CELEBRATE
FUSE Business Innovation Awards
Congratulations to all our 2022 nominees and winners!
innovation
About the Fuse Awards
The Fuse Business Innovation Awards recognize the accomplishments of both companies and individuals in our community’s thriving technology and innovation scene.
Award Categories
Mentor of the Year
Company of the Year
Rising Star of the Year
Partner of the Year
Community Leader of the Year
Newsworthy Event of the Year
Evening Reception
The winners were announced October 11, 2022 at The Mill!
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
Mentor of the Year
Awarded to an outstanding role model who has advised and encouraged best practices in an early-stage company’s growth
Company of the Year
Awarded to a company who exemplifies our community’s values while achieving revenue and job growth
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
Partner of the Year
Awarded to an organization who directly impacts the success of The Mill and its members
Community Leader of the Year
Awarded to an individual who proudly and unapologetically supports The Mill and its members with time, energy, and talent
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 our community
Celebrate with us!
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2022 Winners
Ravi Bhatt
Bill & Gayle Cook Entrepreneur of the Year
NOMINEES
Ravi Bhatt
Adam Quirk & Jeff Wuslich
Jessica Bussert
Brad Wislwer
Elise Young
Mentor of the Year
NOMINEES
Mike Trotzke
Elise Young
Audrey Wessel
Jeff Wuslich
Periodic
Company of the Year
NOMINEES
Folia
Periodic
TEN31 Marketing
Ziptility
SecondSight
Rising Star of the Year
NOMINEES
Kupros
SecondSight
Terran Robotics
Traduality
NSWC Crane
Partner of the Year
NOMINEES
Elevate Ventures
gener8tor
IU Innovation & Commercialization Office
NSWC Crane
Bill Stephan
Community Leader of the Year
NOMINEES
Steve Bryant
Jenna Dix
Bill Stephan
Simran Trana
Periodic Acquired by Exclaimer
Newsworthy Event of the Year
NOMINEES
Periodic acquired by Exclaimer
Bloomington named #15 Midwest Startup City
Cook Medical has near $1B exit
MetroStar expands
2021 Winners
Melanie Walker
Bill & Gayle Cook Entrepreneur of the Year
Geoff Zentz
Mentor of the Year
Switchyard Brewing
Company of the Year
Atlas Solutions
Rising Star of the Year
IU Ventures
Partner of the Year
Jane Kupersmith
Community Leader of the Year
Rising Tech City Award
Newsworthy Event of the Year
Bloomington named Rising Tech City at Mira Awards
Past Winners
2020 Winners
BILL & GAYLE COOK ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
- Jeff Mease | CEO & Founder, One World Enterprises
MENTOR OF THE YEAR
- Cy Megnin | Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Elevate Ventures
COMPANY OF THE YEAR
RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
PARTNER OF THE YEAR
COMMUNITY LEADER SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION
- Lynne Coyne
NEWSWORTHY EVENT OF THE YEAR
- Catalent invests $50mm and hires 300 additional employees to support a COVID-19 vaccine.
2019 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 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 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