaS CEO” by The Software Report in 2020, Brar serves on the board of his alma mater, Wabash College. Brar played football for Wabash College and Ben Davis High School.
Archives: Profiles
Amy Brown
Amy Brown founded Authenticx, which filters millions of client interactions—recorded audio files, chat files or text files—and uses AI and algorithms to find themes in the data. Six years later, she is leading 135-plus “Authentizens,” as she calls the company’s workforce, with a focus on building a strong corporate culture, contributing to client growth and engagement initiatives, and staying attuned to the general health of the business. In 2023, the company raised $20 million in Series B funding. It was second on IBJ’s Fast 25 list and 349th on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies in the United States (No. 1 in Indiana). This year, Authenticx was recognized at the TechPoint Mira Awards as Tech Company of the Year.
First job: Janitor and groundskeeper for a church that sat on 40 acres of land. She was 14. “I learned the satisfaction of completing a job with your own strength and two hands.”
Rich Carlton
Rich Carlton has more than 25 years of experience leading data- and technology-based businesses. He has led three organizations that made the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America, including a software company, a data-center infrastructure company and Aunalytics, which he has led for 12 years. Aunalytics is a data platform company that delivers managed IT and analytics services for financial institutions, and consumer goods and health care providers.
Lesson learned: Carlton franchised a restaurant as a part-time entrepreneur. “You can’t ‘part-time’ entrepreneurship; you’re either in 100 percent-plus or you need to get out.” The restaurant was sold to a 100% entrepreneur, and it has been successful. “The business didn’t fail; I just say my portion as the entrepreneur did.”
Advice for a young person: “Take risks, outwork your peers, ask for help, understand the ‘why’ of what you and your company do and balance your work life with being present for your family.”
Stanley Chen
Stanley Chen serves as CEO of Telamon Corp., a multi-generational family business that designs, builds and installs telecommunication networks. Under his leadership, the company expects this year to reach more than $1 billion in revenue. Previously at Telamon, he served as the chief operating officer, leading the firm through several acquisitions and divestitures, including one recognized by the Indiana Chapter of Association of Corporate Growth as a Deal of the Year. Before Telamon, Chen worked in marketing analytics for a Major League Baseball team, in corporate strategy for a Global 50 firm, and with an early-stage venture capital fund.
First job: Working in the warehouse at Telamon, cleaning loaner phones. “You would be surprised by how much material there is in the crevices of a phone that you can scrape out with a toothpick.”
Surprising: “Despite being a huge introvert, I was the national champion in extemporaneous speaking in high school.”
Walk-up song: “Todo Va a Estar Bien” by Evan Craft and Redimi2
Justin Christian
Justin Christian, who grew up in New York City, founded consulting and staffing firm BCforward in Indianapolis in 1998 and has grown it into one of the largest Black-owned professional services and workforce management services companies in the nation. This spring, Christian announced a $29 million deal to acquire TSR Inc., an information technology staffing firm based in his hometown. BCforward is the doing-business-as name for Bucher and Christian Consulting Inc. The company has more than 5,000 global employees, including nearly 1,000 in the Indianapolis area. The company offers business consulting, staffing and workforce management services to clients in the finance, life science, technology, health care and government sectors. In April, the IBJ named DePauw University alum Christian as the inaugural winner of its Mickey Maurer Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Christian serves on the boards of Lumina Foundation, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and DePauw, where, after a $1 million donation, the Justin and Darrianne Christian Center for Diversity and Inclusion opened in 2017.
Scott Dorsey
Scott Dorsey is managing partner of High Alpha, a venture studio that scales and invests in enterprise cloud companies. Over the past nine years, High Alpha has created and invested in more than 90 software companies throughout North America and has raised nearly $400 million to help fuel the innovation economy. A co-founder of ExactTarget, which was acquired by Salesforce in 2013 for $2.5 billion, Dorsey sits on a number of boards, including Indiana Sports Corp. and Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and serves as chair of Nextech, which he founded.
First job: “Shoveling driveways and mowing lawns for families in our neighborhood. I certainly learned hard work, attention to detail and the importance of customer service.”
Something surprising: “I have very little technical skills!”
Favorite device: “Love my Apple AirPods—their design and sound quality are excellent.”
Ting Gootee
Ting Gootee is president and CEO of TechPoint, whose mission is to accelerate the growth of Indiana’s digital innovation economy. Since she joined in May 2022, the U.S. Small Business Administration awarded TechPoint a $50,000 cash prize for its impactful and inclusive approach to nurturing a collaborative national innovation ecosystem to advance small business research and development from ideas to market. This year, Purpose Jobs, a community of purpose-driven startup and tech professionals, named TechPoint among its 30 Best Economic Development Organizations in Emerging Tech Hubs. TechPoint also started Mission41K, an effort to bring more people (with a focus on women and people of color) into the tech sector. Prior to TechPoint, Gootee, who grew up in China, co-developed the original vision and strategy for Elevate Ventures, the state’s venture development organization.
Challenge overcome: Starting in a new country with limited language skills, cultural understanding or community connectivity. “That was 23 years ago. A lot learned and earned since then. I am grateful for Indiana.”
Robert E. Johnson III
Robert E. Johnson III is the co-founder, president and CEO of Cimcor Inc., which develops IT security software that provides cybersecurity. Cimcor’s software helps companies meet compliance and regulatory requirements, recognize and prevent cyberattacks, protect information and keep systems operating. Johnson is an inventor and has led the development of several patented and patent-pending technologies. As president and CEO, he sets the direction and long-term goals for the company, including making decisions regarding product development, market positioning and growth strategies. He also is responsible for product development and innovation, building and managing the leadership team, and overseeing the financial health and stability of the company. As a result of his passion for technology, he has written numerous articles, contributed to books about technology and developed several commercial software packages.
Peter Kelly
Peter Kelly leads OpenLane Inc., which operates online platforms for buying and selling wholesale used vehicles. As CEO, he leads OpenLane’s strategy, planning and growth, overseeing the development and delivery of next-generation products, services and capabilities and ensuring the company’s core businesses continue to innovate and evolve to meet the changing needs of customers. Since becoming CEO in 2021, he has accelerated and focused OpenLane’s business on its digital strategy, including sale of its U.S. physical auction business. He also has consolidated platforms and rebranded the company and its customer-facing marketplaces.
Something surprising: “I like to cook, and I like growing fruits and vegetables. I guess that makes me a farm-to-table kind of guy?”
Lesson learned: “Build the most talented team that you can. Be thoughtful, but try to make decisions quickly.”
Walk-up song: “Just Like Heaven” by The Cure
Scott Kraege
Scott Kraege is an entrepreneur and investor who has spearheaded the creation of six companies, including Mobi Wireless in 2009. His portfolio includes investments in more than 30 companies, and he has advised more than 50 founding teams from other companies. As a co-founder of Forty5 Presents, he presents live music events, including Rock the Ruins, a concert series now in its fourth summer at Holliday Park. At Ivy Ventures, he works with entrepreneurs and his team to evaluate ideas, determine opportunities and provide support. Ivy Ventures raised $20 million in 2022. His other ventures include Opendate.io, an operating platform for theaters and venues; The Vogue in Broad Ripple; and 317 Outfitters, an activity and adventure rental company.
First job: Sycamore Springs Golf Course, where “I learned the work that goes into owning and operating a business.”
Something surprising: He’s had Cubs season tickets since 1998.
Walk-up song: “Porch” by Pearl Jam