We are company builders, designers, and strategists. We have experience as entrepreneurs, strategy consultants at Innosight and McKinsey, and corporate innovation leaders. Our team understands how to deploy the venture studio playbook within large organizations to drive strategic and financial impact — and we’ve helped the world’s most influential organizations move beyond innovation theater to achieve real results.
We make decisions with imperfect information and quickly move forward; we take action. We are comfortable with discomfort, and measure our results in terms of what we build.
We seek, uncover, and speak truth. We dream big and we lead through vision. Our ideas change the world.
We aim to create as much opportunity for as many people as possible, and believe startups are a powerful vehicle for doing that.
Elliott is CEO of High Alpha Innovation, the Indianapolis-based corporate venture studio which partners with organizations to create tangible innovation through the launch of new ventures. Prior to High Alpha Innovation, Elliott led business design at High Alpha, the Indianapolis-based venture studio; he has also worked in strategy consulting at Innosight, in corporate venturing, and as an entrepreneur to bring new ideas to market. Originally from California, Elliott has a deep entrepreneurial background as a founder, advisor, and investor. He earned a B.S. in Finance from BYU and an M.B.A. from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, where he was a Venture Fellow.
CEO
Elliott is CEO of High Alpha Innovation, the Indianapolis-based corporate venture studio which partners with organizations to create tangible innovation through the launch of new ventures. Prior to High Alpha Innovation, Elliott led business design at High Alpha, the Indianapolis-based venture studio; he has also worked in strategy consulting at Innosight, in corporate venturing, and as an entrepreneur to bring new ideas to market. Originally from California, Elliott has a deep entrepreneurial background as a founder, advisor, and investor. He earned a B.S. in Finance from BYU and an M.B.A. from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, where he was a Venture Fellow.
As Chief of Staff, Lauren manages the design and marketing teams and plays a key role in company operations. Previously she served as Platform Lead, helping to refine High Alpha Innovation's forcing function for new company creation. Lauren earned a B.S. in Visual Communication Design at Herron School of Art and Design. Through her experience working in both agency and startup environments, she has developed a strong design thinking methodology, making her a dedicated problem solver who enjoys the challenge of discovering new solutions. When away from work, she teaches Pure Barre, enjoys cycling, and trying out new local restaurants. Lauren lives in Indianapolis with her husband and dog.
Chief of Staff
As Chief of Staff, Lauren manages the design and marketing teams and plays a key role in company operations. Previously she served as Platform Lead, helping to refine High Alpha Innovation's forcing function for new company creation. Lauren earned a B.S. in Visual Communication Design at Herron School of Art and Design. Through her experience working in both agency and startup environments, she has developed a strong design thinking methodology, making her a dedicated problem solver who enjoys the challenge of discovering new solutions. When away from work, she teaches Pure Barre, enjoys cycling, and trying out new local restaurants. Lauren lives in Indianapolis with her husband and dog.
As Managing Director, Gene leads High Alpha Innovation’s business development and strategy efforts. Gene was most recently Vice President of Innovation - New Ventures at Target and head of its San Francisco Innovation Office. Gene started his career designing robotics and led new product development in the automation industry. He is currently a mentor with TechStars, UC Berkeley SkyDeck, and is an active advisor for several startups through his consultancy, Halo Advisory Network, LLC. He is an LP with Bread and Butter Ventures, is an Advisor with Sway Ventures and is on the Board of Directors at Recycle Across America. He received an MBA from the Chicago Booth School of Business and holds an Engineering degree from the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign.
Managing Director
As Managing Director, Gene leads High Alpha Innovation’s business development and strategy efforts. Gene was most recently Vice President of Innovation - New Ventures at Target and head of its San Francisco Innovation Office. Gene started his career designing robotics and led new product development in the automation industry. He is currently a mentor with TechStars, UC Berkeley SkyDeck, and is an active advisor for several startups through his consultancy, Halo Advisory Network, LLC. He is an LP with Bread and Butter Ventures, is an Advisor with Sway Ventures and is on the Board of Directors at Recycle Across America. He received an MBA from the Chicago Booth School of Business and holds an Engineering degree from the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign.
Jen is a Director at High Alpha Innovation, where she partners with the world's leading organizations to launch new ventures and build venture studios. Prior to High Alpha, she led innovation teams at Wilson Sonsini and Mercedes-Benz and advised leading corporations on issues of strategy and growth at Innosight, a consulting firm founded by Clay Christensen. She also serves as an advisor to startups with a focus on female-led ventures. Jen earned an honors BA from Boston College in Communications, and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. In her free time, Jen loves exploring trails and beaches in the Bay Area with her husband, daughter and dog.
Director
Jen is a Director at High Alpha Innovation, where she partners with the world's leading organizations to launch new ventures and build venture studios. Prior to High Alpha, she led innovation teams at Wilson Sonsini and Mercedes-Benz and advised leading corporations on issues of strategy and growth at Innosight, a consulting firm founded by Clay Christensen. She also serves as an advisor to startups with a focus on female-led ventures. Jen earned an honors BA from Boston College in Communications, and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. In her free time, Jen loves exploring trails and beaches in the Bay Area with her husband, daughter and dog.
Innovation scholar, entrepreneur, strategy consultant turned anti-consultant and venture builder, Kostas is best when creating something new. At High Alpha Innovation, he leads partnership efforts with organizations to co-create software startups for tangible transformative outcomes. Previously, he was building next-gen B2B SaaS startups at High Alpha, digital ventures for Fortune 500 clients at McKinsey & Co, and had his own foray into entrepreneurship in the CPG/retail space. He holds a PhD from Georgia Tech and a BS from the University of Macedonia. Originally from Thessaloniki, Greece, Kostas lives in Indianapolis and is a proud husband and father of four bundles of joy.
Director
Innovation scholar, entrepreneur, strategy consultant turned anti-consultant and venture builder, Kostas is best when creating something new. At High Alpha Innovation, he leads partnership efforts with organizations to co-create software startups for tangible transformative outcomes. Previously, he was building next-gen B2B SaaS startups at High Alpha, digital ventures for Fortune 500 clients at McKinsey & Co, and had his own foray into entrepreneurship in the CPG/retail space. He holds a PhD from Georgia Tech and a BS from the University of Macedonia. Originally from Thessaloniki, Greece, Kostas lives in Indianapolis and is a proud husband and father of four bundles of joy.
Prior to his role as Director at High Alpha Innovation, Mike built and managed the corporate venture capital program and incubated new internal ventures at Marriott International, established and led platform in support of portfolio companies and funds at Greenspring Associates, spun out tech-enabled startups at Redstar Ventures, a startup studio, and consulted large corporations on growth strategy, innovation capabilities, and new venture development at Innosight. He began his career at Best Buy Co in marketing, marketing research, and new product development. Mike holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BBA from the University of Michigan.
Director
Prior to his role as Director at High Alpha Innovation, Mike built and managed the corporate venture capital program and incubated new internal ventures at Marriott International, established and led platform in support of portfolio companies and funds at Greenspring Associates, spun out tech-enabled startups at Redstar Ventures, a startup studio, and consulted large corporations on growth strategy, innovation capabilities, and new venture development at Innosight. He began his career at Best Buy Co in marketing, marketing research, and new product development. Mike holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BBA from the University of Michigan.
Ryan loves turning bold ideas into reality. As a Director, his superpower is complexity-busting–helping leaders make sense of business and industry complexities in order to confidently execute. His portfolio of work has intertwined strategy, product design and innovation within Fortune 500 companies, venture capital and startups. The common thread of Ryan’s career has been a desire to make the world a better place through thoughtfully designed business models, products and experiences. Ryan is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology with masters and bachelors degrees in mechanical engineering and industrial design. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife and two children.
Director
Ryan loves turning bold ideas into reality. As a Director, his superpower is complexity-busting–helping leaders make sense of business and industry complexities in order to confidently execute. His portfolio of work has intertwined strategy, product design and innovation within Fortune 500 companies, venture capital and startups. The common thread of Ryan’s career has been a desire to make the world a better place through thoughtfully designed business models, products and experiences. Ryan is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology with masters and bachelors degrees in mechanical engineering and industrial design. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife and two children.
As Director of Talent, Amanda spends much of her time recruiting executive and founder talent for new ventures and studios built alongside corporate partners. Post-launch, Amanda partners with those founders and serves as an advisor to portfolio companies in all things HR and talent including recruiting, organizational design, headcount planning, compensation philosophy, and foundational HR systems and processes. Before her time at High Alpha Innovation, Amanda lead recruiting and talent in b2b SaaS start and scale-ups before moving into venture capital and pre-seed companies while working for High Alpha Studio. Amanda is a graduate of Indiana University and resides in Indianapolis.
Director of Talent
As Director of Talent, Amanda spends much of her time recruiting executive and founder talent for new ventures and studios built alongside corporate partners. Post-launch, Amanda partners with those founders and serves as an advisor to portfolio companies in all things HR and talent including recruiting, organizational design, headcount planning, compensation philosophy, and foundational HR systems and processes. Before her time at High Alpha Innovation, Amanda lead recruiting and talent in b2b SaaS start and scale-ups before moving into venture capital and pre-seed companies while working for High Alpha Studio. Amanda is a graduate of Indiana University and resides in Indianapolis.
Director, Finance. Kelley leads finance for the High Alpha Innovation team. In addition to planning, implementing, managing, and running finance activities, she spends much of her time establishing finance operations for new ventures and studios built alongside corporate partners. An alumnus of Indiana University, Kelley has 12 years of experience providing operational excellence and nurturing business development opportunities in the Tech and Start-up industries. She has extensive experience building, scaling, acquiring, and selling companies, providing strategic leadership, and supporting strategic objectives. Kelley is proud to call Indianapolis her home, where she spends time spoiling her nephew, cooking, booking travel, and investigating Indy’s food and beverage scene.
Director of Finance
Director, Finance. Kelley leads finance for the High Alpha Innovation team. In addition to planning, implementing, managing, and running finance activities, she spends much of her time establishing finance operations for new ventures and studios built alongside corporate partners. An alumnus of Indiana University, Kelley has 12 years of experience providing operational excellence and nurturing business development opportunities in the Tech and Start-up industries. She has extensive experience building, scaling, acquiring, and selling companies, providing strategic leadership, and supporting strategic objectives. Kelley is proud to call Indianapolis her home, where she spends time spoiling her nephew, cooking, booking travel, and investigating Indy’s food and beverage scene.
As a Senior Associate, John takes a leading role in problem architecture and business design efforts with a particular focus on fintech and energy markets. He identifies underlying jobs to be done within a problem space and deploys knowledge of venture-scalable business model and product strategy to align incentives toward a solution (and a viable startup). John previously worked as an Associate at High Alpha Capital, sourcing and supporting Seed and Series A investments in leading enterprise cloud companies. He began his career in the Notre Dame Investment Office. Based in South Bend, Indiana, John spends much of his time connecting with friends over food, reading, and supporting the local business ecosystem.
Senior Associate
As a Senior Associate, John takes a leading role in problem architecture and business design efforts with a particular focus on fintech and energy markets. He identifies underlying jobs to be done within a problem space and deploys knowledge of venture-scalable business model and product strategy to align incentives toward a solution (and a viable startup). John previously worked as an Associate at High Alpha Capital, sourcing and supporting Seed and Series A investments in leading enterprise cloud companies. He began his career in the Notre Dame Investment Office. Based in South Bend, Indiana, John spends much of his time connecting with friends over food, reading, and supporting the local business ecosystem.
As an Associate, Lars leads the discovery of startup opportunities with partners through business model design, assumption validation, and market research. Lars combines an array of experience including venture capital, strategy consulting, university innovation, and startup building. His start at Album VC’s initial fund gave him a keen investor perspective, followed by time at Purple Innovation as the Head of Innovation and Strategy. Most recently, Lars worked to develop an investment thesis framework for disruptive innovation in B2B SaaS industries at High Alpha. Lars earned a B.S. in Entrepreneurial Management and an M.B.A. in Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Strategy from the BYU Marriott School of Management.
Associate
As an Associate, Lars leads the discovery of startup opportunities with partners through business model design, assumption validation, and market research. Lars combines an array of experience including venture capital, strategy consulting, university innovation, and startup building. His start at Album VC’s initial fund gave him a keen investor perspective, followed by time at Purple Innovation as the Head of Innovation and Strategy. Most recently, Lars worked to develop an investment thesis framework for disruptive innovation in B2B SaaS industries at High Alpha. Lars earned a B.S. in Entrepreneurial Management and an M.B.A. in Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Strategy from the BYU Marriott School of Management.
Ben leads marketing for the High Alpha Innovation team, where he spends much of his time telling the story of new ventures and studios built alongside corporate partners in addition to supporting business efforts via inbound web, social media, and PR campaigns. An alumnus of DePauw University (BA, History) and the University of Chicago (MA, Social Sciences), Ben has previously worked for Angie's List and The Chronicle of Higher Education. He enjoys writing, research, and discovering new MarTech, and credits catching the innovation bug early as a Wright Brothers-obsessed product of Dayton, Ohio. Ben resides in Indianapolis, where he spends time with his dog, playing guitar, and making mistakes in the kitchen.
Associate - Marketing
Ben leads marketing for the High Alpha Innovation team, where he spends much of his time telling the story of new ventures and studios built alongside corporate partners in addition to supporting business efforts via inbound web, social media, and PR campaigns. An alumnus of DePauw University (BA, History) and the University of Chicago (MA, Social Sciences), Ben has previously worked for Angie's List and The Chronicle of Higher Education. He enjoys writing, research, and discovering new MarTech, and credits catching the innovation bug early as a Wright Brothers-obsessed product of Dayton, Ohio. Ben resides in Indianapolis, where he spends time with his dog, playing guitar, and making mistakes in the kitchen.
An Analyst at High Alpha Innovation, Julie researches and builds conviction for new startup opportunities with corporate partners. She earned a B.S. in Biology from Indiana University and started her career as a biochemist. Eventually Julie decided to lean into her entrepreneurial spirit by attending the ESTEEM program at Notre Dame to earn a M.S. in STEM Entrepreneurship, which combined her love of life science with entrepreneurship through her capstone project of creating a commercialization strategy for a biotech startup. Julie lives in downtown Indianapolis with her boyfriend and two kittens. She enjoys traveling, rock climbing, and rereading The Hobbit every winter.
Senior Analyst
An Analyst at High Alpha Innovation, Julie researches and builds conviction for new startup opportunities with corporate partners. She earned a B.S. in Biology from Indiana University and started her career as a biochemist. Eventually Julie decided to lean into her entrepreneurial spirit by attending the ESTEEM program at Notre Dame to earn a M.S. in STEM Entrepreneurship, which combined her love of life science with entrepreneurship through her capstone project of creating a commercialization strategy for a biotech startup. Julie lives in downtown Indianapolis with her boyfriend and two kittens. She enjoys traveling, rock climbing, and rereading The Hobbit every winter.
As an Analyst, Tamoya manages various research and design initiatives for new business model curation and launches. She has a background in software development and technology business management in financial services, marketing and education industries. Tamoya enjoys working at the junction of business strategy and software design. Tamoya is an alumnus of Pennsylvania State University (two BAs) and Rutgers University (MBA). In her free time, Tamoya enjoys singing karaoke-style with friends, and building digital applications with the goal of making socially responsible technologies for businesses and people.
Senior Analyst
As an Analyst, Tamoya manages various research and design initiatives for new business model curation and launches. She has a background in software development and technology business management in financial services, marketing and education industries. Tamoya enjoys working at the junction of business strategy and software design. Tamoya is an alumnus of Pennsylvania State University (two BAs) and Rutgers University (MBA). In her free time, Tamoya enjoys singing karaoke-style with friends, and building digital applications with the goal of making socially responsible technologies for businesses and people.
Sarah’s role as Senior Experience Designer has enabled her to utilize a skillset she’s been building for over a decade; originally a chemistry major, she spent three years fine-tuning scientific research methodologies before transitioning to Herron School of Art & Design, where she earned a BFA in Visual Communication Design with a focus in UX. The marrying of research-based decision making and creativity has given her a deep passion for her work. Prior to her current role, she spent five years as a designer at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Sarah spends most of her free time traveling, cooking, and trying to keep her growing collection of pets and plants alive.
Senior Experience Designer
Sarah’s role as Senior Experience Designer has enabled her to utilize a skillset she’s been building for over a decade; originally a chemistry major, she spent three years fine-tuning scientific research methodologies before transitioning to Herron School of Art & Design, where she earned a BFA in Visual Communication Design with a focus in UX. The marrying of research-based decision making and creativity has given her a deep passion for her work. Prior to her current role, she spent five years as a designer at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Sarah spends most of her free time traveling, cooking, and trying to keep her growing collection of pets and plants alive.
As a Senior Experience Designer, Aaron enhances the partnership experience with design thinking, ideation, and creating brand or product designs to bring new company ideas to life. Aaron graduated from Herron School of Art & Design with a BFA in Visual Communication Design. His early career focused in B2B and B2C SaaS startups, creating websites, apps, and software product prototypes. Aaron focuses heavily on human design in product, always thinking and designing for the user. Aaron enjoys working with his hands in leather craft, or tackling his art teacher itch with craft projects in a wide range of mediums. He is an avid music lover, playing any instrument he can get his hands on.
Senior Experience Designer
As a Senior Experience Designer, Aaron enhances the partnership experience with design thinking, ideation, and creating brand or product designs to bring new company ideas to life. Aaron graduated from Herron School of Art & Design with a BFA in Visual Communication Design. His early career focused in B2B and B2C SaaS startups, creating websites, apps, and software product prototypes. Aaron focuses heavily on human design in product, always thinking and designing for the user. Aaron enjoys working with his hands in leather craft, or tackling his art teacher itch with craft projects in a wide range of mediums. He is an avid music lover, playing any instrument he can get his hands on.
