
Introducing Cohort 4
Our typical program calendar has shifted due to COVID, but it seems fitting to welcome a new season of growth with a new cohort of promising startups. Out of 126 applications from 22 countries and 21 U.S. states, these 10 rose to the top! Andluca Technologies — UV-solar-powered smart glass for improving the energy […]

Cohort 4 Announcement Coming Soon!
Last week, 27 semi-finalists pitched virtually to our advisory board members for a place in cohort 4. Startup teams from around the world shared their innovations in augmented/virtual reality, medical devices and imaging, displays and light sources, precision manufacturing and measurement, materials science, spectroscopy, and sensors. They fielded questions about their tech, team, business […]

Here’s to More Firsts
Firsts are exciting. To most of us, they represent new beginnings. To entrepreneurs, they demonstrate the importance of seeing the world in a slightly different way — what could be if we truly dare to change the status quo. While 2020 did serve us some extremes, it also gave us many historic firsts that […]

New Year, New Possibilities
As the most challenging year in collective memory winds down, opportunity draws near. We’re closing out 2020 with excitement and optimism — the deadline to apply for cohort 4 is quickly approaching! Our team of judges is looking forward to reviewing applications from across the country and around the globe. With applicants from Ireland […]

Counting Down to Cohort 4
Register for Luminate Live Webinars Learn more about Luminate, the benefits of participating, and how to apply. You can access the recording of our first webinar or register for future webinars here. Coming up on December 3, talk with three companies from prior Luminate cohorts who will share their experience at the accelerator. It’s […]

Now Recruiting Cohort 4
2020 brought unprecedented changes to our accelerator program and the companies we support — and we adapted as innovators do. As we move into a new year and recruit our fourth cohort, we’ll continue to stay flexible and offer the funding, programming, resources, and opportunities that will help our startups succeed. Apply to Be […]

Luminate Finals 2020 in Review
Round 3 of the Luminate NY startup competition is a wrap! More than 1,500 people from around the world registered for Luminate Finals 2020, held in conjunction with The Optical Society’s first-ever all-virtual Frontiers in Optics + Laser Science (FiO + LS) Conference. Congratulations to This Year’s Investment Recipients! While all ten startup companies […]

July 2020 in Review
Can you believe Luminate Finals 2020 is less than a month away? Registration is now open for this free event. We hope you’ll register here to attend and help your favorite startup take home the “Audience Choice” award by voting. This year, the pitch competition will be held in conjunction with the 2020 Frontiers […]

June 2020 in Review
Be sure to save the date for Luminate Finals 2020! The pitch competition will be held on Sept. 14 from 10:30 AM to Noon EDT at the 2020 Frontiers in Optics + Laser Science (FiO+LS) conference. For the first time, FiO+LS will be held virtually, and sessions will be free to attendees. Our Finals […]