Tier Flexibility and Upgrade Paths
The illuminis App Marketplace is designed to grow with you. If your needs change,whether your successful Launch-tier app requires development support for its next major version, or you want illuminis to take over go-to-market execution,upgrading between tiers is a supported and straightforward process. However, because each tier involves a different level of investment from illuminis, upgrades require a new service agreement and adjusted revenue share terms.
Launch to Build + Launch
The most common upgrade path is from Launch (70/30) to Build + Launch (35/65). This typically happens when a developer has a successful application on the Launch tier but recognizes that they need professional development capacity to build the next version, add complex features, or scale the application beyond what they can handle independently. The upgrade process includes:
- Scoping conversation: illuminis product managers review your existing application, understand your growth objectives,and define the scope of work that Build + Launch will cover going forward
- Revenue share transition: the new 35/65 revenue share takes effect on a mutually agreed date, typically aligned with the start of illuminis development work on your application
- Code and architecture review: illuminis engineering evaluates your existing codebase to plan the most efficient path for continued development
- Service agreement: a new Build + Launch agreement is executed that covers IP ownership, development responsibilities,and go-to-market commitments
Importantly, upgrading does not mean starting over. illuminis works with your existing application code and user base. The transition is designed to be seamless for your existing customers.
Build + Launch to Build + Launch Premium
Upgrading from the standard Build + Launch tier to the Premium tier is common when applications gain traction in regulated industries or secure enterprise contracts that require enhanced infrastructure guarantees. The upgrade involves:
- Infrastructure migration: your application is migrated from shared infrastructure to dedicated compute resources with enhanced redundancy and failover capabilities
- Compliance support: if regulatory compliance support is required, illuminis works with you to implement appropriate controls, audit mechanisms,and documentation
- SLA activation: the 99.99% uptime SLA with financial penalty provisions is activated for your application
- Revenue share adjustment: the split changes from 35/65 to 20/80 to reflect the higher infrastructure and compliance costs
Can I Downgrade?
Downgrading between tiers is possible but less straightforward than upgrading, because illuminis may have already invested significant resources in development and infrastructure for higher tiers. Downgrade terms are specified in the service agreement and typically involve a transition period. For example, moving from Build + Launch back to Launch means you would need to take over development and go-to-market responsibilities yourself,and the revenue share would revert to 70/30 after a defined transition period.
When to Consider an Upgrade
Common signals that an upgrade makes sense include:
- Your app is growing faster than you can maintain as a solo developer
- Enterprise customers are requesting compliance certifications you cannot provide on the Launch tier
- You want to focus on the business and product vision rather than writing code
- Your application needs features or a version 2.0 that exceeds your development capacity
- You have identified a market opportunity that requires faster execution than you can deliver independently
illuminis account managers proactively monitor application performance and can recommend tier transitions when the data suggests an upgrade would accelerate growth. These recommendations are advisory,the decision to upgrade is always yours.