THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
Today’s Emcee: Rebecca Leclair
Rebecca Leclair is a communications professional with 30 years of broadcast journalism experience in producing and anchoring local news in Rochester, NY.
For the past five years, she has served as a media consultant, producing promotional strategies for clients in retail, restaurant, and entertainment. Rebecca also has created crisis plans for corporate dissolutions, and has coached business leaders and political candidates for media appearances and campaigns. She often serves as emcee for charitable events, hosts zoom conferences, and represents companies in TV commercials and radio voiceovers.
Today’s Program
Welcome + opening remarks
A word from our sponsor, Optica
Cohort 7 company pitch overviews:
AI Optics
cureVision
Enlipsium
iLoF
Nicslab
Panel Discussion on AI, Optics, and Ethics
Cohort 7 company pitch overviews:
Photosynthetic
Q-Block Computing
SaferStreet Solutions
SeeTrueTechnologies
VoxelSensors
Audience choice voting
Awards
Final words
Networking and refreshments
A Welcome Message
The scholar Proclus called the circle “the first, simplest, and most perfect form” and it is often used to represent unity, commitment, and community. Together, the teams of Luminate Cohort 7 are a circle — a community of entrepreneurs who are committed to finding their success by taking risks and pushing the boundaries of technology.
It’s more than that, however. It’s about passion. It’s about recognizing potential opportunities and creating big ideas to bring to life.
Today, we’re celebrating and awarding the extraordinary achievements and bright minds of 10 startup teams. Whether they are making instant microfabrication a possibility, providing new platforms for patient-centric drug development, advancing eye tracking technology, or implementing wound analysis in seconds — all of these initiatives will be a part of our future.
Many of these companies include aspects of artificial intelligence (AI) in their efforts. With the torrent of AI technology becoming more mainstream, the importance of using data collected by optics, photonics, and imaging technologies in AI applications ethically is more significant than ever. The tech community must be very careful in handling this data for the benefit of individuals, as well as society as a whole.
As we conclude our seventh year of this exciting program, we’re grateful for the continued support and sponsorship of Optica for our Finals event, and for Empire State Development’s (ESD) Finger Lakes Forward Initiative, which makes Luminate NY possible.
Over the next hour, our teams’ journeys will come full circle as they conclude our accelerator programming with businesses that are stronger, more prepared, and ready to commercialize these big ideas. They’ll continue to have Luminate’s support along the way, and would benefit from yours as well. Encourage them, first by voting for your favorite during the Audience Choice Awards, and second, by subscribing to The Lens at luminate.org to join our community and follow their progress. They can benefit from as many supporters as possible as they work to change industry and our world!
Thank you for being here.
Sujatha Ramanujan, PhD Managing Director & Chief Investment Officer, Luminate
KATHY HOCHUL GOVERNOR
Dear Friends:
Thank you for participating in the 2024 Finals of Luminate NY, the world's largest business accelerator program for optics, photonics, and imaging-focused tech startups located right here in the Finger Lakes.
In the seven years since Luminate NY launched, this accelerator program has evolved into an internationally recognized competition that brings transformative technologies to market while attracting high-growth companies to our dynamic innovation economy. This year, seven of the ten finalists come from outside of the U.S., as entrepreneurs from across the globe compete for the opportunity to set up shop in New York. It's clear that they recognize what New York has to offer the ability to fast track their growth in the #1 state in the nation for commercializing intellectual property in the Optics, Photonics, and Imaging industry. This ecosystem includes our benchmark research facilities, higher education institutions, advanced manufacturing and supply chains, skilled talent, and other top assets that exist in our great state.
Today, companies in the Luminate NY portfolio collectively have an estimated valuation of $675 million and have raised an impressive $281 million to scale their ventures. The companies you'll see today are at the forefront of their industries, demonstrating how our Finger Lakes Forward Upstate Revitalization Initiative is driving new economic growth and redefining how we may solve some of the most pressing challenges of our time.
I am proud to support these outstanding finalists and wish them the best of luck.
Sincerely,
Kathy Hochul Governor
Thank You to our Funder
Thank You to our Program Partners and Sponsors
AIM Photonics
Bell Collaborative
Boylan Code
Cornell University
County of Monroe
Edmund Optics
Greater Rochester
Enterprise
IEEE
IMAX
Hamamatsu Ventures
Meta
Monroe Community College
New York Photonics
Optica
Optimax
Quartus
Rochester Chamber of Commerce
Rochester Institute of Technology
Santec
SCHOTT
Silicon Catalyst
Sony
SPIE
Thorlabs
University of Rochester
ZEISS
8 September 2024
Dear Sujatha,
Congratulations to Luminate on another successful Startup Accelerator Finals Competition. Startup companies face challenges in development, scaling, sales, cash flow, and personnel. Luminate provides funding and facilities, but more importantly, you provide access to outstanding talent, dedicated mentors, and an ecosystem of partners, investors, and expertise unparalleled in the industry. Your impact on early-stage photonics companies cannot be overstated.
Congratulations to Luminate on another successful Startup Accelerator companies face challenges in development, scaling, sales, cash flow, funding and facilities, but more importantly, you provide access and an ecosystem of partners, investors, and expertise unparallel stage photonics companies cannot be overstated.
Optica is honored to be a sponsor for this event. Luminate aligns with our core mission to support photonics companies throughout every stage of their growth journey. We are dedicated to assisting companies through the Optica Corporate Engagement program. We match members with an Optica Technical Director who partners with each company to customize our resources around their goals, needs, and interests. We deliver market reports from top-tier analysts, facilitated networking opportunities, a year-round schedule of online and in-person events, promotional opportunities, and unique talent recruitment tools, and much more to companies of all sizes around the globe.
Optica is honored to be a sponsor for this event. Luminate aligns photonics companies throughout every stage of their growth journey. companies through the Optica Corporate Engagement program. Technical Director who partners with each company to customize and interests. We deliver market reports from top-tier analysts, facilitated year-round schedule of online and in-person events, promotional recruitment tools, and much more to companies of all sizes around
We extend our best wishes to every Luminate Finalist as they prepare to take the next steps in their entrepreneurial journeys. We look forward to supporting them, their continued success, and their contributions to the world of photonics.
We extend our best wishes to every Luminate Finalist as they prepare entrepreneurial journeys. We look forward to supporting them, their contributions to the world of photonics.
Warm regards,
Warm regards,
Elizabeth Nolan Interim CEO
Elizabeth Nolan Interim CEO
Luminate Cohort 7
AI Optics
cureVision
Enlipsium
iLoF
Nicslab
Photosynthetic
Q-Block Computing
SaferStreet Solutions
SeeTrueTechnologies
VoxelSensors
AI Optics
Transforming point-of-care diagnostics
AI Optics is implementing handheld imaging technology that integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI) to provide a new standard of care for disease screening. The product, Sentinel, is making patient care easier, starting by preventing vision loss through retinal screening. Utilizing new imaging technology, Sentinel is paired with an AI-based disease detection module, combining them into a single device. The result is a product that is simple to use, easy to implement, and cost effective.
Luke Moretti, CEO | New York, NY aioptics.ai
cureVision
Implementing AI-based wound analysis in seconds cureVision is revolutionizing the analysis, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic wounds with cutting-edge optical and imaging sensors. In two minutes, the system prepares a rapid, automatic wound assessment and measurement, which is 90% faster than before. Tissue analysis, 3D measurements, and photo documentation are included in patient records with one click. The proprietary computer vision technology records the exact measurements of size and depth of the wound, and is utilized by hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory, and home care.
Johannes Ruopp, Founder & Managing Director | Munich, Germany curevision.ai
Enlipsium
Enabling safer cancer treatments with nano-materials
Enlipsium is revolutionizing cancer treatment with its groundbreaking dosimetry system for radiation therapy and advanced X-ray imaging. The ultra-high resolution system enables precise dose mapping, which improves treatment accuracy, and patient outcomes. With a complete solution comprising hardware, software, and consumables, Enlipsium offers superior efficiency and cost effectiveness. Already deployed at leading cancer centers, the innovation promises to transform personalized cancer care, minimizing side effects, and enhancing quality of life for patients worldwide.
Yzhar Perry, CEO & Co-Founder | Singapore / Israel enlipsium.com
iLoF
Providing the intelligent platform for precise, patient-centric drug development
iLoF is pioneering a breakthrough Al-powered photonics platform to accelerate the future of personalized drug discovery and development. The company has recently secured over $5 million to expand its digital library of biomarkers. Using a cloud-based collection of optical fingerprints, iLoF provides non-invasive, efficient tracking, screening, and stratification for medication development, which is adapted to individual clinical trial needs.
Luis Valente, CEO & Co-Founder | United Kingdom / Portugal ilof.tech
Nicslab
Elevating the next-generation of electronics and photonics integrated circuits
Nicslab is a fabless chip company developing integrated circuits for future optical solutions in data centers, AI, instrumentation, and quantum computing. The solution controls the light to process material, transfer data faster, and move information more efficiently. The power supply, signal processor, sensors, and control are combined into a single compact solution, which works in vehicle, space, and semiconductor applications. It achieves this with unparalleled accuracy, with up to 1,000 more channels, and at 3x the cost efficiency.
Andri Mahendra, PhD, Founder & CEO | Silicon Valley, CA nicslab.com
Photosynthetic
Making microfabrication happen in seconds instead of hours
Photosynthetic has created a new manufacturing method, which has enabled complex 3D geometries to be produced at massproduction speeds, while retaining sub-micron feature sizes. From life sciences and optics to medical, Photosynthetic is now pioneering the next generation of advanced microfabrication technology, allowing mass production of intricate microstructures for the first time. In addition, the company has recently completed a functional prototype and is currently fundraising to develop an industrial machine.
Alexander Kostenko, PhD, Founder & CEO | Amsterdam photosynthetic.nl
Q-Block Computing
Providing precision control of every aspect of light
Q-Block Computing is a quantum hardware startup focused on delivering fault-tolerant quantum devices for advanced computation, communication, and sensing. The company commercializes a scalable and integrated quantum photonic platform, Q-block module, inspired by today’s superscalar processing architectures with distributed precision timing. Thanks to the modular quantum architecture, Q-block modules are deployed as exquisite quantum clocks and resilient quantum communication devices for the defense and security sector.
Kyung Soo Choi, PhD, CEO | Ontario, Canada q-block.ca
SaferStreet Solutions
Delivering traffic safety devices that target unsafe driving behavior
SaferStreet Solutions is implementing the next generation of digital road signs that identify unsafe driving behavior. With this system in place, data is collected to help communities reduce speeding, distracted driving, car crashes, and lack of seat belt use. Similar to signs that display speed, SmartSigns are attached to a mobile trailer unit, use next-generation driver behavior detectors, and then instantly tell drivers to put their phones down, buckle up, or slow down. The company is deploying its SmartSigns across DC, North Dakota, and Washington state.
Timothy Hogan, Founder | Rochester, NY saferstreetsolutions.com
SeeTrue Technologies
Advancing eye tracking technology for mass markets
SeeTrue Technologies is employing advanced eye tracking technology with a robust sensing solution for use in healthcare, augmented and virtual reality, and industry applications. The company builds a combination of custom hardware and optics solutions, with a novel high-performing eye detection approach. This includes robust, high-speed eye-tracking sensors that tolerate device slippage and movement. Through SeeTrue, professionals can precisely monitor eye movements and identify eye location.
Roman Bednarik, PhD, Co-Founder & CEO | Joensuu, Finland seetruetechnologies.com
VoxelSensors
Creating fast, low-power, context-aware sensing module for precise user understanding
VoxelSensors has developed PERCEPT, a new sensing module for wearable devices designed to seamlessly integrate AI with sensor data to provide real-time contextual analysis of users’ attention. This leverages the revolutionary SPAES sensor to deliver unmatched low-power, high-speed spatial awareness, and eye tracking. With its ability to understand user intent, PERCEPT creates an augmented reality experience that feels natural. PERCEPT enables devices to become more intuitive, responsive, and empathic, fundamentally transforming user experiences in smartphones, wearables, and industrial applications.
Johannes Peeters, CEO | Brussels, Belgium voxelsensors.com
Guest Speakers
Dan Lorca, Moderator
As Chief Strategy Officer for tech consultancy Bell Collaborative, Lorca steers technical intelligence for companies in the optics, photonics, imaging, and laser industries. In the past, he has received numerous awards and worked for 15 years with Apple, where a notable accomplishment was being a co-creator of iOS Low Power Mode. Lorca also launched Siri for Brazil and Singapore, and wrote code that continues to run a decade later, unmodified, across numerous platforms, including iPhone and Apple TV. He is a native of Chile, was raised in Brazil, and is fluent in four languages.
Francisco Aguilar
Through work as the CEO of Bounce Imaging, Aguilar leads a team that keeps first-responders and civilians safer with low-cost, easy-to-use imaging and robotics systems. The company, part of Luminate Cohort 1, has been recognized as the Verizon Powerful Answers $1 Million Winner & Inventor of the TIME/CNN/Popular Science Invention of the Year — a throwable, smartphone-enabled camera, and sensor ball. Currently, the Department of Defense and more than 350 police and fire departments in the US and around the world use these 360-degree tactical cameras.
Jonathan Herington, PhD
Herington has conducted extensive research in his role as assistant Professor at the University of Rochester, Department of Health Humanities & Bioethics. He focuses on using tools to interrogate the governance of health technologies, dual-use research, fairness in machine-learning algorithms, resource allocation during health emergencies, and secondary research ethics. His prior experience includes working as a professor and researcher at Kansas State University and the University of Birmingham.
Charbel Rizk, PhD
Rizk is the founder and CEO of Oculi — the $1M winner of Luminate Finals 2023. Previously, Rizk was the Associate Research Professor at Johns Hopkins, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Principal Professional Staff at the Applied Physics Laboratory. He has been recognized as a top innovator and is currently developing a new architecture for artificial vision. Rizk is a member of IEEE, AIAA, AUVSI, and Optica.
Chris Smolinski
For a decade, Smolinksi worked with Apple in machine learning and AI, helping to build, test, ship, and support an array of Apple products with AI features. These efforts directly contributed to several innovations, including AirPods and HomePods. Smolinski’s AI experiences began in the medical field with AI-assisted documentation tools that enabled doctors to spend more time with patients. Currently, Smolinski is developing methods and approaches for evaluating the safety and accuracy of Generative AI.
Bold Ideas Need a Special Place to Take Off
Tap into the world’s largest accelerator for startups working on optics, photonics, and imaging (OPI). Luminate connects companies to an ecosystem rich with scientists, universities, precision manufacturers, and investors to help speed the commercialization of ideas.
Each year, Luminate accepts 10 companies into the program and provides them with $100,000 and the chance to compete later for up to $2 million. This opportunity also comes with significant support, including more than 50 educational workshops, renowned mentors, and connections to investors and regional resources.
Apply by January 10, 2025 at bit.ly/LuminateCohort8
Luminate is a competitive program funded by Empire State Development’s Finger Lakes Forward Initiative. The program is administered by NextCorps, and supported by a host of participating partners.
About NextCorps Explore Programs that Help Startups Move
Forward Faster
At the center of Rochester, NextCorps is helping innovative technology companies launch and grow. This includes a suite of services, including technology commercialization for early-stage opportunities, business incubation for high-growth-potential startups, and growth services for manufacturing companies seeking to improve performance. Explore how NextCorps can help your company. Visit nextcorps.org.
Thank You to our Advisory Board
Thomas G. Brown, PhD Director, Institute of Optics
Jenifer Bunis Principal, Westlake Photonics
Milton Chang, PhD Managing Partner, Incubic Management
Stuart Elby, PhD SVP, Advanced Engineering at Madison Square Garden Ventures
Stephen D. Fantone, PhD Founder and President, Optikos Corporation
Don Golini Founder, SANICA Ventures Chairman of the Board, Luminate Accelerator
Michael Jackman Chief Operating Officer, Leidos Health Group
Jay Kumler President, Jenoptik Optical Systems
Duncan Moore, PhD Vice Provost for Entrepreneurship, University of Rochester
Paul Pickering Managing Partner, Silicon Catalyst
Ryne P. Raffaelle, PhD Vice President for Research and Associate Provost, RIT
Darius Sankey, PhD Managing Director, Innovation Acceleration Capital
James S. Senall President, NextCorps
Linda Smith, ASA President, CERES Technology Advisors, Inc.
Marc Tricard VP and General Manager, MKS Instruments
Edward White Principal, Edward White Consulting
If you’re working on an innovation that uses optics, photonics, or imaging (OPI), Luminate can help you scale your business and your technology. Learn more and register at bit.ly/Cohort8Luminate. Thank You for Attending Luminate
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