IT'S YOUR BUSINESS -INNOVATION WEEK: BLOOMINGTON SHINES AS A HUB FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP + INNOVATION
Last week, Bloomington showcased its growing role as an innovation hub with its
biggest Innovation Week yet. Coinciding with Global Entrepreneurship Week, over 700
participants joined 35 events across seven venues, celebrating technology, creativity,
and entrepreneurship.
Bloomington hosted the third-most Global Entrepreneurship
Week events in the nation and led Indiana. The Mill ranked in the top ten nationally for
event programming, highlighting our team’s dedication to fostering innovation.
Partnerships deepened, including support from the Indiana Economic Development
Corporation (IEDC) for programs like PROPELS and the Uplands Accelerator,
reinforcing the value of statewide collaboration in growing Bloomington’s ecosystem.
Why Innovation Week Matters
Innovation Week is more than just a calendar of events—it’s a rallying cry for
Bloomington’s entrepreneurs, innovators, and changemakers. It celebrates their
achievements and provides a platform for collaboration, mentorship, and inspiration. As
Andy Lehman, Head of Accelerator Programming at The Mill, who led Innovation Week,
explained, “We want to make Bloomington the innovation hub for Indiana, not just in
reputation but in action. Innovation Week shows the world what we’re capable of.”
A central goal of Innovation Week is to demonstrate that Bloomington is a community
where big ideas thrive. This vision is shared by Indiana University, one of our most
important partners. IU Innovates, the university’s entrepreneurship center, and IU
Ventures, the university’s venture capital arm, hosted and participated during several
events during the week, highlighting their roles in advancing Bloomington’s innovation
ecosystem. This partnership bridges the gap between academia and industry, ensuring
that students and faculty are integral contributors to Bloomington’s growth.
Event Highlights
Among the most talked-about events this year was the City Robotics Challenge, a
competition that brought middle and high school students together to code, program,
and drive robots. This hands-on experience introduced young learners to the world of
STEM, emphasizing the connection between coding, engineering, and real-world
applications. As Andy Lehman described, “It’s exciting to see students and families so
engaged. The Robotics Challenge wasn’t just fun—it was an introduction to skills that
will shape their futures.”
The Collegiate Founders Summit was another standout event, gathering university
student entrepreneurs from across Indiana to exchange ideas and build connections.
This event evolved naturally from Startup Summer, The Mill’s paid internship for
collegiate founders with participants from major universities, including Purdue, Indiana
University, Notre Dame, Wabash, and DePauw. It offers student entrepreneurs
opportunities to grow their ventures and connect with peers. The summit expanded this
vision by creating a collaborative space for collegiate founders across Indiana who
contribute a vibrant mix of perspectives and ideas, fostering rich collaboration and
learning. By addressing challenges unique to student-led startups and providing a
platform for networking and shared resources, the summit underscored a commitment
to nurturing student innovation.
Innovation Week also featured two high-stakes pitch competitions. The Idea
Competition, a rapid-fire event, awarded $500 to Firebird, a startup focused on
retirement planning. It was co-founded by two Bloomington Remote participants who
previously worked at companies such as Spotify and Microsoft. Meanwhile, Taptic, a
mobile app designed to support the deaf and hard-of-hearing community with
customizable vibrating notifications, won the Crossroads Pitch Competition, which are
for pre-seed and seed startups, and a $10,000 investment from Flywheel Fund.
Building Momentum with PROPELS and Crane
This year’s Innovation Week included a strong focus on commercialization, thanks to
PROPELS, a program designed to accelerate the development of intellectual property
(IP) into viable products. The aim is to identify and develop technologies with
transformative potential for both defense and civilian applications. Through The Mill’s
PROPELS program, participants received expert guidance and actionable strategies to
tackle the unique challenges of bringing defense technologies to market. With Crane’s
resources and The Mill’s entrepreneurial support, the program builds on a legacy of
defense-driven consumer breakthroughs. We aim to find the next Internet, GPS, and
digital camera, which all came from government IP.
Looking Ahead: Innovation in Action
As successful as this year’s Innovation Week was, we’re already looking to the future.
Expanding partner participation is a top priority, and we’re exploring creative ways to
involve local businesses. For example, restaurants could contribute by crafting
innovative menu items or hosting themed events. “It’s about creating a culture of
innovation that touches every aspect of our community,” Andy said. “The more people
we involve, the stronger our ecosystem becomes.”
We also plan to build on the momentum of this year’s inaugural Collegiate Founders
Summit and continue expanding programs like PROPELS. By fostering deeper
connections with Crane and other partners, we aim to drive even greater impact in the
years to come.
Innovation Week is more than a celebration—it’s a statement of intent. It’s about
planting a flag for Bloomington as a leader in technology, entrepreneurship, and
collaboration. As we reflect on this year’s successes, we’re reminded of the incredible
potential of our community. With the continued support of our Cornerstone Sponsors,
including Cook Group and City of Bloomington and our Innovation Week partners,
including Indiana University, Crane, and the IEDC, the future of innovation in
Bloomington has never been brighter.
Pat East is the Executive Director of The Mill, a non-profit entrepreneurship center on a
mission to build and nurture Bloomington’s startup ecosystem. Our vision is to become
the center of tech entrepreneurship in Indiana