 BC MIA Academy was founded in 2008, intending to provide MIA employees with an opportunity to play basketball at a professional level.However, funding was gradually increased during the following seasons, allowing the club to acquire more experienced Georgian players, as well as foreign imports, and to set themselves more ambitious targets.Success failed to materialise initially, with the club failing to advance beyond the quarterfinal stage in the championship play-offs, or to win any other domestic tournaments until the 2012/2013 season.