Founders Launched Lean Startup Helm in Indianapolis
The startup uses artificial intelligence to replace traditional staffing models for executive team evaluations.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Startups
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Adam Weber and Andrew Clark founded Helm in February 2026 to provide performance evaluation services for executive teams. The Indianapolis-based startup aims to improve group dynamics without traditional headcount requirements.
Why it matters
By replacing roles that previously required 20 full-time employees with AI, the founders have eliminated major startup costs while avoiding the need for external capital. This operational approach reflects a shift toward hyper-lean scaling in professional services.
The startup replaced work typically requiring 20 full-time employees with current AI tools. This efficiency follows the founders' previous exit of Emplify, which was acquired for $50 million in 2021.
The players
Adam Weber
A co-founder of Helm who previously built and exited Emplify alongside Andrew Clark.
Andrew Clark
An entrepreneur who co-founded Helm and has a track record of scaling digital businesses in Indianapolis.
Helm
An Indianapolis-based startup providing executive performance evaluations using AI-driven workflows.
The details
Helm uses artificial intelligence to identify friction points within executive teams that hinder business growth. By automating the data collection and diagnostic processes that once necessitated large administrative teams, the company maintains a minimal operational footprint. Weber and Clark intend to forgo both additional hiring and outside investor capital to keep the venture fully independent.
Timeline
Emplify was acquired for $50 million in 2021.
Weber and Clark founded Helm in February 2026.
Market Landscape
Helm represents a growing trend of professional services firms leveraging AI to bypass the high-headcount requirements of the software boom. This lean approach marks a departure from traditional startup growth patterns that prioritize scale through rapid hiring and external capital injections.
Operators should evaluate which back-office or diagnostic tasks within their own firms could be handled by AI to lower overhead. Reducing reliance on headcount-intensive roles can significantly improve margins and allow founders to retain control without needing dilutive venture capital.
The takeaway
The Helm model proves that executive diagnostic work can be successfully scaled through automation rather than headcount. Owners should audit their own high-cost, labor-intensive internal processes to determine if current AI tools can provide a similar replacement effect.
Further reading
For more on local venture development, visit Startups.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Indianapolis Business Journal.
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