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.
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.
Cohort 9 connects with regional support
Luminate recently hosted its seventh annual Regional Showcase, a fast-paced, invite-only event designed to connect our newest startup teams with manufacturers, service providers, and ecosystem partners that have a proven track record of supporting our portfolio companies.
For cohort 9, the showcase was more than just an introduction to Rochester’s innovation community. It was an opportunity to build relationships with the people, resources, and organizations that can help them tackle the steps to becoming a truly scalable business.
A big thank you to everyone who participated and helped demonstrate what’s possible for these companies within the Rochester ecosystem. View the full list on LinkedIn.
Outside of the showcase, the cohort’s latest in-person week also included:
- A full day at Rochester Institute of Technology, touring the labs and facilities alongside staff and startups from NextCorps’ Manufacturing Accelerator.
- Optica Rochester’s annual dinner, with networking and a talk from Keysight Optical Design Engineering’s Dr. David Lippman on Rochester optics pioneer Rudolph Kingslake.
- A visit with BZDesign for a closer look at the importance of product design and development, featuring team members from Luminate portfolio companies SunDensity Inc. and Circle Optics.
- A little off-site fun at Indy Kart Raceway, where the gloves came off and the competition got unexpectedly intense!
ChargeUp kicks off biggest cohort to date
Ten startups were selected for the third cohort of ChargeUp, the only accelerator program in the U.S. focused exclusively on battery and energy storage innovations. Based on curriculum and learnings from two of NextCorps’ proven accelerators—Luminate and the NextCorps Manufacturing Accelerator—ChargeUp follows a similar model and is run by Binghamton University’s Koffman Southern Tier Incubator under the New Energy New York (NENY) initiative.
Each company will receive $25K in funding, access to state-of-the-art labs and facilities, mentorship from industry experts, investor connections, and the opportunity to secure up to $100K in follow-on support for technical development. Congrats to the new cohort!
Portfolio wins
Labby (pictured) joined startup founders on Capitol Hill to participate in discussions around improving access to capital and strengthening support systems for innovation-driven startups.
VanaM Inc. took home 1st place in the Open Tech category at the 2026 SelectUSA Investment Summit pitch competition.
Scout Space closed an $18M Series A funding round, which will support upcoming missions and the buildout of a new 2,600-square-foot facility in Northern Virginia.
Pixel Photonics (pictured) was named a winner at the 2026 QUANTUMatter Conference in recognition of advancements in quantum photonics technologies.
NanoPattern Technologies’ co-founder and CEO, Dr. Yu Kambe, received Cornell’s inaugural MSE Early Career Achievement Award, recognizing exceptional achievements in materials science and engineering.
Oculi was named a winner of the 4th Batch of the IC Taiwan Grand Challenge, selected from 209 startup and research teams across 38 countries. The company will showcase its technology at InnoVEX 2026.
Dottir Labs was selected as a finalist in the Industry 5.0 category of the South Summit Startup Competition and will pitch in Madrid this June.
Wyse Light’s RayMaster10 was shortlisted for the 2026 Photonics Frontiers Award, focused on technologies that are solving real problems and opening new markets. The RayMaster10 was the only awardee in the Industrial Imaging category.
Ciconia Medical’s founder and CEO, Roni Cantor-Balan (pictured), was interviewed by The BiotechStack during the WIB-San Francisco Bay Area Founder Showcase to discuss the company’s work in MedTech, diagnostics, and digital health.
Tap into support and funding
Foundation for U.S. Women in Optics Scholarship
Applications due May 31
A full-tuition scholarship for up to three years is now available for U.S. women undergraduate students pursuing Optical Science and Engineering at the University of Arizona, supporting studies beginning in the sophomore year.
New Energy New York’s Product Certification Program
All 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.