
The FUSE Business Innovation Awards recognize the accomplishments of both companies and individuals in Bloomington’s thriving technology and innovation scene.
2020 Winners
The 2020 FUSE Business Innovation Awards recognize a wide range of players in the innovation ecosystem and celebrate their accomplishments. Congratulations to these outstanding innovators!

Bill & Gayle Cook Entrepreneur of the Year
Awarded to a founder who has created an environment where employees can flourish and whose customers love their products or services
- Eddie DeSalle | Net Irrigate
- WINNER—Jeff Mease | One World Enterprises
- Adam Quirk and Jeff Wuslich | Cardinal Spirits
- Ari Vidali | Envisage
Mentor of the Year
Awarded to an outstanding role model who has advised and encouraged best practices in an early stage company’s growth
- Jane Kupersmith | Hopscotch Coffee and City of Bloomington
- Chris Martoglio | Blue Burro
- WINNER—Cy Megnin | Velocities
- Geng Wang | Civic Champs
Company of the Year
Awarded to a company who exemplifies Bloomington’s values while achieving revenue and job growth
- WINNER—Catalent
- Hanapin / BrainLabs
- NetIrrigate
- RegattaVR
Rising Star of the Year
Awarded to a company with less than ten employees that has laid the foundation for future revenue and job growth
- Content Cucumber
- WINNER—Genie Supply
- infoSentience
- Stagetime
Partner of the Year
Awarded to an organization who directly impacts the success of The Mill and its members
- WINNER—Cook Center for Entrepreneurship
- The Combine
- gBETA
- IU Ventures
Community Leader Supporting Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Awarded to an individual who proudly and unapologetically supports The Mill and its members with time, energy, and talent
- WINNER—Lynn Coyne
- Jane Martin
- Sue Sgambelluri
- Pete Yonkman
Newsworthy Event of the Year
Voted by Mill members and awarded to an individual, corporation, or organization who best demonstrates through public relations that great things are happening in Bloomington
- WINNER—Catalent invests $50mm and hires 300 additional employees to support a COVID-19 vaccine
- Civic Champs is welcomed into the inaugural class of Techstars Iowa
- Envisage accepts an investment from Norwest, with $9.5 billion in assets under management
- Hanapin grows 50% since selling in February to BrainLabs, its largest UK competitor
- NetIrrigate sells to Lindsay Corporation (NYSE: LNN)
- RegattaVR sells to NIIT, a multi-billion dollar company
Psst! Take a look at our other business awards too!
2019 Fuse Business Innovation Award Winners
Bill & Gayle Cook Entrepreneur of the Year
- Cedric Savarese | CEO & Founder, FormAssembly
- Ryan Newton | CEO & Founder, Cloudseal
Mentor of the Year
- Jason Whitney | Executive Director, IU Angel Network
Company of the Year
- Cloudseal
- FormAssembly
Rising Star of the Year
Partner of the Year
Community Leader Supporting Entrepreneurship & Innovation
- John Hamilton | Mayor, Bloomington, IN
Newsworthy Event of the Year
- Cloudseal receives SBIR grant, completes gBETA accelerator, and is acquired by Facebook
2018 Fuse Business Innovation Award Winners
Bill & Gayle Cook Entrepreneur of the Year
- Reuben Vandevender | Co-founder, Data Clairvoyance and ZIO
Mentor of the Year
- Brad Wisler | CEO, Periodic
Company of the Year
- Cook Pharmica
Rising Star of the Year
- Ziptility
2017 Fuse business award Winners
Bill & Gayle Cook Entrepreneur of the Year
- Doug Dayhoff | Former President, Upland Brewing
Mentor of the Year
- Jane Martin | Retired Venture Capitalist
Company of the Year
- Envisage Technologies
Rising Star of the Year
- Cheddar