Luminate Accelerator

05/22/2026

🚨Time is running out to register for the NY SMART I-Corridor Semiconductor Summit!

This free, two-day event brings together industry leaders, researchers, manufacturers, and partners from across Upstate New York’s semiconductor ecosystem to strengthen connections across supply chain, workforce, and R&D.

Attendees will hear from global industry leaders, explore opportunities for collaboration, and gain insights shaping the future of semiconductor innovation and manufacturing.
https://nysmarticorridor.com/inside-the-ny-smart-i-corridor-semiconductor-summit/

05/15/2026

Scout Space, a Luminate cohort 5 company, closed an $18 million in Series A funding round, which will support upcoming missions and the buildout of a new 2,600-square-foot facility in Northern Virginia. Congratulations, team Scout Space! 🛰️

Scout Space raises $18 million to expand orbital tracking technology Scout Space raises $18 million to expand orbital tracking technology

05/14/2026

Rochester’s optics and imaging legacy continues to grow. Luminate NY, the world’s largest accelerator for startups with optics, photonics, and imaging-enabled technologies, brings emerging companies from around the globe to the Finger Lakes to scale breakthrough innovations.

By connecting founders with funding, industry expertise, and regional resources, Luminate is helping catalyze new projects, create high-value jobs, and strengthen Rochester’s position as the Imaging Capital of the World.

These are just a few highlights from Luminate’s impact from 2018-2025. Explore the full Impact Report for more: https://nextcorps.org/impact/

05/13/2026

Big congratulations to Dr. Yu Kambe, co-founder and CEO of NanoPattern Technologies, a Luminate cohort 6 company, on receiving Cornell’s inaugural MSE Early Career Achievement Award. 👏

The award recognizes exceptional early-career achievements in materials science and engineering. Dr. Kambe’s journey from Cornell researcher to startup founder highlights the impact deep tech innovators can have on the future of technology.

The Cornell Department of Materials Science and Engineering is proud to honor Dr. Yu Kambe ’13 with the inaugural MSE Early Career Achievement Award in recognition of exceptional early-career achievements that demonstrate outstanding promise within the first 15 years after graduation from Cornell ...

04/17/2026

Week one is a wrap!

Cohort 9 founders dove in with workshops on branding, crafting a strong value proposition, and customer discovery, building a strong foundation for the months ahead.

Outside the classroom, they took in the view of High Falls during trivia night at Genesee Brew House, and kept the teambuilding and friendly competition going with icebreakers and Minute to Win It challenges.

Last night’s Tech Fast Pitch brought it all together. Each team shared what they’re building and what they need next, pitching directly to potential partners across the region who can help advance and deploy their technologies. Thank you to our partners at New York Photonics for continuing to make this annual ecosystem event a success, and to Greater Rochester Enterprise (Rochester, NY)’s Leah George VanScott for emceeing alongside Luminate’s Dr. Sujatha Ramanujan.

Cohort 9 closed out the week today with a visit to University of Rochester, continuing to plug into the region’s research and innovation landscape.

Week one down, and we’re just getting started. 😎

04/03/2026

Photosynthetic, a Luminate cohort 2 company, has been selected for PhotonHub Scaling Club 2.0, a program supporting Europe’s most promising photonics scale-ups with access to strategic partners, investors, and commercialization support, building on €81M in investment momentum. Congrats, team!
https://techtour.com/news-photonhub-scaling-club-2-0-builds-on-e81m-investment-momentum/

03/30/2026

Every March, Rochester honors Susan B. Anthony. But behind the famous reformer stood a protege who transformed the world of industry: Kate Gleason.

While Anthony coached her on the “business of being a pioneer,” Gleason was busy shattering glass ceilings in science. Her resume is a series of historic milestones:

🎓 The first woman in Cornell University’s engineering program.
🌎 A manufacturing trailblazer who personally expanded Gleason Works into European markets.
🏗️ An entrepreneur who launched eight companies and pioneered fireproof, affordable concrete housing.

Gleason’s life was bookended by her connection to Anthony—she even hosted the activist’s final birthday party. Today, her impact is immortalized at the Kate Gleason College of Engineering (RIT), proving that while Anthony fought for the vote, Gleason built the world women would step into.

03/20/2026

Working on deep tech innovation? Deadlines are approaching for free virtual courses from Interior Northeast I-Corps Hub. 👇

Early-stage startups: Build real customer insights and validate product-market fit. Apply by Monday, March 23: https://www.tfaforms.com/5211137

Academic researchers (faculty, grad students, post docs): Learn how to move your tech from research to market-ready solutions. Apply by Wednesday, April 1: https://www.tfaforms.com/5211139

03/19/2026

STELLAR is more than a regional effort—it’s a national opportunity.

A new piece from Rochester Beacon takes a closer look at what’s at stake as the region awaits a decision that could bring up to $160M in federal funding and position Rochester as a national hub for laser innovation. With the expertise, infrastructure, and ecosystem already in place, we’re ready.

Read more:

After a recent NSF site visit, a University of Rochester-led coalition is nearing a decision that could bring up to $160 million to boost the region’s optics, photonics, imaging and laser sectors.

03/18/2026

The wait is over. We're thrilled to announce the 10 startups selected for round nine of Luminate! 🚀

Chosen from an impressive 138 applicants spanning 33 countries, these companies are advancing deep technologies that will shape the future of industries like healthcare, manufacturing, AR/VR, and sensing.

Beginning this April, the teams will receive an initial $100K investment and tap into the region’s world-class OPI ecosystem to accelerate their growth. In September, they’ll compete for up to $2M in follow-on funding to scale their game-changing solutions.

🌟 Meet cohort 9:
AB Photonics
Brightlight Photonics
Ciconia Medical
Diamond Quanta
Gekko Photonics
Hypervision.ai
Manifest Technologies Global
Modendo
Phlotonics
Smith Displays Limited

“These startups reflect Luminate NY’s standing as a premier global destination for deep-tech innovation," said Luminate's Managing Director and CIO, Dr. Sujatha Ramanujan. "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.”

💡 Since its inception, Luminate has invested $23M in 85 startups, which have gone on to raise $497M and create 184 local jobs.

Supported by the Finger Lakes Forward initiative, Luminate is proud to help drive economic growth and innovation across New York State. We extend a huge thank you to Empire State Development for their continued partnership in powering photonics innovation across the region.

🔗 Read the announcement: https://luminate.org/empire-state-development-announces-10-startups-selected-for-round-nine-of-luminate-ny-accelerator/