For nine years, the Luminate accelerator has brought ambitious founders from around the world to Rochester, New York to turn optics, photonics, imaging, and laser technologies into scalable businesses. Cohort 9 has spent the past several months strengthening go-to-market strategies, building connections, and preparing to launch their solutions into the real world. Their progress reflects a bigger story. New York is a national leader in commercializing optics, photonics, and imaging innovation, and this momentum continues to build with the United States National Science Foundation STELLAR Engine in the Rochester and Finger Lakes region—an initiative establishing an internationally competitive cluster focused on laser technologies and innovation, business expansion, manufacturing, education, and workforce development. Join us at Luminate Finals 2026, sponsored by Optica and presented as part of its Frontiers in Optics + Laser Science (FiO LS) conference, for a close look at the deep tech moving the future forward. Meet the 10 teams of Luminate cohort 9 advancing breakthrough solutions in healthcare, defense, manufacturing, quantum, and beyond. Get a pulse on what’s ahead for STELLAR, and how it will impact innovation and industry. Vote live for your favorite team to help them win this year’s Audience Choice Award and $10,000 cash.

Rochester just got a major boost for laser innovation. The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has selected the University of Rochester-led STELLAR project for millions in federal funding through the NSF Regional Innovation Engines program, and the timing matters. Lasers sit behind a huge share of the technologies we rely on every day, and the U.S. is losing its grip in an industry it helped lead. A map showing the locations of the U.S. National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) cohort 1 and 2. Credit: U.S. National Science Foundation STELLAR is designed to strengthen the region’s laser ecosystem, connect research with real-world applications, and build the infrastructure that helps promising ideas go further. For NextCorps Luminate, the award reinforces work already underway: supporting early-stage laser companies as they grow and move toward commercialization in a region with deep technical expertise and a strong innovation base. “This is a moment where we have a very real opportunity to reclaim leadership in a foundational technology,” said Dr. Sujatha Ramanujan, managing director and chief investment officer of NextCorps Luminate. “We already have the infrastructure, the talent, and the legacy of innovation here. Now it’s about aligning those strengths with focus and execution.”

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’

Rochester’s optics and imaging legacy isn’t just enduring—it’s accelerating. New data from NextCorps’ 2025 Impact Report highlights how Luminate continues to attract top-tier startups from around the world and translate global innovation into regional growth. Since 2018, companies from 60+ countries have come to the Finger Lakes through Luminate, completing projects with regional organizations worth $23M+. Together, they’re not only advancing breakthrough technologies, but also fueling economic momentum—driving investment, creating jobs, and reinforcing Rochester’s position as the Imaging Capital of the World. These milestones represent just a snapshot of Luminate’s growing impact. Read the full impact report Step away from standard pitches Luminate’s annual Investor Summit is coming up, offering qualified investors an exclusive chance to connect with our newest startup teams. Hosted in the heart of Manhattan with spectacular views over Grand Central Terminal, the summit features hors d’oeuvres, networking, and a panel discussion exploring how to ease business operations for non-U.S. companies. Expect high-value conversations with peers and founders, and an early look at new optics, photonics, and imaging innovations. Learn more and request to attend Cohort 9 connects with regional support Luminate recently hosted its seventh annual Regional Showcase, a fast-paced, invite-only event designed to connect our

Another kickoff is in the books, and cohort 9 is now well underway. Earlier this month, our ten newest startup teams came together in Rochester for their first in-person week, getting acquainted with our facility and the resources here, and diving into workshops on branding, value proposition, and customer discovery. Outside the sessions, they experienced the first of many local gems we’ll introduce them to over the course of the program—taking in views of High Falls during trivia night at one of the nation’s oldest and largest breweries in the U.S., Genesee Brew House. A hallmark of kickoff is the Tech Fast Pitch, co-hosted with New York Photonics. Each founder took the stage to share what they’re building and what they need next, “pitching” to potential partners and service providers who can help advance and deploy their technologies in the region. With members of the New York Photonics cluster in the room and Greater Rochester Enterprise’s Leah George VanScott at the mic as co-emcee, the evening offered a clear view into the supportive, collaborative network our startups can immediately begin working with. The week closed with a visit to the University of Rochester, further connecting the cohort to the region’s

Every year, the judging process gets harder as we see more interesting ways to change the current technology landscape. Luminate reviewed 138 applications from 33 different countries for cohort 9. The ten companies selected are addressing complex challenges with novel deep technologies across multiple industries, including life sciences, augmented and virtual reality, advanced manufacturing, and sensing and monitoring. “These startups reflect Luminate NY’s standing as a premier global destination for deep-tech innovation,” said Dr. Sujatha Ramanujan, Luminate Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer. “By connecting these visionary founders with our region’s unmatched OPI supply chain and technical expertise, we are not only accelerating the commercialization of life-changing technologies but also cementing the Finger Lakes’ position as the world’s epicenter for optics and photonics.” The ten teams selected to join us include: AB Photonics (Guilford, CT) — Developing advanced pulsed laser technology that combines affordability with intuitive operation for end-users. Brightlight Photonics (Cambridge, MA) — Revolutionizing CMOS-compatible laser sources for biomedicine, metrology, and quantum technologies. Ciconia Medical (San Diego, CA) — Improving women’s childbirth experiences and outcomes through the first AI-based medical device for vaginal exams. Diamond Quanta (Mountain View, CA) — Building the first scalable engineered-diamond platform, enabling coatings, substrates,

Applications for Luminate cohort 9 are in, with 139 companies from 33 countries in the mix. It’s a dynamic, global pool and our team is now deep in the review process, identifying a new group of breakthrough startups. Stay tuned for the announcement, coming next month! Expanding Luminate’s expertise Luminate is proud to welcome Harsh Yallapragada to the team as Data Analyst. Building on prior internship experience with us, Harsh is focused on measuring Luminate’s impact, surfacing insights, and identifying industry trends and opportunities to better support our startups. With a background in systems engineering and an M.S. in Business Analytics from the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School, Harsh adds both technical depth and strategic perspective. The Luminate advisory board grows stronger with the addition of Barry Silverstein, newly appointed director of the Center for Extended Reality at the University of Rochester. Barry brings decades of experience in optics and display technology, including leadership roles at Meta’s Reality Labs, IMAX, and Kodak. A 2024 recipient of an Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Scientific and Engineering Award, he holds 100 U.S. patents and has guided multiple successful technology transfer programs. With gratitude Our thanks to Paul Pickering, Managing

Photonics West 2026 offered a clear snapshot of where the optics and photonics ecosystem is headed, and what it will take to move from technical promise to real-world impact. For the Luminate team, the week was packed, productive, and focused. At our booth on the show floor, conversations ranged from early-stage technical challenges to manufacturing scale-up and market adoption, reinforced by demos and updates from several of our portfolio companies. Throughout the week, Luminate startup founders, mentors, and partners were highly visible across the conference program, contributing to technical talks, panels, and on-the-ground discussions. Thank you to SPIE for convening such a broad cross-section of the global OPI community in one place. Photonics West remains a rare forum where researchers, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and investors can engage deeply across technology sectors—often surfacing new opportunities for collaboration and continued discovery that don’t happen in more siloed settings. Team takeaways AR/VR/MR signals for the optics innovation ecosystemOne theme that surfaced repeatedly at Photonics West was the accelerating momentum behind AR, VR, and mixed reality. Luminate’s Director of Technology Integration, Dr. Damon Diehl, captured this shift in a recent article sharing his observations from the conference, including the growing gap between market demand and

The optics, photonics, and imaging ecosystem is entering a period of meaningful change driven by evolving capital markets, emerging technologies, and new expectations for commercialization. Heading into the new year, our team is closely watching key trends that could define what comes next—from federal R&D support, to quantum-enabled robotics, to the ways AI is redefining discovery, marketing, and digital trust. Read our perspectives on what’s ahead and what it means for deep tech. Final call for cohort 9! The window to apply to Luminate is closing. Join us for our final virtual info session on January 6 to hear directly from the Luminate team about what we look for in startups and how to put your strongest application forward. Sneak peek: Dr. Damon Diehl, Director of Technology Integration, shares three practical tips to keep in mind while completing your application. If Luminate feels like the right fit, don’t wait! Cohort 9 companies receive $100K at program start, tailored technical and commercialization support, access to experienced mentors and investors, and the opportunity to compete for up to $1M in follow-on funding at Finals. Apply soon! Portfolio wins Photosynthetic was among the top 12 finalists at SLINGSHOT 2025 in Singapore and took