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Accelerator · Rochester, New York, United States

Luminate

NextCorps' Rochester accelerator for startups building optics, photonics, imaging and laser-enabled technology, with a US$100,000 investment at the start and a hybrid programme that meets in person one week a month.

Open · closes 11 Jan 2027 Run by NextCorps

Apply on the programme's site Programme website

Verified 18 October 2026 · From the programme's own pages

Terms

Funding
not published US$100,000 at programme start, with a chance at US$1 million in follow-on funding at the end; the FAQ describes the initial investment as up to US$100,000 as a convertible note
Instrument
Convertible note
Equity taken
not published
Programme fee
not published
Duration
not published
Cohort size
not published
Cohorts
not published
Delivery
Hybrid
Stages
not published
Sectors
Deep tech, Hardware
Open to founders from
not published
Perks
not published

The apply page describes six months of programming (the FAQ says seven months), with members in person for one week a month in Rochester or at investor pitches. Companies that accept follow-on funding must stay in Rochester. Luminate says it awards US$3 million a year to 10 companies.

Application dates

Open · closes 11 Jan 2027Cohort 10

Who can apply

  • The company must be incorporated
  • The optics, photonics or imaging-enabled technology must be proven at least at lab scale
  • At least two team members must work on the business full time
  • C-level team members must be able to travel to Rochester for the hybrid programme

Companies it names as alumni

Double Helix Optics, Bounce Imaging, Circle Optics, Gekko Photonics, EmGenisys

What founders should check

  1. The programme does not publish how much equity it takes. Ask before you accept a place.
  2. It does not publish a fee. Ask whether you pay for desks, services or the programme itself.
  3. It mixes remote and in-person sessions in Rochester. Ask how much time on site it expects.
  4. Applications are open until 11 January 2027.

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