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Progress has a beat. Feel it build at Luminate Finals.
The Luminate accelerator’s ninth annual tech showcase and startup competition is sponsored by Optica as part of Frontiers in Optics + Laser Science (FiO LS).
Luminate Finals 2026 brings the deep-tech companies of cohort 9 to the stage as they graduate from the accelerator and step into their next chapter. They’re tackling high‑stakes challenges in healthcare, defense, manufacturing, quantum, and beyond—and up to $2 million in follow‑on funding is on the line, including a $1 million Company of the Year investment. Vote live for the $10,000 cash Audience Choice Award, and get a focused look at the new NSF-backed STELLAR laser innovation hub.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Rochester Riverside Convention Center + Online
12:00-1:30 PM EDT (Doors open at 11:30 AM for in-person attendees)
Table of Contents
PAST EVENT
Luminate Finals 2026
Thank you to Optica for sponsoring Luminate Finals 2026 as part of the FiO+LS 2026 lineup. The event marked the graduation of cohort 9 from the Luminate accelerator, the world’s largest accelerator for optics, photonics, imaging, and laser technologies. Congratulations to all 10 participating companies on reaching this milestone!
Read the winners announcement here.
Congratulations to Our 2026
Follow-On Funding Recipients
$1,000,000: Gekko Photonics
$400,000: AB Photonics
$250,000: Brightlight Photonics
$250,000: Hypervision LTD
$100,000: Phlotonics
$10,000 (Audience Choice): Ciconia Medical
PAST EVENT
Luminate Finals 2025
Thank you to SPIE for sponsoring Luminate Finals as part of the Optifab 2025 lineup. Over 250 attendees joined us at the historic Arbor Midtown and hundreds more livestreamed the event from around the world.
Luminate Finals 2025 marked the graduation of cohort 8 from the Luminate accelerator—an exceptional group of startups driving innovation across sectors. Congratulations to all 12 participating companies on their achievements!
Read the winners announcement here.
Congratulations to Our 2025
Follow-On Funding Recipients
$1,000,000: Pensievision
$500,000: amPICQ
$200,000: Oblate Optics
$200,000: Pixel Photonics
$200,000: SNOChip
$10,000 (Audience Choice):
LirOptic
PAST EVENT
Luminate Finals 2024
We extend our gratitude to Optica for their continued sponsorship of Luminate Finals for the fifth consecutive year. With over 900 registrations and nearly 240 attendees joining us in person, the event was a resounding success honoring the achievements of Luminate cohort 7.
Congratulations to Our 2024
Follow-On Funding Recipients
$1,000,000: Nicslab
$500,000: iLof
$200,000: AI Optics
$200,000: VoxelSensors
$100,000: Photosynthetic
$10,000 (Audience Choice):
SaferStreet Solutions
PAST EVENT
Luminate Finals 2023
Luminate Finals 2023 officially concluded the accelerator program for the startups in cohort 6 and was sponsored by Optica for the fourth year in a row. Nearly 200 attended in person at the Theater at Innovation Square in Downtown Rochester, and almost 900 more livestreamed the event from 36 countries.
Congratulations to Our 2023
Follow-On Funding Recipients
$1,000,000: Oculi
$400,000: Digiteyez
$200,000: Quantune Technologies
$200,000: NanoPattern Technologies
$200,000: Swave Photonics
$50,000: Photonect Interconnect Solutions
$10,000 (Audience Choice):
QART Medical
PAST EVENT
Luminate Finals 2022
Luminate Finals 2022 marked the graduation of the startups in cohort 5 of the Luminate accelerator. Sponsored by Optica and hosted in conjunction with Frontiers in Optics + Laser Science in Rochester, nearly 300 attended in person at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center and hundreds more livestreamed the event from more than 30 countries.
Congratulations to Our 2022
Follow-On Funding Recipients
$1,000,000: LIDROTEC
$500,000: Custom Surgical
$250,000: Alertgy
$125,000: MEETOPTICS
$125,000: SCOUT
$10,000 (Audience Choice):
Custom Surgical
PAST EVENT
Luminate Finals 2021
Luminate Finals 2021 was streamed internationally on Thursday, September 30. Presented by Optica (formerly The Optical Society / OSA), the event honored the achievements of the ten startups in cohort 4 of the Luminate accelerator.
Congratulations to Our 2021
Follow-On Funding Recipients
$1,000,000: PreAct Technologies
$400,000: Andluca Technologies
$250,000: Mesodyne
$250,000: Dynocardia
$200,000: Owl Autonomous Imaging
$10,000 (Audience Choice):
Layer Metrics
PAST EVENT
Luminate Finals 2020
Luminate Finals 2020 was streamed internationally on Monday, September 14, as part of The Optical Society‘s all-virtual Frontiers in Optics + Laser Science (FiO+LS) APS/DLS conference.
Congratulations to Our 2020
Follow-On Funding Recipients
$1,000,000: SunDensity
$400,000: Simulated Inanimate Models
$300,000: Rubitection
$250,000: Nordetect
$250,000: AkknaTek
$10,000 (Audience Choice):
Kilo Medical Solutions