In early 2018, Amy Brown made a life-changing decision. A veteran executive, mother of four and the sole profiteeer of the family, she has stepped out of the role of a safe C-Suite and launched a tech startup with no experience in software development.
Her motivation? A deep belief in the ability to listen.
A two-time Indiana University graduate, Brown has a degree in human development, family studies and social work, and spent 20 years in healthcare work and policy. She saw firsthand how healthcare organizations have lost key insights hidden in everyday customer conversations. Insights that can improve care, reduce frustration, and build trust.
“We spent millions of people researching,” she said.
With that happening, she found AuthenticX, an Indianapolis-based AI company that analyzes interactions with millions of customers from phone calls and emails.
Social workers' approach to technology
Brown's journey from social work to tech entrepreneurship is not traditional. That's exactly what makes it so powerful.
“My training was a social worker,” she said. “But it was essentially the power of listening. It really comes from my social work degree.”
Her background in public policy and healthcare gave her a unique perspective on the systematic challenges patients face. “I've seen my loved ones deal with confusing bills, endless calls and things they have to justify their care while experiencing serious health issues,” she said. “It's unbearable, and it doesn't make sense.”
AuthenticX was her answer to that frustration. This is a way to help healthcare organizations truly listen to their customers and act on what they have learned.
Building from scratch
Brown Bootstrapped AuthenticX used her savings to build low-code prototypes to attract early customers for the first 12-18 months.
“I told my husband six months before I left my job, 'We're trying to do this,'” she said. “We saved enough to pay our bills for a year.”
Her approach was based on iteration and learning.
“We had no plans for five years,” she said. “I just focused on putting one foot in front of the other.”
That way of thinking paid off. Today, AuthenticX raised nearly $30 million in funding in the second half of 2022, including a $20 million round. The company serves leading pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies and hospital systems across the country, analyzing the voices of more than 20 million patients.
In 2025, Brown was named to Inc. Magazine's Female Founders 500 list. This acknowledged her leadership and the influence of the company.
Leading in credibility
As AuthenticX grows, it currently has over 140 employees and plans to scale to over 250, with Brown focusing on culture. “It's easy to lose sight of how your people are doing when you're growing fast,” she said. “We've made mistakes, but we're always learning how to keep our mission at the forefront and center.”
Every Monday, she records videos of her team, often focusing on culture and values. “I want to connect in a real, authentic way,” she said. “Our vision is to disrupt the industry that helps the most compassionate people lead the way.”
Listening Heritage
Brown's story is one of courage, conviction and compassion. It is proof of what happens when someone dares to obey their calling.
“I was telling my kids, 'You can do whatever you want,'” she said. “But I started to feel like a hypocrite if I wasn't going to show what it really looked like, so I made a leap.”
And in doing so, she helps the entire industry learn how to listen.
