For Luminate’s previous two cohorts, the end of April meant our finalists were two-thirds of the way through the program and eagerly anticipating Demo Day in June. With COVID-19 disrupting business as usual, we’ve extended this year’s program through the summer and adjusted to a virtual format. Our companies continue to scale their businesses and technology, connect with industry experts and mentors, and receive regular coaching and support. Stay tuned for an announcement on a September Demo Day for cohort III. There is much to celebrate, and we look forward to awarding follow-on funding to our most promising startups. PUBLICATION HIGHLIGHT How to Construct a Compelling Grant Proposal Nothing guarantees a grant proposal’s success, but complete, well-structured proposals that emphasize why the project is important to the funding agency always rise to the top. Luminate’s Technology Program Manager, Damon Diehl, PhD, offers a ten-step process for crafting a proposal that clearly answers the reviewers’ questions. READ THE ARTICLE SEMINAR HIGHLIGHT Industry Focused Solution Selling Tips for closing the deal with Karen Mesolella A traditional sales approach leads with your company’s offering and strengths — but that’s no way to engage a potential client and create urgency to work with you.

With stay-at-home orders and many of our cohort teams unable to travel to the U.S., the Luminate accelerator has needed to pivot our model during the global COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful to report that our startups and staff are well, and our program continues with the use of video conferencing and adaptable seminar leaders, mentors, and participants. Extending our wishes for your health and safety! PUBLICATION HIGHLIGHT Saving Vision with Light: Five Startup Technologies that are Revolutionizing Eye Care Early detection is critical for treating damage and diseases of the eye. Luminate Technology Program Manager, Damon Diehl, PhD, highlights five companies that are enabling a new generation of compact, powerful, and affordable ophthalmological imaging tools. These advanced diagnostic instruments permit early intervention and facilitate the development of breakthrough treatments, ushering in an era of personalized medicine that is both powerful and accessible. DOWNLOAD THE WHITE PAPER SEMINAR HIGHLIGHT How to Capture Investor Attention Tips for winning business plans from Derby Management Attracting investors and securing sales are among the most difficult and important challenges startups face. In month three at Luminate, teams went through a two-part interactive boot camp with Jack Derby, Head Coach and President, and George Simmons,

What does it take to move technology from lab to launch? Startups participating in Luminate are getting first-hand knowledge in their second month of the accelerator program. For those contemplating taking the journey, Managing Director, Dr. Sujatha Ramanujan, provided an excellent overview of the four components of a healthy startup in the latest edition of Photonics Focus. Download the complete issue here and look for Dr. Ramanujan’s article on page 6. SEMINAR HIGHLIGHT: What to Consider When Developing an IP Strategy Dr. Darius Sankey shared a new strategic framework for thinking about managing innovation In month two at the accelerator, Luminate cohort III teams met with Darius Sankey, PhD, General Partner at Moore Ventures, former President of Ocean Tomo China, and current Luminate board member and mentor. Darius provided feedback on each company’s patents and gave them the crash-course version of the class he teaches as an adjunct professor at the Rady School of Management – University of California, San Diego. “What you have to figure out is, are you a piece of the whole system? Or are you the whole system? Usually you’re solving one piece of a bigger puzzle,” says Darius.  One reason many startups fail is the