Eight months ago, I described Bloomington at a crossroads, calling for the same bold ambition that once made the Showers Brothers, Sarkes Tarzian, and Bill and Gayle Cook household names. I posed the question: will we rise to meet 21st century challenges with transformative action?
Since January, our partners have answered that call, pulling together to create genuine momentum toward building the innovation ecosystem Bloomington deserves.
Innovation Week 2025 (November 4-7) showcases this renewed energy and commitment, demonstrating that today's entrepreneurs can indeed build tomorrow's global companies right here in Bloomington.
Meeting Today's Innovation Leaders
Bloomington's next generation of transformative leaders is already here.
Companies like Percipient and Paid.Care—both operating out of The Mill—represent exactly the kind of high-growth ventures we need to retain. They join established success stories like Bloom Insurance, whose CEO built a national market leader here and is now building their national command center at The Forge. This proximity between mature companies and emerging startups creates deliberate ecosystem design allowing established entrepreneurs to mentor the next generation.
Entrepreneurs are leveraging our proximity to IU's world-class research, connections to Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane, and rich creative community to build solutions that compete globally.
For every success story we celebrate, more potential entrepreneurs take notice—seeing that our community is building the supportive ecosystem ambitious ventures need to thrive.
Beyond Optics: The Action Imperative
Too many innovation events prioritize appearances over outcomes. Innovation Week takes the opposite approach. Our tagline says it all: "Bloomington's action week. Where ideas and inspiration become action." This isn't about ribbon cuttings or ceremonial handshakes—it's about deals made, pilots launched, talent connected, and partnerships forged.
Innovation Week organizes around four strategic clusters—creating focused environments where HealthTech innovators connect with medical device buyers, AI researchers meet venture capitalists, agencies and private contractors discover GovTech solutions, and Creative Arts innovators collaborate with startups and established companies.
Building on Strong Foundations
Supporting this growing ecosystem are critical partners like Paragraph Venture Studio, IU Ventures, Flywheel Fund, and IU Innovates.
Our progress since January is encouraging. Yet, our median household income and population challenges remain real, and we need to act urgently with concrete solutions rather than just concern.
High-growth technology companies offer expanding opportunities. Tech companies compete on innovation, talent, and execution—areas where Bloomington's research and creative communities provide distinct advantages that we're finally learning to leverage effectively.
Innovation Week creates a market signal that there is a pathway to build meaningful companies, careers and lives here by bringing together the full spectrum of innovation stakeholders in one place, at one time, with clear action-oriented objectives.
The Trades District: Where Vision Becomes Reality
Centering Innovation Week in The Trades District is strategic. This emerging innovation hub, supported by a $16 million Lilly Endowment Inc. grant and partnerships with Indiana University and the City of Bloomington, represents our tangible commitment to creating infrastructure ambitious companies need.
When innovators gather during Innovation Week, they're experiencing Bloomington's future.
Your Action Steps Begin Now
Innovation Week succeeds only with broad community participation:
Register for Innovation Week events that align with your interests and expertise. Whether you're a potential customer, investor, partner, or simply someone who believes in Bloomington's innovative future, there are programming tracks designed specifically for your engagement.
Join us to develop co-branded programming opportunities across the city. Innovation Week's impact multiplies when organizations throughout Bloomington create complementary events that amplify the week's energy.
Share your innovation stories at the Innovation Week portal. Our ecosystem grows stronger when we celebrate the full spectrum of entrepreneurial activity happening across our community.
The Showers Brothers didn't build America's largest furniture company by playing it safe. Sarkes Tarzian didn't revolutionize broadcasting by accepting limitations. Bill and Gayle Cook didn't create a global medical device empire by thinking small.
Today's innovators possess the same bold spirit as our historic pioneers. Innovation Week 2025 is where that transformation accelerates. Join us November 4-7 and help shape the future of Bloomington—one action, one connection, one ambitious venture at a time.
