NEWS
Growing a Family at Sydor Optics
Matt Sydor refers to Rochester, NY as the “Mecca of optics.” Program Manager at Sydor Technologies, Matt shares why Rochester is a great place for a career in optics, and how his family business carved out a niche in ultra precision flat optics to grow from a father-son operation to employing nearly 90 people. Watch/listen […]
Powered by Light
The startups of Luminate are challenging the status quo in fields as diverse as medicine, transportation, communications, and energy. The one theme that unites them all is light. In celebration of the International Day of Light earlier this month, we asked members of our portfolio to chime in on the theme of the year, […]
Advice to Scientist Entrepreneurs: 3 Alternatives to Venture Capital
By Darius Sankey, PhD R&D and a continuous flow of innovation is essential to the value of existing midsize to large companies, and to the continuous improvement of our global quality of life. Scientists and engineers should bear this in mind when considering the best path forward to commercializing their ideas. In early 1999, I […]
The Optical Systems Technology Program at MCC
Across the country and around the globe, there’s a shortage of trained optical technicians needed to fill essential jobs. Dr. Alexis Vogt, Endowed Chair and Professor of Optics at Monroe Community College, shares how she’s helping change that by growing MCC’s Optical Systems Technology Program, the only program in the world awarding associate degrees in […]
Off to a Strong Start
One month into their time in the Luminate accelerator, the startups of cohort 4 are showing they came to work hard to advance their companies and technologies. Through baseline discussions with our Board Chair, Don Golini, quick pitches to members of the Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster, and their first weeks of training, the teams […]
Keep Experimenting, and Other Tips from Our Optical Metrology Technician
Get to Know Gary Nothhard Startups in the Luminate accelerator have described their experience as an “MBA on steroids.” It’s an intensive program where teams receive training on everything from business modeling and employment law to lead generation. But it’s also a program where startups can develop their technologies and innovate alongside our highly skilled […]
Be Inspired April 25, 2021: Dr. Sujatha Ramanujan
Via RochesterFirst.com Luminate’s Managing Director, Dr. Sujatha Ramanujan, was on News 8 WROC Rochester’s Be Inspired, talking about how the Luminate accelerator is bringing innovative companies from all over the world to Rochester, some of the cool technology from our cohort companies, the importance of a balanced team, and the women who’ve inspired her.
Finger Lakes Forward: A Vision for Our Region’s Future
The Rochester and Finger Lakes Region is a great place to launch a business and to call home. And there’s a strategic plan in place to continue to make it better. Empire State Development’s Regional Director, Vincent Esposito, joined us on the Forward Faster podcast to talk about Finger Lakes Forward, a vision for our […]
Spotlight on OVITZ: Delivering Life-Changing Vision Improvements
While optometrists have been able to capture measurements of the eye for some time, they’ve needed to work with multiple tools and multiple manufacturers to deliver custom contact lenses to their patients. OVITZ is streamlining the process with the xwave system. Nick Brown, Director of Engineering at OVITZ, speaks with Luminate’s Technology Program Manager, Dr. […]
