Making A Home In Central Indiana’s Growing Tech Ecosystem
The people who make up the tech scene here in the Crossroads of America have many faces. Some are those of born and raised Hoosiers, those who grew up to the sounds of John Mellencamp, watching games at Assembly Hall, and enjoying pork tenderloins the size of their face. But many are the faces of those who have come from someplace else and have – in time – taken to calling Indiana home.
We talked with three such members of the local Indy tech community to hear what brought them here in the first place (hint: it’s our world class institutions of higher learning) and why they’ve made a career here.
Dino Filippini, Senior Technology Partnership Manager – UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group)
Hometown: Mundelein, Illinois
What’s Your Indy Origin Story?
I first came to Indianapolis as a student at Butler University. After four years, I graduated with a degree in computer science and a minor in theater. Although I had several internships in the heart of Chicago, I decided to accept a position in Indianapolis close to my trusty alma mater. In addition to a looser dress code and ten fewer hours spent commuting during the week, the Indy scene was the perfect start to a young professional’s career.
Top 5 Favorite Things About The Indy Tech Ecosystem
- Proximity – You can’t beat the location. Downtown Indianapolis has an outstanding atmosphere, and walking or biking into the office is quite the preferred commute.
- Flexibility – Companies continue to offer competitive policies for their employees’ work/life balance.
- Growth – I started seven years ago at Kronos. We’re now UKG and have about doubled our office staff and real estate.
- Culture – Indy tech has a notable Midwestern charm; I always enjoy hearing old office stories from my friends in other organizations.
- Size – While still a growing and thriving city, Indy is quite a different feel from our UKG office near Boston or my home metropolis of Chicago.
Top 5 Reasons To Start Your Tech Career In Indy
- Size – The city isn’t overwhelmingly large while still providing all the perks of the urban experience.
- Approachability – Perhaps I’m a tad biased, but I appreciate the welcoming nature of Midwestern communities.
- Networking – There are excellent opportunities to meet other like-minded techies.
- Travel – The Indianapolis International Airport is consistently the top rated in the country (9th year running!) and located a short flight away to many popular business and pleasure destinations.
- Cost – Compared to many other American cities, Indy helps the wallet.
Top 5 Favorite Things To Do Around Indy
- Play in tournaments at everybody’s favorite arcade bar, Tappers.
- Munch at the many Cunningham Group Restaurants.
- Patronize the theater at our local Indianapolis Repertory Theater (IRT).
- Enjoy ice cream at Lick in the newly open Bottleworks District.
- Pick up the hottest new board games at Gen Con, the largest tabletop game convention in North America!
Top 5 things about your company and/or the Indianapolis tech ecosystem you’re excited to see develop in the next five years?
- As businesses worldwide evaluate their company policies, I look excitedly for the future of UKG’s Indianapolis Technology Center. We’ve always had a focus on education and training in our office; even in a world where remote office work is a given, I see opportunity for our employees across the organization to travel to Indy for continued education.
- My own skills, with opportunities to dive into the various parts of software development and test myself in a supportive environment.
- Connecting with colleagues nationwide and worldwide as we all embrace the remote lifestyle (though I’ll always be happy to show them around Indy if they visit).
- A mix of in-person and virtual networking in the city.
- Downtown growth and development thanks to tech companies.
Kat Locascio, Customer Success Manager – The Juice
Hometown: Northbrook, Illinois
What’s Your Indy Origin Story?
I attended Butler University and during my senior year I participated in a program called “Indy Summer Experience” where I got to attend free events and meet Butler alumni who chose Indy as home. To a broke college student one of the most enticing benefits was the free food weekly! I was granted a spot in the program and thought it would be fun. I come from a huge Italian and Irish family in Chicago, my parents were both one of eight so the idea of NOT returning “home” didn’t seem like an option. However, everything changed when I realized the job opportunities, the people, and the culture of Indy was something I couldn’t walk away from and (guess what?) I am still here five years later and don’t have plans of leaving anytime soon! Although my university brought me here, what Indy has to offer is what kept me here.
Top 5 Favorite Things About The Indy Tech Ecosystem
- The people.
- The problems companies are solving with tech solutions.
- The talent.
- The community resources and organizations – TechPoint, Powderkeg, High Alpha, TechStars, etc.
- The tech events.
Top 5 Reasons To Start Your Tech Career In Indy
- Upward mobility + career progression.
- Job opportunities.
- Networking and the people
- Cool Tech Work Spaces (i.e. The Union, Bottleworks, 16 Tech, The Hatch, etc.).
- More options for remote or limited commute.
Top 5 Favorite Things To Do Around Indy
- Check out local restaurants – There are so many! It’s a foodies dream.
- The summer farmers markets and farm to table scene.
- Sports and Entertainment – Specifically Pacer’s games, Victory Field, and outdoor concerts at Ruoff.
- Grab a drink at the Reservoirs – Being someone who grew up with Lake Michigan 15 minutes from my house and hanging out on the Chain of Lakes in WI, I was under the impression that Indiana couldn’t compete but Morse Reservoir is less than a mile from my house in Noblesville and Giest is always great to check out as well. I recommend the Boathouse in Cicero or Wolfie’s on Giest!
- Local Wineries and Breweries on the weekends – Daniel’s Vineyard, Urban Vines, Sun King Brewery.
Top 5 things about your company and/or the Indianapolis tech ecosystem you’re excited to see develop in the next five years?
- The community – The venture capital (VC) and startup community, continuing to see higher investments year over year. Of all of High Alpha’s Studio companies 25 percent have been acquired, two of which just happened in the last couple of months (Lesson.ly and Pattern89).
- The community – Diversity and Inclusion within tech.
- My company – being a part of my first start up and seeing the full life cycle of a startup.
- The Infrastructure – places like Bottleworks and 16Tech.
- The investment – from VCs, the state, new company locations, etc.
Lujia (Luke) Zhang, Senior Data Scientist – Resultant
Hometown: Wenzhou, China
What’s Your Indy Origin Story?
As a freshman at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology I was invited to participate in TechPoint’s first class of the Xtern program back in 2014; I interned for Resultant (Formerly KSM Consulting) as a Data Scientist. I’ve met so many great people here in Indy throughout the summer and kept in touch over the years.
After graduating college, despite receiving offers from big tech companies from both the West and East Coast, I decided to join TechPoint’s Indy Tech Fellowship and to start my career here in Indy. I made such a decision knowing that I can make a bigger impact and help more people here in the Midwest.
Top 5 Favorite Things About The Indy Tech Ecosystem
- Booming tech start-ups – Tons of great tech start-ups are growing fast here in Indy. All of them have very exciting and unique ideas/products/services.
- Government support – Nothing can be done without great support from the local and state governments.
- Friendly tech community – Hoosier hospitality is a real thing. Everybody wants to help you to succeed.
- Plenty of capital investments – We have great venture studios, venture capitals, and private investors here in Indy. And they all want to give back and invest in Indy.
- Good representation of big companies – Salesforce, Eli Lilly and Company, Genesys, KAR Global, Zotec Partners, Cummins etc.
Top 5 Reasons To Start Your Tech Career In Indy
- Great learning opportunity by joining start-ups.
- Tons of ways to make impacts through community involvement and work contribution.
- Stable job and wonderful benefit by joining established big companies.
- Outside of tech work, Indy offers lots of activities for everybody.
- Booming tech city with low cost of living.
Top 5 Favorite Things To Do Around Indy (with 5 bonus things!)
- Having brunch with friends at Milktooth.
- Summer biking on the Monon Trail.
- Partying at the Indy 500 Snake Pit.
- Enjoying nature and Art at Newfields.
- Cheering for the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
- Walking around downtown Indianapolis.
- Canoeing along the White River.
- Fishing at Eagle Creek.
- Running around the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis like a little kid.
- Listening to a world-class performance at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
Top 5 things about your company and/or the Indianapolis tech ecosystem you’re excited to see develop in the next five years?
- Resultant scales up fast to become a national well-known consulting firm with headquarters in Indy and more than 1000 employees.
- Tons of start-ups growing quickly and becoming a strong force to support the Indy tech ecosystem.
- Having a more diverse tech ecosystem with more people from outside of the state/country.
- More big tech companies consider Indy as the Midwest Hub.
- Maintaining the low cost of living and keeping the great culture we have here.
