In the Fall of 2010, then MBA Classmates, Swapnil Bora and Corey Egan, took their vision to make light better to the annual Business Idea Competition at the University of Texas at Dallas. Their idea for an app controlled LED light won first place and came with a $5,000 prize which funded the company and ilumi was born. From there, Swapnil and Corey traveled throughout North America in the Spring of 2011, building their idea for better lighting.