Hunger Curbed, TMR Technology to benefit from networking, resources at co-working space
One high-tech startup builds relationships between food trucks and their customers; the other addresses school safety issues. Both were founded by Indiana University Bloomington students, and both will be further developed this summer at The Mill, a co-working and business incubator space located in Bloomington’s Trades District.
Hunger Curbed and TMR Technology LLC have been offered space this summer at The Mill. Leaders of the 19,000-square-foot space have produced events and programming to support Monroe County’s technology and innovation community since 2017. IU Bloomington is one of its group of Cornerstone Partners. The IU Research and Technology Corp. has its primary office at The Mill and organizes events there to engage entrepreneurs and startups.
Frank Bodi is a senior in the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and co-founder of TMR Technology. The company’s first product is Track My Route, an app that allows users to view the location of their school bus and receive status notifications. Currently used in the Chicagoland area, it will expand into other districts in 2019. Bodi said being at The Mill will benefit the company’s operations.
“The Mill is an incredible environment for collaboration and creative thinking, with a wealth of resources,” Bodi said. “Getting to immerse ourselves in that atmosphere will result in more efficiency and faster development. We’re excited to have this opportunity to continue to grow TMR and be a part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Bloomington.”
Zach Simunic is a senior in the IU Kelley School of Business and co-founder of Hunger Curbed along with Kennedy Brown. The company won second place and $1,500 during Demo Day, the final event of the B-Start program organized by the Bloomington Economic Development Corp. Simunic said The Mill has established a community of like-minded entrepreneurs.
“To be surrounded by people working on incredible and unique projects can add both drive and perspective to what we are working on. Often, when working near others, a roadblock we are facing can be solved by soliciting diverse points of view,” Simunic said. “The opportunity to develop relationships with other founders within the Mill community has been rewarding. Other founders understand the trials of the startup world and thus create an incredible support network.”
The Mill is home to more than a dozen companies and 150 members. Pat East, executive director, said offering space to Hunger Curbed and TMR Technology furthers The Mill’s mission to accelerate and launch high-potential startups.
“Bloomington’s greatest natural resources are the thousands of students who graduate from IU and Ivy Tech every year,” East said. “There’s a cohort in each graduating class actively looking to stay in town. Yet each year, our community struggles to retain our 20-somethings. Inviting startups to work at The Mill this summer is a step toward solving that problem.”
What they’re saying
“I think there has been a rise in students wanting to become entrepreneurs, and The Mill is doing a great job of fanning that flame by hosting events and offering resources to early-stage startups. Bloomington is a great place to start a business because of the plethora of talent and resources available through the university and incubators like The Mill.” — Frank Bodi, co-founder, TMR Technology
“The Mill will continue to host events like Startup Weekend and Wireframe, to serve as judges for Indiana University’s Clapp IDEA Competition and Cheng Wu Innovation Challenge, and to offer year-round programing. We are looking into creating student ambassadors and offering shared memberships for various colleges at IU that students can share.” — Pat East, executive director, The Mill
“I personally believe that students have always been inquisitive and innovative. Resources such as StartupIU, the Shoemaker Innovation Center, B-Start and Dimension Mill allow students to act on their ideas. Bloomington’s community of creators and doers can be an invaluable resource that encourages students to take the risk and venture out.” — Zach Simunic, co-founder, Hunger Curbed
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