From investor meetings to industry deep dives, Luminate’s annual trip to New York City is designed to accelerate what matters most for deep-tech startups: meaningful connections, sharp feedback, and real momentum. Highlights from cohort 9’s recent trip to the finance capital of the world included a close look at Cornell Tech’s Runway Startup Postdoc Program; a visit with Luminate alumni, Qunnect; and a chance to pitch to Edmund Optics, all culminating in the Investor Summit.
Founders share what they learned, who they met, and how a week in NYC helped move their companies forward. Check out the recap.
Portfolio wins
Phlotonics was selected for the 2026 BioTools Innovator cohort and named to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) Vanguard specialty track.
Photonect was awarded a $1.25M Phase II DoW SBIR contract to support the commercialization of its technology for reliable operation in cryogenic temperature ranges.
Diamond Quanta announced the publication of its latest peer-reviewed paper in Carbon Trends. Co-authored with researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), the findings address a longstanding challenge in diamond materials, where defects and strain fields can limit device performance and broader commercial adoption.
Pixel Photonics is a finalist for the German Founders’ Award 2026, nominated in the “Rising Star” category as one of the three fastest-growing young companies in Germany to remain in the competition. The team is also one of 40 startups selected from 2,100 applications across 70 countries for the fourth round of Constructor Start, an equity-free global accelerator.
Qunnect announced the formal activation of ABQ-Net in Albuquerque, New Mexico, marking the first open-access, entanglement-based quantum network testbed in the United States.
Stony Brook University, alma mater of Qunnect’s Chief Science Officer, Mehdi Namazi, traces the team’s journey from a student-led research project to a company advancing real-world quantum networking technologies. (Pictured)
Tap into support and funding
Optica Startup Program 2026
July 23-24 | Optica Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
This two-day workshop is designed to give professionals and researchers in the optics and photonics sector a hands-on exploration of what it takes to build investable deep-tech companies. Through expert-led discussions, hands-on exercises, and structured networking, attendees gain practical tools, strategic insights, and the confidence to transform ideas into viable, high-impact businesses.
New Energy New York’s Product Certification Program
Applications will be reviewed monthly on a rolling basis
New York State-based companies working on battery or energy storage products may receive up to $40K in reimbursement support for certification and testing costs through this competitive funding opportunity.
America’s Seed Fund, powered by NSF (webinar)
July 9, 11:00 AM EDT
Preparing to submit a proposal for the NSF Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (NSF SBIR/STTR) program? Join the webinar to get technical, step-by-step guidance on navigating the system, preparing for submission, and avoiding common issues.
The next chapter of New York Photonics starts with you
At its recent Annual Meeting, New York Photonics (NYP) outlined three priorities: turning cooperation into a strategy for collaboration; building the “system” behind the optics, photonics, imaging, and laser (OPIL) ecosystem, and raising awareness of the world-class optics and photonics work happening across New York State.
To advance these goals, three action-oriented Special Teams — Innovation, Growth, and People — are focused on connecting R&D initiatives, supporting business growth and commercialization, and strengthening the talent pipeline from K-12 through industry. These working groups are designed to surface insights, align efforts, and connect partners to programs that too often operate in silos.
If you work in, support, educate for, or care about the OPIL industry in New York State — there is a team for you.
Join a Special Team and help make the next chapter of NYP its strongest yet.
News from the optics epicenter
Greater Rochester, NY: Innovation At All Levels
In a recent interview with Business Facilities Magazine, Greater Rochester Enterprise President & CEO Matt Hurlbutt highlighted Rochester as a global leader in optics, photonics, imaging, and laser (OPIL) technologies, as well as the region’s critical role in the semiconductor supply chain.
NewYorkBIO expands its Upstate presence within NextCorps’ innovation ecosystem
As Rochester continues to gain momentum in OPIL, semiconductor manufacturing, and advanced technologies, NewYorkBIO sees growing opportunities for life sciences benefiting and contributing to these industries.