Luminate

Luminate is a new startup accelerator focused on advancing next generation optics, photonics, and imaging enabled companies. The company seeks visionary entrepreneurs who are solving difficult problems in augmented and virtual reality, autonomous vehicles, machine vision, biophotonics, and other fields. Funded by New York State, and based in the optics and imaging capital of the world – Rochester, NY.

Sujatha Ramanujan

Managing Director

27 past transactions

PreAct Technologies

Series B in 2023
PreAct Technologies, founded in 2018 and based in Portland, Oregon, specializes in developing advanced automotive safety technologies aimed at reducing fatalities and injuries from crashes. The company focuses on bridging the gap between collision avoidance systems and active safety technology by utilizing a patent-pending suite of sensors, computing systems, and countermeasure algorithms. These innovations enable vehicles to predict and prepare for imminent collisions, significantly enhancing passenger safety and potentially saving the industry billions in costs related to accidents. PreAct's team comprises seasoned automotive experts and leaders in fields such as computer vision and optics, drawing on over 15 years of research funded by DARPA in high-speed optics and computing systems. The technology not only aims to mitigate the impact of common crash scenarios but also keeps passengers informed about vehicle status, further enhancing overall safety.

Big Cabal Media

Seed Round in 2022
Big Cabal Media is a Nigerian digital media company focused on producing engaging content tailored for African youth. It fosters conversations around culture, innovation, entrepreneurship, and entertainment, addressing topics that resonate with this demographic. The company aims to connect brands with Africa's young and digitally savvy audience by offering a fresh and authentic voice. Additionally, it provides insights into startups, technology, and innovation, catering to tech enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, investors, and decision-makers within the African ecosystem. Through its content, Big Cabal Media keeps its audience informed about significant developments in the tech landscape.

OWL Autonomous Imaging

Series A in 2022
Owl Autonomous Imaging, Inc. is a technology company based in Fairport, New York, founded in 2018. The company specializes in developing advanced imaging solutions, including a two-color infrared camera for the US Air Force and a 4D-camera that integrates 1550nm Flash-LiDAR and thermal imaging within a single solid-state megapixel focal plane. These innovations are aimed at enhancing safety in the automotive mobility sector, particularly for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles. Their proprietary Monocular 3D Thermal Ranging™ technology employs optical fusion and deep learning techniques to generate dense range maps from heat signatures without the need for additional illumination. Co-founder Chuck Gershman brings over 30 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, having held leadership roles in multiple startups, three of which he led to successful acquisitions.

Andluca

Seed Round in 2021
Andluca Technologies develops smart glass products that are powered by UV light and solar energy to help buildings and homes save energy. The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, with operations in New York and California.

One Silicon Chip Photonics

Pre Seed Round in 2021
One Silicon Chip Photonics Inc. specializes in designing and manufacturing advanced navigation sensors tailored for autonomous vehicles. Founded in 2014 and based in Montreal, Canada, the company focuses on creating Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MOEMS) that are integrated on Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) substrates. Their product line includes micro-scale optical gyroscopes and 6-axis Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), which offer superior performance in challenging environments. These sensors achieve better than 1°/hour accuracy while being significantly smaller, more power-efficient, and cost-effective compared to traditional fiber-optic gyroscopes. Furthermore, One Silicon Chip Photonics' solutions are designed to be more reliable and less susceptible to environmental factors such as thermal drift and vibration-induced noise, making them a compelling choice for the self-driving car and drone markets.

Rubitection

Seed Round in 2021
Rubitection Inc. is a company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializing in early assessment and management of skin health, particularly focusing on the prevention of bedsores and diabetic foot ulcers. Founded in 2010, Rubitection has developed the Rubitect Assessment System, a handheld device designed for caregivers, doctors, and nurses to detect early signs of skin issues. This system provides features such as risk analytics, remote monitoring, and care plan management, allowing users to measure changes in tissue properties and assess overall skin health. Rubitection aims to establish itself as the global standard for skin health monitoring and care management, applicable not only in wound care but also in dermatology and cosmetic fields.

SunDensity

Seed Round in 2020
SunDensity Inc. specializes in the research, design, and development of Photonic Smart Coating technology, specifically its patent-pending PSC™. This innovative technology facilitates the up and down conversion of light wavelengths, addressing inefficiencies in photonics. The company's products aim to enhance the efficiency of solar photovoltaics, thereby reducing electricity generation costs. In addition, SunDensity's technology allows for the customization of thermal and optical properties in architectural glass and increases the quantum efficiency of optoelectronic instruments. Founded in 2016, SunDensity is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with an additional office in Rochester, New York.

SunDensity

Grant in 2020
SunDensity Inc. specializes in the research, design, and development of Photonic Smart Coating technology, specifically its patent-pending PSC™. This innovative technology facilitates the up and down conversion of light wavelengths, addressing inefficiencies in photonics. The company's products aim to enhance the efficiency of solar photovoltaics, thereby reducing electricity generation costs. In addition, SunDensity's technology allows for the customization of thermal and optical properties in architectural glass and increases the quantum efficiency of optoelectronic instruments. Founded in 2016, SunDensity is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with an additional office in Rochester, New York.

Nordetect

Convertible Note in 2020
Nordetect IVS is a biochemical analysis company based in Copenhagen, Denmark, specializing in the development of biosensors and microfluidic chip technology for precision agriculture. Founded in 2016, the company focuses on nutrient analysis by detecting and quantifying essential macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in soil. Its Lab-on-a-chip devices facilitate reliable and affordable nutrient testing, enabling agronomists and farm-service companies to deliver actionable insights to farmers regarding soil health. By providing results on the nutritional content of soil and recommendations for fertilizer application, Nordetect helps optimize crop performance and supports informed agricultural practices.

colab.re

Venture Round in 2020
Colab.re is a citizen-to-government engagement platform founded in 2012 and headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil. It facilitates social interactions between citizens and government entities, allowing individuals to report daily issues, suggest urban improvements, and rate public services. The platform also provides governments with a freemium customer relationship management (CRM) and workflow management tool. As of March 2016, Colab.re has over 150,000 users in Brazil and has partnered with more than 100 clients, including municipalities, state governments, federal departments, and utility companies. The company's mission centers on fostering collaboration between citizens and government to enhance urban living conditions.

Nordetect

Venture Round in 2020
Nordetect IVS is a biochemical analysis company based in Copenhagen, Denmark, specializing in the development of biosensors and microfluidic chip technology for precision agriculture. Founded in 2016, the company focuses on nutrient analysis by detecting and quantifying essential macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in soil. Its Lab-on-a-chip devices facilitate reliable and affordable nutrient testing, enabling agronomists and farm-service companies to deliver actionable insights to farmers regarding soil health. By providing results on the nutritional content of soil and recommendations for fertilizer application, Nordetect helps optimize crop performance and supports informed agricultural practices.

Circle Optics

Seed Round in 2020
Circle Optics develops innovative camera technology designed for content creators, specializing in high-definition 360-degree video. The company's unique parallax-free camera utilizes multiple polygonal lenses to capture panoramic images seamlessly, eliminating the need for post-processing and image stitching. This technology allows for real-time, errorless virtual reality video, enhancing various applications such as immersive experiences, aerospace safety, and surveillance capabilities. By providing a comprehensive view of a scene instantaneously, Circle Optics aims to accelerate the delivery of critical resources and improve safety measures across different sectors.

Haqean

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Developer of data authentication technology designed for industries such as pharma and retail. The company offers protection to products across the supply chain, and also provides fraud prevention, quantum tagging, endpoint security, cross-platform support, and data encryption, enabling pharma manufacturers and hospitals to ensure product safety and efficiency.

Kilo Medical Solutions

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Developer of medical devices designed to focus on neonatal intensive care units. The company's product helps to control light conditions for premature infants through fabric covers essentially blankets that pose safety and sanitary issues and make it difficult for infants, enabling neonatal care practitioners to keep in check the child's circadian rhythm, gain weight and stabilize certain vitals thus improving health outcomes and shortening stays in the NICU.

Think Outside

Seed Round in 2019
Think Outside AS manufactures real time radar avalanche remote sensing equipment for skies. Its flagship product Sknow, reads the snow layers directly under skis in real-time. The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Bergen, Norway.

SunDensity

Pre Seed Round in 2019
SunDensity Inc. specializes in the research, design, and development of Photonic Smart Coating technology, specifically its patent-pending PSC™. This innovative technology facilitates the up and down conversion of light wavelengths, addressing inefficiencies in photonics. The company's products aim to enhance the efficiency of solar photovoltaics, thereby reducing electricity generation costs. In addition, SunDensity's technology allows for the customization of thermal and optical properties in architectural glass and increases the quantum efficiency of optoelectronic instruments. Founded in 2016, SunDensity is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with an additional office in Rochester, New York.

Simulated Inanimate Models

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Simulated Inanimate Models provides preoperative planning, advanced technical skills, and surgical cognition. SIM manufactures surgical training models that enable surgeons to train to competency more efficiently with high-fidelity training phantoms and innovative educational technology. It was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Pittsford, New York.

SaNoor

Seed Round in 2019
SaNoor is the enabler of high brightness lighting and high speed wireless communication. SaNoor is a group of scientists, engineers and innovators with 10+ years experience in optoelectronics and photonics. They understand technology and they know how to utilize the state-of-the-art technology to solve the challenges you are facing.

AkknaTek

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Developer of an optical testing product intended for postoperative monitoring and treatment. The company's product makes the postoperative management of dislocated intraocular lenses intuitive and straightforward, enabling patients to reduce post-operative refractive issues after cataract surgery.

Ovitz

Seed Round in 2019
Ovitz delivers quality vision care that is affordable and convenient to access.

Lumedica

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Lumedica makes low-cost, high-performance Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging technologies. Lumedica is currently developing and delivering its first fully-patented technology to market: affordable OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography). The Lumedica team has a proven track record in scientific innovation, product development, and private and public fundraising. Lumedica is currently funded by grants from the NIH and the State of North Carolina.

REYEDR (Mango teQ Ltd)

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Mango teQ's mission is to create AR (Augmented Reality) vision systems for people on the go, to augment their daily tasks and activities. We are uniquely positioned, with the know how to develop this frontier technology; the only company in Oceania and among a handful in the world. Our brand REYEDR (pronounced rider) is targeting a multi-billion dollar opportunity, by letting motorcyclists keep their eyes on the road. Utilising a novel retrofit approach; the REYEDR HUD fits on the chinbar of any full face helmet, and converts it into a smart AR device. Our HUD system incorporates patented and patent pending technologies. The REYEDR device is a true HUD that utilises superior holographic technology to achieve the requirements of the virtual image, without adding unnecessary bulk. The virtual image is at infinite focus to prevent distraction, as it can be viewed without refocusing the eyes. Our hardware is less complex with a smaller, lighter and minimalist form factor for easier integration onto the helmet. The REYEDR HUD along with smartphone App deliver key information about the bike, route, and ride group, to deliver a safer and smarter ride experience.

Augmentiqs

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Augmentiqs is a technology company focused on advancing pathology and digital microscopy to improve healthcare outcomes. Founded with insights from leading pathologists, Augmentiqs develops innovative solutions that enhance the workflow of these medical professionals. Their flagship product features real-time telepathology and augmented microscopy, allowing for online consultations and collaborative investigations across remote locations. By creating a live online connection between pathologists, Augmentiqs aims to improve clinical outcomes, reduce costs, and streamline workflows. The company's patent-pending technology integrates with existing microscopes, enabling users to capture and share high-definition live views while adding interactive annotations. This approach leverages expertise in telecommunications and electro-optics to provide an intuitive, cost-effective telepathology conferencing platform. Ultimately, Augmentiqs seeks to redefine the field of pathology through smarter, more connected technologies.

Organic Robotics

Pre Seed Round in 2018
Organic Robotics Corporation designs and develops sensors to measure touch in real time. The company provides Light Lace, a sensor, which can bend and twist with the human form for motion capture and pressure sensing and based on fiber-optic technology, it offers sensibility, elasticity and washability at a fraction of the cost. The company was founded in 2018 and is based in Rochester, New York.

ExPrimary

Pre Seed Round in 2018
ExPrimary is a biotechnology company developing medical devices designed to count and store cells. The company's mission is to increase access to bioanalytical tools across research and diagnostic markets with a specific focus to meet advancing demand in personalized healthcare. ExPrimary was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland.

Think Biosolution

Seed Round in 2018
Think Biosolution is an original design manufacturer and have built three remote patient monitoring platforms for telehealth brands.

Think Biosolution

Seed Round in 2017
Think Biosolution is an original design manufacturer and have built three remote patient monitoring platforms for telehealth brands.
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