International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8 is a time to amplify women’s achievements and commit to forging gender equality. This year’s theme, #AccelerateAction, resonates deeply within Luminate, the world’s largest accelerator for optics, photonics, and imaging (OPI), where groundbreaking women founders are shaping the future of technology and industry.

In a recent article for the Rochester Beacon, Luminate’s Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, Dr. Sujatha Ramanujan, highlighted the importance of keeping pathways to innovation open for everyone. She emphasized that without concerted efforts to remove barriers, we risk losing the diversity of thought and experience that fuels true breakthroughs.

“When organizations choose to take their focus off of diversity, equity, and inclusion, they may be less likely to actively promote and support the advancement of women, as well as other minorities, into positions that will be key to their business’s continued discovery, innovation, and future,” wrote Ramanujan. “This will lead to stagnation on multiple levels, not just in progress toward equality, but in business growth and financial success for everyone involved—from owners and employees to the communities in which they both work and do business.”

As we recognize IWD, we’re showcasing some of the inspiring women founders of Luminate startups—women who are accelerating action in STEM, breaking barriers, and forging paths for future generations. Their work underscores the vital role diversity plays in advancing technology and transforming industries.

Dr. Susana Marcos, Co-Founder of 2EyesVision and co-inventor of the company’s SimVis technology that allows patients to ‘try on’ multifocal corrections before cataract surgery, intraocular lens implantation, or contact lens fitting. The technology reduces uncertainty in postoperative results, improves patient satisfaction, and increases clinic profitability.

“Persistence, dedication, collaboration, enthusiasm, creativity, talent… Those are all ingredients to success, and none of them gender dependent.”

Dr. Barbara Buades, Co-Founder and CEO of MEETOPTICS, the largest database in optics and photonics that allows engineers and researchers to access and compare products and technologies from trusted manufacturers. By simplifying access to photonics components and technology, MEETOPTICS is helping drive progress across industries.

“Follow your passion and believe in yourself. Surround yourself with positive people who encourage you to make this world better every day.”

Clare Murphy, Co-Founder and CEO of Layer Metrics Inc., a company driving the transition to high-value, high-yield advanced manufacturing with its proprietary multiplexed metrology and sensing technologies. Layer Metrics’ ability to capture light from multiple locations simultaneously and analyze synchronized signals offers a sophisticated and convenient approach for high-speed, high-resolution, multi-point analyses that enable next generation manufacturing.

IWD also marks the second anniversary of Murphy passing her US naturalization test.

“I am delighted to be truly international!” she shared. Murphy draws inspiration from a Maya Angelou quote: “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”

Dr. Cara Wessels Wells, Founder and CEO of EmGenisys, developers of the first non-invasive embryo analysis software to improve the success rates of bovine embryo transfer and in vitro fertilization.

“I grew up watching my mom, a mechanical engineer, hold leadership roles in STEM, so I never doubted it was possible. The confidence she has instilled in me has enabled me to pursue my own career in STEM, founding EmGenisys to deliver biotechnologies to make the world a better place. And I aim to inspire other girls and women to do the same.”

Carole Egerton, Chief Operating Officer at Clear, a company pioneering unprecedented access to prescription eyecare. Clear’s suite of revolutionary products includes Clear Rx, a standalone clinically accurate eye test that can be taken anywhere, on any device.

Dr. Juniyali Nauriyal, Co-Founder and CEO of Photonect Interconnect Solutions, a team that’s redefining efficiency in fiber-to-chip attachment. Photonect’s laser solution eliminates the need for specialized tools and adhesives, dramatically lowering device production costs without sacrificing performance or reliability.

Dr. Magdalena Kurzyp, Chief Business Officer at Photosynthetic, a company enabling the rapid production of complex 3D devices with submicron resolution. Photosynthetic was recently runner-up at this year’s SPIE Startup Challenge for its Volumetric Micro-Lithography solution.

Dr. Yasaman Soudagar is among one of the earliest women founders to be part of the Luminate accelerator. Her company Neurescence was dedicated to developing better methods for studying the central nervous system, combining novel optical imaging technology with machine learning to overcome critical challenges in neuroresearch.

“I grew my first startup, Neurescence, with support from many amazing women, and men, who believe supporting female founders has lower risk, results in higher revenue, and positive impact on the community. Neurescence was acquired by Bruker (NASDAQ: BRKR) towards the end of 2022, giving me the privilege of working with a number of amazing women in senior level leadership roles in a multinational organisation. My biggest supporter and Co-Founder, Sepi Hashemi, and I are now at the initial stages of our second company, Exhilarare. Stay tuned!”

On this International Women’s Day, we celebrate the many contributions from the women in the Luminate fold, and reaffirm our commitment to fostering an inclusive and innovative future in optics, photonics, and imaging.