The Idea Evaluation Process
Because illuminis invests significant development resources, infrastructure,and go-to-market effort into every Build + Launch application, not every idea submission results in acceptance. illuminis evaluates each idea through a structured process designed to maximize the probability of success for both the idea originator and the platform. Understanding this process helps you prepare a stronger submission and set realistic expectations about acceptance timelines.
The Evaluation Criteria
illuminis assesses every Build + Launch idea submission against five core criteria:
1. Market Opportunity Size
The first question is whether the market for the proposed application is large enough to justify the development investment. illuminis evaluates the total addressable market (TAM), the serviceable addressable market (SAM),and the realistic near-term customer base. Applications targeting niche markets can absolutely be accepted,a tool for dental practices or marine logistics companies can be highly profitable,but the market must be large enough to generate meaningful revenue at realistic conversion rates.
2. Problem Clarity and Urgency
The strongest ideas address problems that are clearly defined, widely experienced,and urgent enough that the target customer is actively seeking solutions. illuminis evaluates whether the problem you have identified is a genuine pain point or a nice-to-have, whether customers are currently spending money on alternative solutions,and whether the proposed application offers a meaningfully better approach than existing options.
3. Competitive Landscape
illuminis analyzes the competitive environment for every proposed application. The ideal scenario is not the absence of competition (which often indicates a lack of market demand) but rather a competitive landscape where existing solutions have clear weaknesses that your application can address. illuminis looks for differentiation opportunities in pricing, user experience, feature depth, or target market focus.
4. Monetization Potential
Because the revenue share model means both parties need the application to generate meaningful revenue, illuminis evaluates the monetization path carefully. Key questions include:
- Is the target customer willing and able to pay for software solutions?
- What pricing model makes sense,subscription, usage-based, per-seat, or transaction-based?
- What is the realistic average revenue per customer?
- What is the expected customer lifetime value and churn rate?
- Can revenue scale with adoption, or does it plateau quickly?
5. Technical Feasibility
Finally, illuminis engineering evaluates whether the proposed application can be built within a reasonable timeline and budget. Some ideas are technically sound but would require years of development to reach minimum viability. Others depend on technologies, APIs, or data sources that may not be reliably available. The engineering assessment ensures that accepted ideas can be executed efficiently.
The Submission and Review Process
The Build + Launch application process follows a defined sequence:
- Initial submission: you complete an idea submission form that captures the problem statement, target market, competitive landscape,and your background and domain expertise
- Preliminary review: illuminis evaluates the submission against the five criteria within 10 business days and provides initial feedback
- Discovery call: if the idea passes preliminary review, illuminis schedules a discovery conversation to explore the concept in depth, ask clarifying questions,and assess the collaboration fit
- Decision: within 5 business days of the discovery call, illuminis provides a decision: accept, decline, or request modifications to the concept before proceeding
What Improves Your Chances
While there is no formula that guarantees acceptance, the strongest submissions typically include evidence of market demand (even informal validation like survey results or customer conversations), a clear articulation of why existing solutions fall short,and demonstrated domain expertise in the target market. illuminis is looking for ideas from people who deeply understand the problem,not just people who think an app would be cool.
If Your Idea Is Not Accepted
A decline does not mean your idea is bad. It may mean the timing is not right, the market size is too small for the Build + Launch investment model, or the competitive landscape makes differentiation too difficult. illuminis provides constructive feedback with every decline and encourages resubmission if the idea evolves or market conditions change.