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High Alpha Studio
High Alpha Studio was founded in 2018 by Scott Dorsey and Mike Fitzgerald, the former CEO and CTO of ExactTarget, a marketing automation platform acquired...
High Alpha Studio
High Alpha Studio was founded in 2018 by Scott Dorsey and Mike Fitzgerald, the former CEO and CTO of ExactTarget, a marketing automation platform acquired by Salesforce in 2013 for $2.5 billion. The firm operates as a venture studio and family office, using a capital base built from the ExactTarget exit to start and scale enterprise software companies. The studio model distinguishes High Alpha from a traditional venture firm: it identifies market gaps, recruits executives to co-found new businesses, provides initial capital and operational support, and spins out each company as a standalone entity. Known portfolio companies include Sigstr (acquired by Terminus), Zylo (enterprise SaaS management), and Octiv (document generation, acquired by Nintex). The firm invests at pre-seed through Series A, with a focus on B2B SaaS. Geographic focus is primarily North America, with a concentration in the Midwest. High Alpha Studio operates from Indianapolis and has a team that includes partners Eric Tobias and Scott McCorkle, among others. The studio has a philanthropic arm, High Alpha Foundation, focused on tech entrepreneurship in Indiana. As of 2025, the firm has not publicly disclosed total AUM, but its portfolio spans over a dozen companies, with several exits. The structural differentiator is the venture studio format: High Alpha does not just write checks — it provides the initial idea, hires the CEO, and runs product development company for 6–12 months before spinning it out. This architecture shares risk with operating executives and gives the family office a hands-on role in building each portfolio company.
General information
Firm type
Single Family Office
Year founded
2018
AUM
$100M–$500M (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Indianapolis
Corporate office
Indianapolis, IN, United States
Principals
Scott Dorsey
Co-Founder and Partner
Mike Fitzgerald
Co-Founder and Partner
Eric Tobias
Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does High Alpha Studio differ from a typical venture capital firm?
High Alpha Studio operates as a venture studio, not just a fund. It initiates company ideas, recruits co-founder CEOs, provides initial capital, and runs a 6-12 month incubation period before spinning out each business as an independent company. This model gives the firm a hands-on role in building companies rather than just investing in them (per public record).
What is the source of High Alpha Studio's capital?
The firm's capital derives from the 2013 acquisition of ExactTarget by Salesforce for $2.5 billion. Co-founders Scott Dorsey and Mike Fitzgerald reinvested a portion of their proceeds into the studio (per public record).
Which sectors does High Alpha Studio focus on?
High Alpha Studio concentrates exclusively on enterprise software and B2B SaaS. Its portfolio includes companies in marketing technology, sales enablement, HR technology, and other enterprise verticals (per firm's public materials).
What is the firm's investment stage preference?
High Alpha Studio typically invests at pre-seed through Series A stages. Each portfolio company begins with a seed investment from the studio, with follow-on capital from external venture funds in later rounds (per public record).
How is High Alpha Studio related to High Alpha Capital?
High Alpha Studio is the venture studio arm, while High Alpha Capital is a companion venture capital fund. Both share the same founding team and office in Indianapolis, but High Alpha Capital operates as a separate fund vehicle investing in later-stage SaaS companies (per public record).
Does High Alpha Studio have a philanthropic arm?
Yes, the firm runs the High Alpha Foundation, a nonprofit focused on advancing technology entrepreneurship in Indiana. The foundation provides grants and programming to support startup ecosystem development in the Midwest (per public record).
Who runs investment decisions at High Alpha Studio?
Investment decisions are made by the partnership, led by co-founders Scott Dorsey and Mike Fitzgerald, along with partners Eric Tobias and Scott McCorkle. The team evaluates potential studio projects based on market opportunity and executive talent (per public record).
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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