Over the past seven years, Luminate has helped more than 70 startups advance their technologies, scale their businesses, and secure funding. Now, it’s your turn to join this transformative program. As the year winds down, we’re gearing up for our next incredible group of startups.
Don’t miss your opportunity to receive $100K in immediate funding, seven months of hands-on mentorship from industry leaders matched to your specific needs, and the chance to compete for up to $1M in follow-on funding. Apply by January 10!
Still deciding if Luminate is the right fit for your company?
Get your final questions answered on Tuesday, January 7 at 1:00 PM EST during our last info session of this round of Luminate. We’ll walk through the application process and offer tips for a strong application.
Register for the session.
3 Things That Can Make or Break a Luminate Application
Luminate is a highly competitive program with only 10-12 spots per cohort. Make your submission more effective by considering these tips from Luminate’s Director of Technology Integration, Dr. Damon Diehl. These three things can make or break an application.
1. Be Clear About Your Tie to OPI
The first and most important thing is to explain how your technology uses optics, photonics, or imaging. At Luminate, optics, photonics, and imaging is what we do — so we need to understand what YOU do. Be specific about how you will leverage Luminate to accelerate your success.
2. Make a Strong Case
Craft a compelling video. The production quality isn’t important. You can use your laptop camera or cell phone. What matters is your message. Convince us of your team’s quality, your technology’s viability, and your business’s trajectory.
3. Be Concise!
We have limited time to review over one hundred applications. When we ask for a paragraph, please don’t write a page. If we can’t figure out your application within two minutes, we have to move on to the next.
The Luminate application deadline is only weeks away. These three tips will help your submission stand out. Good luck!
Reads to Close Out the Year
Essential Year-End Tax and Business Tips for Founders
As the year comes to a close, it’s time for founders to focus on key strategies to optimize their finances and prepare for growth in 2025. With opportunities like expanded retirement plan credits, clean vehicle tax incentives, and depreciation benefits, founders can take meaningful actions to reduce costs and set the stage for success. Thomas Wright, CPA, MST, offers his top five things every founder should prioritize.
Semiconductors Enhancing Upstate NY and U.S. Leadership
Semiconductor manufacturing is vital to the economic growth of Upstate New York, and the Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse regions recently received a $40M federal grant to establish the NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub. Luminate advisory board member Duncan T. Moore, PhD highlights attributes of the Rochester region that position it to become a key player in semiconductor production, including its educational institutions, integrated photonics expertise, and startup ecosystem. Moore believes that, with advancements in chip fabrication and a collaborative approach, the region can achieve Senator Schumer’s vision of producing a quarter of all U.S.-made semiconductors near the I-90 corridor.
Ramanujan Reflects on Career Journey
From joining her first startup as an engineer to leading a world-class accelerator, Luminate’s Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, Dr. Sujatha Ramanujan, has experienced every stage of entrepreneurship. In a recent feature in (585) Magazine, she shared insights from her rich professional life — emphasizing good execution, learning from failure, and the importance of integrity. A strong advocate for diversity in leadership, Dr. Ramanujan challenges biases against women and technical experts, calling for leaders with deep knowledge and a commitment to building successful, ethical businesses.
Help Make Optics & Photonics More Accessible
MEETOPTICS, a Luminate cohort 5 company, recently launched its exclusive Ambassador Program and is looking for 25 ambassadors to influence the future and shape of its optics and photonics search platform in 2025. Participants will enjoy perks such as early access to new platform features, a welcome pack, and opportunities to attend industry conferences. Applications are open until December 20, 2024.
Portfolio Wins
Six Luminate portfolio companies have been named to F6S’ list of Top 100 Hardware Companies and Startups in December 2024. Nice work, Andluca Technologies, Bounce Imaging, LLUME, Momentum Optics, SeeTrue Technologies, and QD Solar (acquired by SunDensity).
AquaRealTime has partnered with Nano Infusion Technologies to integrate their innovations, delivering customers real-time, lab-accurate monitoring, early-warning systems for harmful algae blooms, and concrete proof that their investments yield exceptional results.
Dynocardia has received a $1M NSF grant to enhance the company’s innovative motion-artifact mitigation technology, enabling precise and continuous monitoring of blood pressure and other vital signs.
Photosynthetic is one of seven finalists in the 15th annual SPIE Startup Challenge, a pitch competition for investment-ready technologies. Recognized for its Volumetric Micro-Lithography, which enables the rapid production of complex 3D devices with submicron features, Photosynthetic will pitch live to venture capitalists and business-development experts for a top prize of $10,000 at the Startup Challenge during Photonics West.
PlanOpSim and Qunnect are 2025 SPIE PRISM Award finalists in the software and quantum tech categories, respectively. With last year’s award for Qunnect’s QU-APC (Auto Polarization Compensator) instrument, a win for QU-RACK Gotham would make two consecutive PRISM awards for this Luminate alum!
Swave Photonics was honored with the CES 2025 Innovation Award for its Holographic eXtended Reality (HXR) platform. This groundbreaking technology is the first 3D holographic display designed for augmented reality, delivering natural high-resolution images that seamlessly integrate into users’ surroundings.
Power Your Battery Startup with ChargeUp
ChargeUp, New Energy New York’s accelerator program for battery innovation, is now accepting applications for its second cohort. Apply by January 15, 2025 to join this hybrid program that runs from April to October 2025. Receive $25K in funding, expert guidance, and access to resources within a federally designated Battery Tech Hub.
For more information, visit the NENY ChargeUp website or join one of the virtual info sessions.