Andersen: ‘Remarkable Talent’ Fueling Indiana Tech Momentum
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowWhile attracting and retaining talent remain among Indiana’s top economic development priorities, one technology entrepreneur says he views the state’s talent pool among its greatest assets. “One of the things that’s really makes the business go is the ability to attract and retain remarkable talent, much of which is from the state,” said Kristian Andersen, a serial entrepreneur who received the Trailblazer Award at Techpoint’s 21st annual Mira Awards.
Andersen has played a role in the creation of numerous software companies, including Octiv, Lessonly, Visible and Pathagility. He is also the co-founder of The Speak Easy co-working space and co-founder of design and innovation consultancy Studio Science, which was sold in 2019. Andersen also helped start seed stage venture firm Gravity Ventures.
Andersen offered perspective on the state’s technology sector during an interview on this weekend’s edition of Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick.
His latest endeavor, High Alpha, was launched with noted tech entrepreneurs Scott Dorsey, Eric Tobias and Mike Fitzgerald. Since 2015, High Alpha has launched 20 companies, and growing.
Andersen says talent helped drive the decision to launch High Alpha.
“The sheer volume of highly-educated, smart, ambitious people coming out of our state’s colleges and universities, the preponderance of large technology companies that have moved to Indianapolis to make that their corporate home and the talent that attracts from out of state really created what we thought was the perfect opportunity, really fertile soil, to grow and scale the types of businesses we are launching.”
Techpoint Chief Executive Officer Mike Langellier says Andersen’s impact on the state’s tech movement can’t be overstated. “He’s a remarkable individual who has a vision for seeing potential in things and people, an ability to distill what’s special about them and then a provocativeness to rally behind it and a boldness to pursue it in a big way,” said Langellier. “There are literally organizations here that wouldn’t exist without Kristian.”