Luminate Accelerator

Headed to Photonics West? Luminate’s Director of Technology Integration, Dr. Damon Diehl, will be leading a hands-on intro to #optics at the conference on January 27. Preview the course with these sample slides: https://lnkd.in/g6BYebGE SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics

Photosynthetic, a Luminate cohort 7 company, is one of seven finalists in the 15th annual SPIE Startup Challenge, a pitch competition for investment-ready technologies. Recognized for its Volumetric Micro-Lithography, which enables the rapid production of complex 3D devices with submicron features, Photosynthetic will pitch live to venture capitalists and business-development experts for a top prize of $10,000 at the Startup Challenge during Photonics West. Good luck, Photosynthetic! SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics https://lnkd.in/dF8uHEKC 

Luminate cohort 4 regional participant, Qunnect, is in the running for back-to-back PRISM awards in the quantum tech category. With last year’s award for Qunnect’s QU-APC (Auto Polarization Compensator) instrument, a win for QU-RACK Gotham would make two consecutive PRISM awards for this Luminate alum. We’ll be cheering for you at SPIE Photonics West, Qunnect! https://lnkd.in/edH-bn4 SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics

Proud portfolio moment! SIX Luminate companies have been named to F6S’ list of Top 100 Hardware Companies and Startups in December 2024. Nice work, Andluca Technologies, Bounce Imaging, LLume : by Organic Robotics Corporation, Momentum Optics, SeeTrue Technologies, and QD Solar Inc. (acquired by SunDensity Inc.). https://lnkd.in/gf3pTwcz

The application deadline for Luminate cohort 8 is just weeks away. If you’re still deciding if the accelerator is right for your company, don’t miss our last info session on Tuesday, 1/7. Sign up soon: https://lnkd.in/gRxCkN9i Apply by 1/10: https://lnkd.in/dDJmtzPv

DEADLINE EXTENSION🚨 MEETOPTICS, a Luminate cohort 5 company, is looking for 25 ambassadors to influence the future and shape of its optics and photonics search platform. Participants will enjoy perks such as early access to new platform features, a welcome pack, and opportunities to attend industry conferences. Applications are open until December 20, 2024: https://lnkd.in/guUckVvN

With only 10-12 spots per cohort, Luminate is highly competitive. Make your application more effective by following advice from Luminate’s Director of Technology Integration, Dr. Damon Diehl. Watch this quick video for his top three tips: https://lnkd.in/gH5-jdH6 Looking for even more tips? Don’t miss our last info session on 1/7: https://lnkd.in/gRxCkN9i Apply by 1/10: https://lnkd.in/dDJmtzPv

Last chance to register for tomorrow's info session featuring insights from recent Luminate grads. Who better to share what it’s really like than founders who’ve been through it all? Sign up soon! https://lnkd.in/gjbG_4B4

Luminate cohort 6 company, Swave Photonics, was honored with the CES 2025 Innovation Award for its Holographic eXtended Reality (HXR) platform. HXR is the world’s first chipset designed to create holographic images for augmented reality (AR) form factors that will enable AI-powered spatial computing. Congrats, team Swave! https://lnkd.in/gHECKn7c

Labby’s MilKey technology is revolutionizing the dairy industry, earning national recognition as Best Tech Startup at TechRochester’s 2024 GREAT Awards, a finalist spot in the Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge, and CEO, Julia Somerdin, being named to Cosmopolitan’s “C-Suite Class of 2024.” Labby’s rapid, affordable milk-testing solution saves farmers time and money, offering lab-precise results in seconds using cutting-edge optical tech. Learn how Labby is transforming dairy innovation and scaling to meet nationwide demand. https://lnkd.in/gyxhRdR8