Allos Ventures, an Indianapolis-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage tech companies, won the Investor of the Year award during TechPoint’s 20th annual Mira Awards honoring the best of tech in Indiana.

Since making its first investment in an Indiana startup in 2010, Allos Ventures now has $100 million under management and in capital to deploy in early-stage Indiana tech startups. In February, CB Insights named Allos the most active VC in Indiana for the third consecutive year (2016, 2017 and 2018), and the firm is known for investing much more than capital in its portfolio companies—the managing partners invest their extensive operating and business building experience, too.

Beyond its own investments, Allos Ventures has been instrumental in the growth and success of Indiana’s tech ecosystem, helping numerous entrepreneurs navigate their fundraising and resulting in several of the state’s largest VC deals in recent memory.

The Mira Awards judges recognize the incredible history of Allos Ventures while also anticipating the influence to come from the $40 million Allos III fund and first investment from the new fund in fast-growing Indianapolis-based PERQ, both completed in the last year.

Allos Ventures also has a great influence over attracting VCs from other states and the Coasts to invest in and take note of early-stage Indiana tech companies. As the rise of tech in the Midwest and particularly in Indiana took hold over the last decade, Allos Ventures was there fanning the flames and working to ensure the availability of capital for promising startups.

Don Aquilano and David Kerr of Allos Ventures portrait by Polina Osherov.

TechPoint, the nonprofit, industry-led growth accelerator for Indiana’s tech ecosystem, honored the successes and innovation of Indiana people, places, companies and products at the JW Marriott Indianapolis during the 20th annual Mira Awards gala presented by Angie’s List, Infosys, and Salesforce. With a sold-out crowd of 1,400 attendees—up another 100 from last year—this was the largest Mira Awards in the program’s 20-year history.

Only a handful of the 2019 nominees existed as companies 20 years ago, and 82 percent were founded in just the past 10 years. Similar to the rapid adoption of the iPhone starting a decade ago and streaming services today, tech businesses in Indiana have grown from a few pioneers to a fast growing, vibrant industry that is a key driver of job growth and a critical part of the state’s economic success story.

SEE ALL WINNERS

A total of 14 award winners and honorees were chosen from the 109 outstanding people, places companies and products that were selected as nominees for their achievements during the 2018 calendar year. Fifty-two independent, volunteer judges spent more than 850 total hours evaluating applications, interviewing nominees, and selecting this year’s winners. Judges included company founders, CEOs and presidents, CTOs, CIOs, and other subject matter experts.

The Mira Awards are named after the first of the brilliant variable stars to be discovered – the Mira Star. It is also the Latin root meaning “worthy of admiration, wonderful, marvelous.” The awards represent the best of tech in Indiana each year.