DynamoEdge Initiates Lawsuit Against Andretti and Multiple Parties Over Alleged Misappropriation of AI Vehicle Performance Technology

On March 5, 2026, DynamoEdge, a Carmel-based software firm specializing in real-time edge AI for telemetry and vehicle performance prediction, initiated a lawsuit in Marion Superior Court, Marion County, Indiana. The suit names Michael Andretti, multiple Andretti-affiliated entities, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), and over a dozen other defendants. It alleges unauthorized use and misappropriation of DynamoEdge’s proprietary vehicle performance prediction technology.

Barbara Bessolo, founder and CEO of DynamoEdge, asserts that her company’s technology and related intellectual property were shared during exploratory partnership discussions beginning in October 2020 with Michael Andretti. According to the complaint, these talks progressed to the extent that DynamoEdge was rebranded as AndrettiEdge (also referenced as AndrettEdge) and Andretti was included in investor meetings and pitches, including with AT&T. Bessolo claims that Andretti’s full cooperation was represented to investors, fostering funding commitments.

The complaint further alleges that by 2024, Andretti had launched an AI company valued at approximately $1 billion, which incorporated DynamoEdge’s vehicle performance prediction technology and used the marketing slogan “Predicting the Unpredictable,” a phrase DynamoEdge had employed since around 2021. At that time, Bessolo was pursuing patent protection for the technology, culminating in the grant of U.S. Patent No. 12,518,219 in early 2026. This patent relates to real-time processing of vehicle sensor data.

Bessolo also contends that Andretti induced some of her business partners to breach agreements with DynamoEdge, resulting in the unauthorized use of the intellectual property in other projects, including those involving contractor 9-12 LLC (also referenced as NineTwelve). DynamoEdge held a subcontract with 9-12 related to a mobile 5G technology proof-of-concept for the Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC), an autonomous racing initiative. This subcontract was terminated in September 2021, with DynamoEdge disputing the stated grounds of failure to deliver required technical plans. The complaint alleges that 9-12 subsequently pursued a transportation project with AT&T and Purdue University that incorporated DynamoEdge’s intellectual property without authorization.

Andretti entities named as defendants include Andretti Autosport Holding Company, LLC, and Andretti Global, LLC, the latter being the rebranded successor following TWG Global’s acquisition. The lawsuit also names Paul Mitchell, founder of the Indy Autonomous Challenge, who previously stated to the Indianapolis Star that he was unaware of Bessolo’s agreement until after it was signed and that the IAC had an exclusive arrangement with another company for the same technology.

David Roberts, former chief innovation officer at the IEDC, is accused of failing to protect DynamoEdge’s intellectual property adequately and making false statements about the company’s technology and prospects, allegedly harming its business. Additional defendants include Palantir Technologies, accused of duplicating elements of the intellectual property, Applied Research Institute / Indiana Innovation Institute, and other individuals and entities. The complaint alleges that public funds administered by the IEDC supported projects or entities that commercially benefited from DynamoEdge’s technology without proper authorization or compensation.

DynamoEdge seeks exemplary and punitive damages, an injunction to prevent further use of its intellectual property, trademarks, and technology, and an accounting of relevant IEDC contracts and grants dating back to 2016.

The allegations remain unproven, with the court tasked to determine the facts. Paul Jefferson, attorney for David Roberts, told the Indianapolis Star that the lawsuit is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the facts and that Roberts acted within his legal and ethical obligations. Paul Mitchell was not immediately available for comment following the filing. Other defendants previously denied wrongdoing in related matters.

This litigation emerges amid heightened scrutiny of the IEDC. A forensic review commissioned by Indiana Governor Mike Braun identified inadequate management and potential conflicts of interest within the agency, raising concerns about favoritism and misuse of public funds. Prior reporting by the Indianapolis Star highlighted concentrated IEDC funding among interconnected individuals and organizations, including some named in the suit, and accounts from small business owners who felt disadvantaged relative to state-supported entities involved in initiatives like the Indy Autonomous Challenge.

On August 8, 2026, Formula 1-focused site The Judge 13 reported on the lawsuit, emphasizing Andretti’s inclusion among the defendants and noting ongoing developments. Around the same time, Bessolo publicly reiterated her account that Andretti introduced her to the IEDC for funding support, but subsequent interactions with the agency and 9-12 resulted, in her view, in the loss of her intellectual property, business plans, customers, and roadmap.

Despite the dispute, DynamoEdge has continued independent operations, including collaborations and presentations showcasing its real-time edge AI platform, often branded around predictive capabilities for motorsports and intelligent transportation. The patent central to the dispute has now been granted.

As of early August 2026, the litigation remains active and unresolved, with no final judicial findings on the merits. Further court filings and developments are anticipated to clarify or contest the detailed allegations in the coming weeks and months.