90 Days to Scale

What We're Seeing

Startups are scaling here—in GovTech, defense, AI, education, and beyond. They’re not waiting for permission or applause.

And there are clear patterns emerging:

• Tools that make public systems work better

• Platforms that sharpen human judgment and decision-making

• Founders with lived experience solving the problems they know best

We didn’t manufacture this. We’re just paying attention—and building around what’s already real.

Why Now

Because the companies are already here—and they’re ready.

Teams across the region are building for national security, civic infrastructure, and other hard problems. They’re not ideas—they’re shipping product, generating revenue, and trying to scale. They’ve found ways to succeed because of what Bloomington offers—and sometimes despite the gaps in infrastructure.

Meanwhile, IU, Crane, and the broader Bloomington community are producing people with the talent, research, and ambition to solve real-world problems. This is about creating the conditions for those people to build here—and to stay.

We’re flipping the model: companies don’t plug into our structure. We build infrastructure based on what they actually need.

How it Works

We run 3-month cycles, four per year. Each one includes a small cohort of companies and a clear focus on outcomes—not theater.

Founder-Centered Cycles

• Each company sets its own measurable 90-day goals

• Facilitators push execution, unlock access, and keep things moving

• Progress is shared publicly at the end of the cycle—not for applause, but for clarity

• No mentorship theater or pitch decks—just clarity, execution, and traction

Curated, Committed Companies

• Most companies will have $100K+ in revenue—or be unmistakably on track. The earlier you are, the more clarity, traction, and urgency you need to show.

• It’s for founders with real businesses and serious slope. Most will be invited; a few can raise their hand.

• Cohorts weigh in on who joins next—this is peer-led, not top-down.

Strict Participation Terms

• Show up and make progress on stated goals

• Join bi-weekly working sessions and a public check-in at the end

• Share wins and gaps honestly to sharpen the group

8-Cycle Cap

Companies can participate for up to 8 cycles (2 years). Then they’re out—ideally because they’ve outgrown it.

How We Measure Progress

Every company reports progress across core categories:

• Customers: New customers, expansion, retention milestones

• Revenue: Net new revenue, ARR/MRR growth, contract velocity

• Product & Execution: Shipped features tied to real needs, technical milestones

• Visibility: Website traffic growth, case studies, strategic validation

Each cycle ends with a public signal, not a song and dance.

Who Really Makes This Work

Institutions don’t help startups scale. People do.

We’re building around individuals who bring leverage:

• Insiders who can unlock access or deploy a pilot.

• Operators who’ve scaled and know what it takes.

• Connectors who make intros that actually matter.

• Problem Owners—from IU, Crane, or the City—who want to solve real problems and are willing to help startups help them.

The Mill and IU Innovates provide connective tissue—but the companies stay at the center.

Want In?

This isn’t open enrollment. If you’re building something serious and ready to scale—raise your hand. Or better yet, get someone in the room to vouch for you.

This is for founders who know that clarity—not capital—is the real unlock.

If that sounds like you, let’s go.