Founder, Radioactive Ventures
Brian Tellis is a pioneering figure in India’s events, experiential marketing, and entertainment industry, with a career spanning over three decades. He is best known as the co-founder of Fountainhead Promotions & Events, one of India’s most successful experiential marketing agencies, which was later acquired by Dentsu Aegis Network in 2015, marking a significant milestone in the formalisation and global integration of India’s experiential industry. A founding member and former two-term President of Event and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA), Brian has played a key role in shaping industry standards and growth. His global recognition includes serving as a jury member at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Alongside his entrepreneurial journey, he has remained deeply connected to the performing arts as an emcee, musician, actor, and radio personality.
Early Career & Music
Brian’s early career was rooted in performance and communication, long before the event industry in India became structured. He emerged as one of the country’s first-generation professional emcees and radio jockeys, beginning his journey around the launch of FM radio in India in 1993. His work as a host and anchor across live shows, corporate events, and broadcast platforms established him as a versatile performer with a deep understanding of audience engagement. This foundation in music, performance, and storytelling became a defining influence in how he later approached experiential formats and live entertainment.
Transition to Entrepreneurship
Recognising the untapped potential of branded experiences and live engagement in India, Brian co-founded Fountainhead Promotions & Events, helping build one of the earliest and most influential experiential agencies in the country. His transition into entrepreneurship was driven by a vision to professionalise and scale the events industry, bringing together creativity, marketing, and execution at a time when the sector was still nascent. Over the years, he expanded his role beyond business-building into industry leadership, contributing to policy, standards, and community-building through EEMA.
About The Company
Brian currently leads Radioactive Ventures, a platform focused on content, conversations, and capability-building within the media and entertainment ecosystem. Through this venture, he has launched properties such as ‘Tellis Like It Is’ – originally introduced as a podcast over a decade ago and later evolved into a talk show that explores the human stories behind public figures; The Chinwag Collective, a podcast series featuring conversations with industry leaders across media, arts, and entertainment; and The Indian School of Protocol, which offers workshops and mentorship in professional etiquette, communication, and collaboration. In parallel, he also serves as a consultant to the Aditya Birla Group, advising on strategic cultural initiatives.
Impact & Vision
Brian Tellis’s impact lies in his role as both a builder and a storyteller-someone who has shaped the infrastructure of India’s experiential industry while continuing to influence its cultural narrative. From pioneering live event formats to mentoring the next generation of professionals, his work reflects a commitment to raising industry standards and fostering meaningful dialogue. His vision through Radioactive Ventures is to create platforms that combine insight, storytelling, and skill-building, ultimately contributing to a more collaborative, articulate, and globally competitive media and entertainment ecosystem in India.
