Bite-sized insights for entrepreneurs, growing companies, and the leaders who are helping to shape our future.
If you’re looking for a way to make a difference and create change in your own life, one startup has a unique solution. DIEMlife offers a simple online platform for individuals and organizations to build “quests” and rally teams to do good things. Co-Founder and CEO, Timothy Midgley, shares the inspiring story behind the […]
Inefficient windows account for about $52 billion in wasted energy every year. Smart glass solutions help, but current products have external wires that make them challenging or impossible to implement in existing buildings, which are responsible for 40% of America’s carbon footprint. Andluca Technologies enables wireless smart glass products by harvesting ultraviolet light. Co-founder and […]
In this episode, we spotlight our New York Neighbors at Rev Ithaca Startup Works and their Director, Ken Rother. Rev Ithaca Startup Works has a long history of serving entrepreneurs. Recently they launched their ClimateTech Prototyping Hardware Accelerator that offers customized workshops, trainings, and guest speakers specifically for climate tech entrepreneurs. Learn more about […]
High-tech greenhouses — the only way to grow fruits and vegetables without pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides — are evolving quickly. While many companies are focused on advancing greenhouses through automation and robotics, few are addressing energy use and sustainability. Infrascreen is working to make greenhouses more green, so fruits and veggies are better for […]
Cuff-based devices, which have been used for more than a century to measure blood pressure, are largely inaccurate. Even if you manage to get an accurate reading, cuffs cannot provide continuous measurement of a vital sign that changes significantly throughout the day. Dynocardia, a startup in the Luminate accelerator‘s fourth cohort, came up with […]
Dan O’Connell, now plant manager for Plug Power, has launched several companies rooted in his passions for environmentalism, cars, and Rochester. Dan was previously the co-founder and CEO of American Fuel Cell (AFC), which was acquired by Plug Power. American Fuel Cell participated in NEXUS-NY, an early stage climate tech proof of concept center, […]
Environmental responsibility is becoming a more important consideration for consumers, but it can be intimidating for companies looking to get started. Kim Bawden, Senior Pollution Engineer with the NYS Pollution Prevention Institute, lists out where your business can start in its journey to being a climate-conscious company. Kim covers best practices and where to […]
What started as a father-son operation in a garage is now a booming family business with nearly 90 employees. Sydor Optics carved out a niche in ultra precision flat optics, with work that leaves no room for error but plenty of opportunities for fun. Program Manager, Matt Sydor, shares how happiness is a core […]
Teri Dankovich, Co-Founder of Folia Materials, and Bertha Jimenez, Co-Founder of Rise Products, not only started new businesses and participated in cohort 2 of the Scale For ClimateTech program, but also gave birth mid-program and mid-pandemic! Teri and Bertha joined Shelby Thompson, Sr. Community Manager at SecondMuse, on Forward Faster's podcast (or better yet, […]
Optics is the industry of the future, revolutionizing everything from the smart phones in our pockets to our national security. But there are more jobs for optical technicians than there are trained people to fill them. Dr. Alexis Vogt, Endowed Chair and Professor of Optics at Monroe Community College, speaks with Luminate‘s Technology Program […]
Every year the National Renewable Energy Labs (NREL) hosts the Industry Growth Forum, the premier conference for those who work or invest in the renewable energy landscape. The three-day conference is packed with investor meetings, innovator pitches, and networking with the brightest minds in the industry. Kate Moore, who manages strategic partnerships for NREL, […]
In-person dog training classes can be helpful, but they’re not for everyone (especially during a pandemic). Sniffy Labs has developed an app that packages professional training plans, in-depth video tutorials, a progress tracker, and connections to certified dog trainers to provide users with personalized, on-demand dog training. Co-founders Howard Shyng and Ting Zhu spoke […]
Supply chains affect everything we buy, sell, and use, and have taken center stage in the news between COVID-19 vaccine rollout, ketchup shortages, and ships stuck in the Suez Canal. This episode, we sit down with Rich and Roland Mokuolo, founders of Partsimony, where they specialize in supply chain management. Co-founders and twin brothers, […]
How do you empower your customers and company with the information to make sustainable and healthy decisions? How do you make celebrating differences a core characteristic of your company? Rasha Hasaneen, PhD, Vice President of Innovation at Trane Technologies and Executive Director of Center for Healthy & Efficient Spaces, shares her lessons learned in […]
The Finger Lakes Region and its urban core, Rochester, are undergoing a fundamental economic transformation. Finger Lakes Forward, a strategic plan developed by the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council (FLREDC), reflects a shared vision to build upon recent progress, overcome challenges, and extend economic opportunity to all residents. Vincent Esposito, Regional Director of […]
Meet Zoe Welz. Zoe got her start as a CEO and Co-founder in the AgTech sector with her company, Drovr, using smart-movable fences to help transform livestock management. From there she’s used her experience to help entrepreneurs and startups grow their businesses and ultimately landed on the Venture For ClimateTech team as a program […]
Almost everyone has some form of inconsistency or “aberration” with the shape or surface of their eyes. Some have more complex vision errors called higher order aberrations (HOAs), such as keratoconus. OVITZ is making it easier for optometrists to capture measurements and work with manufacturers to deliver custom vision correction to their patients. Nick […]
For Aaron Newman, chasing the bleeding edge has paid off time and time again. Executive Chairman and Founder of CloudCheckr, Aaron also founded and sold three other successful startups: Techrigy, DbSecure, and Application Security, Inc. He sits down with Matt Foley, Director of Startup Incubation at NextCorps, to talk about his passion for the […]
The impact on the healthcare system can be up to $45,000 to treat a single bedsore, and some pay the ultimate price. 60,000 people in the U.S. alone die each year from these highly preventable pressure ulcers. Dr. Sanna Gaspard, CEO of Rubitection, is passionate about changing the outcomes. She speaks with Dr. Sujatha Ramanujan, […]
To meaningfully address present and future impacts of the climate crisis, diverse leaders, perspectives, and voices are critical for sustainable solutions. Chante Harris, Sr. Manager of Venture For ClimateTech, highlights the best ideas, teams, and investments the climate tech space has to offer with guest panelists Danielle Harris, Director of Mobility Innovation at Elemental […]
Manufacturing accelerators, M-Corps administered by SecondMuse and Hardware Scaleup administered by NextCorps, have formally partnered up under one name as Scale For ClimateTech to fully capitalize on climate tech manufacturing opportunities across New York State. Shelby Thompson, Scale For ClimateTech Community Relations Manager, and Mike Riedlinger, Scale For ClimateTech Managing Director, speak with Chris […]
President of global technology group Jenoptik Optical Systems, Jay Kumler got his start in the defense industry designing and building reconnaissance lenses and has since been on both the buy- and sell-sides of M&A. He talks with Luminate Managing Director, Dr. Sujatha Ramanujan, about his successful transition from a startup founder to doing business […]
There has never been a better time to launch, invest in, or work for a climate tech company. Our future depends on the speedy adoption of climate tech solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Jacqueline Ros Amable, Managing Director of the new venture studio + accelerator, Venture For ClimateTech, sits down with NextCorps President, […]
For photographers and creatives in the fashion and beauty industry, getting published is everything. Sean Charles Morris, Co-Founder of Kavyar, shares how his company pivoted from a portfolio network to what is now the world’s leading platform that photographers use to get published and that magazines use to source work. Hear how Kavyar made […]
By 2022, counterfeit goods will drain trillions of dollars from the economy and cost millions of jobs. Haqean, a Luminate cohort 3 startup, is helping to combat counterfeiting in the pharma industry by digitizing quantum optical fluctuations, generating random numbers for physically unclonable functions of products. NextCorps Marketing Director, Holly Barrett, speaks with Haqean’s CTO, […]
Looking for new products for your organization and information about the latest technology? Sujatha Ramanujan, PhD, Managing Director of Luminate NY, speaks with Simin Cai, President and CEO of Go!Foton, USA and OIDA Council Chair about what’s in store for attendees at the 2nd OIDA Technology Showcase. During this 3-day virtual event on December 1-3, […]
As the most frequently performed surgery in the United States, cataract surgery presents minimal patient risk. However, the visual outcome is not always optimal due to dislocations of premium intraocular lenses (IOLs). Dr. Edgar Janunts, CEO and founder of AkknaTek, speaks with Dr. Damon Diehl, Technology Program Manager at the Luminate Accelerator, about how his […]
NextCorps Marketing Director, Holly Barrett, speaks with Founder and President of Solutions by Sloane and NextCorps Events Consultant, Sandy Sloane, about the ins and outs of networking. Making connections can be make or break, especially in the entrepreneurial atmosphere. With networking norms shifting to virtual settings, it is still just as important. Sandy shares some […]
The light and noise environment in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) has important effects on the health and development of premature infants. NICU nurses currently place fabric blankets over incubators to monitor light conditions, a practice that poses various safety and sanitary concerns. Kilo Medical Solutions, an early-stage medical device startup of NextCorps Luminate’s […]
Black Button Distilling is now eight years in the making, the fastest-growing distillery in the northeast, and second in the nation. With expansion from three to 14 states suddenly put on hold, the company temporarily pivoted into an entirely new industry to meet the needs of the local healthcare community and keep Black Button employees […]
Claudio Mazzali, Sr. Vice President and CTO of the Corning Optical Communications Sector, Corning, Inc., USA, Optical Society (OSA) Fellow, and Co-Chair of this year’s Frontier in Optics + Laser Science web conference, speaks with Sujatha Ramanujan, Luminate’s Managing Director and an OSA Board Member, about what to expect at OSA’s first all-virtual FiO+LS conference. […]
As an entrepreneur, being able to quickly adjust in the face of an unforeseen challenge can be crucial. Holly Barrett, NextCorps Marketing Director, welcomes back Jennifer Young, Founder of What’s Good, an online marketplace focused on providing customers with eco-friendly and socially-responsible products. Young reflects on how she has been able to learn from and […]
Darius Sankey, Luminate Board Member and Advisor, General Partner at Moore Ventures, and former President of Ocean Tomo China explains the importance of having an intellectual property strategy, what it is, how it works and how it is evolving.
Darius Sankey, Luminate Board Member and Advisor, General Partner at Moore Ventures, and former President of Ocean Tomo China discusses the importance of patenting. He shares his insights on patenting in the global market when working in the optics, photonics, and imaging industry.
Nordetect, a Denmark-based company and Luminate cohort III startup, is working to transform the future of the agriculture industry through building chemical analysis systems for agricultural and environmental testing that would bring “the lab to the farm”. Andy Simon, Luminate Operations Director, sat down with Keenan Pinto, Nordetect CEO and Co-founder. Learn more about Nordetect […]
When the Covid-19 pandemic began to hit the U.S., the food industry was undoubtedly going to face repercussions. While medical institutions were at the top of the list for receiving support, George Zheng realized that acquiring protection for his employees at his organic mushroom company was going to become difficult. This resulted in him launching […]
Embracing data is a challenge for many organizations. It requires accountability from leadership and a culture of change. Amy Gurske, Director of Client Strategy at Cause+Effect Strategy, talks with NextCorps Marketing Director, Holly Barrett, about methods for building data into daily organizational processes. Amy encourages entrepreneurs to begin ingraining data into their businesses from the […]
In 2019 alone, the Business Insight Center (BIC) at the Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County saved the community $1.5 million in market research costs. Kate Meddaugh, Manager of the Carlson Center for Intellectual Property, talks with Jennifer Byrnes, Director of the Business Insight Center, about the assistance this incredible resource can provide to […]
There are only five Patent and Trademark Resource Centers (PTRCs) in New York State, and 85 in the entire country. The Carlson Center for Intellectual Property at the Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County is one of them, and businesses can take advantage of free access to many valuable services there. Jennifer Byrnes, Director […]
A typical person goes to their physician once a year, which provides just one set of data points around their personal health. ExPrimary, a Luminate cohort III startup, is working to increase the depth of information we’re able to acquire by making bioanalytical tools less expensive, more accessible, and easier to use. Sean Higgins, PhD, […]
When a patient is diagnosed with cancer today, a pathologist will look at a tumor sample and attempt to suggest the best treatment based on what they see in the microscope, which remains principally an analog technology. Augmentiqs is helping pathologists make more accurate interpretations and informed decisions for better patient outcomes by digitizing the […]
With the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, small businesses are facing unprecedented disruption. NextCorps President, Jim Senall, talks with Virginia Smith, Branch Manager for the Small Business Administration in Buffalo and Rochester, about SBA funding options and temporary relief programs established with the CARES Act. Get information on the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), the Payroll Protection […]
You’ve heard of WiFi, but what about LiFi? Chao Shen, PhD, CTO and Technical Leader of SaNoor Technologies, sits down with Luminate Technology Program Manager, Dr. Damon Diehl, to share how his company is developing high-speed laser LiFi transmitters that allow data transmission beyond 10 Gb/s. LiFi (“light fidelity” or visible light communications) won’t replace […]
Outside of art festivals and the public market, it can be challenging for local artists and small businesses to get discovered. ShopLocalli is an online marketplace for printmakers, jewelers, furniture crafters, and other local businesses and artists in Rochester, NY. Sam Jividen, ShopLocalli Founder, describes this showcase of the talent in Rochester and his relentless focus […]
Despite advancements in cancer therapies, testing is performed inside a patient’s body with no lab standard to determine which treatment will work best. Sanatela Medical is helping doctors get closer to individualized cancer treatment and a pathway to a cure with the Sanatela Matrix, the first matrix that comes from decellularized Wharton’s jelly to mimic the […]
Wearable health monitoring solutions can be extremely valuable to both physicians and patients, but only if there is compliance. VPG Medical is reducing the need for behavior change by putting cardiac health monitoring in the background. Dr. Jean-Philippe (JP) Couderc, Founder and CEO of VPG Medical, describes how the HealthKam™ product uses the camera from […]
Patient monitoring typically takes place in hospital or clinical settings, meaning doctors lack a complete picture of their patients to be able to effectively individualize care and prevent rehospitalizations. Think Biosolution is working to change that with QuasaR, their remote patient monitoring device that pairs with a HIPPA-compliant cloud and EHR-integrated clinical dashboards to give […]
5G has been in development for years, and we are now on the cusp of dramatic changes in terms of capacity, speed, timeliness, and reliability of wireless communications. Osmund deSouza, Principal Architect at AT&T, talks with NextCorps President, Jim Senall, about how 5G will transform how we use and share data, enabling positive strides in […]
Many consumers want to shop from environmentally and socially conscious brands, but they are limited by choice and challenged by inconvenience. Jennifer Young, Founder of What’s Good, talks about some of the cleaning supplies and self-care products you can find at her online store, shopwhatsgood.com, and the care she takes to research and select brands […]
Dr. Nish Sonwalkar, Founder and CEO of SunDensity, has developed a Photonic Smart Coating (PSC™) technology that improves the efficiency of solar panels as well as electronic devices and architectural glass. He talks with NextCorps Marketing Director, Holly Barrett, about SunDensity’s mission to save the world through improving the adoption of solar energy. Hear his […]
What do investors look for in a company? NextCorps President, Jim Senall, sits down with Don Golini, founder of SANICA Ventures and QED Technologies International, successful entrepreneur, startup mentor, chairman of the Luminate Accelerator Advisory Board, and former chairman of the Rochester Angel Network (RAN). Don shares his criteria when evaluating a company, his thoughts […]
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