Forward Faster

To have a successful career in science, you must be able to convince strangers to give you enormous sums of money. Unfortunately, many scientists miss the mark and write terrible […]

  When Tanya Mooza Zwahlen’s neighborhood playground disappeared overnight, she was inspired to develop a solution that would give people insight into projects going on in their communities. Hear from […]

After more than a century, the world’s leading champion for optics and photonics has a new name. Optica (formerly The Optical Society of America) is a reflection of the society’s […]

  After more than a century, the world’s leading champion for optics and photonics has a new name. Optica (formerly The Optical Society of America) is a reflection of the society’s global reach and commitment to continuous growth and inclusivity. Dr. Eric Mazur, Optica’s Foundation Chair and 2017 President, talks about the decision to rebrand […]

  Manufacturers of mission-critical components like facial implants and aircraft engine pieces are currently using metal printing to produce multiple parts to get one good one. It’s a problem that costs the global manufacturing industry billions of dollars a year. Layer Metrics, a startup in cohort 4 of the Luminate accelerator, is working to address […]

Manufacturers of mission-critical components like facial implants and aircraft engine pieces are currently using metal printing to produce multiple parts to get one good one. It’s a problem that costs […]

  Multifocal corrections in the form of contact lenses or intraocular lenses are the best options for an expanding number of patients with presbyopia and cataracts. However, multifocal vision is a new visual experience that’s hard for patients to understand and for clinicians to explain. 2EyesVision, a startup in cohort 4 of the Luminate accelerator, […]

Multifocal corrections in the form of contact lenses or intraocular lenses are the best options for an expanding number of patients with presbyopia and cataracts. However, multifocal vision is a […]

  Custom, high-precision optical components are found everywhere, but getting them produced at mass comes with astronomical lead times and costs that are out of reach for many companies. Momentum Optics, a startup in cohort 4 of the Luminate accelerator, is making custom optics more accessible, helping eliminate the barriers to high-volume production while delivering […]

  Custom, high-precision optical components are found everywhere, but getting them produced at mass comes with astronomical lead times and costs that are out of reach for many companies.

The demand for portable power is constantly growing, and there’s currently no solution for lightweight, portable power generation. Mesodyne, a startup in the Luminate accelerator’s fourth cohort, is developing a […]

  The demand for portable power is constantly growing, and there’s currently no solution for lightweight, portable power generation. Mesodyne, a startup in the Luminate accelerator’s fourth cohort, is developing a new kind of generator that enables compact, efficient, long-endurance power generation anywhere, any time, from any fuel. CEO and Co-Founder, Dr. Veronika Stelmakh, talks […]

  Current autonomous vehicles rely on Global Navigation Satellite System sensors. In GPS-denied environments, like parking garages or tunnels, the vehicle may get misguided, increasing the chance of collision. One Silicon Chip Photonics (OSCP) is solving this problem with its high-performance IMU that’s more precise, uses eight times less power, and is up to 30 […]

Current autonomous vehicles rely on Global Navigation Satellite System sensors. In GPS-denied environments, like parking garages or tunnels, the vehicle may get misguided, increasing the chance of collision. One Silicon […]

Today’s automotive safety systems are designed to either avoid or respond to collisions. PreAct Technologies, a startup in cohort 4 of the Luminate accelerator, is focused on detecting car crashes […]

  Today’s automotive safety systems are designed to either avoid or respond to collisions. PreAct Technologies, a startup in cohort 4 of the Luminate accelerator, is focused on detecting car crashes before they happen, enabling various safety measures to engage in a matter of milliseconds. Founder and CEO Paul Drysch shares how PreAct’s technology can […]

  To make a vehicle safer, perception systems need to be able to emulate what we do as humans — not only see but identify and classify objects, and estimate where they are and where they’re going. Owl AI, a startup in cohort 4 of the Luminate accelerator, is improving the perception of sensors used in […]

For professional athletes, every move matters. And for those training to reach the pro level, more information can help them achieve their goals. Organic Robotic Corporation‘s wearable Light Lace™ sensors […]

  For professional athletes, every move matters. And for those training to reach the pro level, more information can help them achieve their goals. Organic Robotic Corporation‘s wearable Light Lace™ sensors offer real-time biomechanical analysis on the field, giving athletes and their trainers data on muscle movement, joint angles, respiration, and more. ORC co-founders, Ilayda […]

  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 […]

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 […]

  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 […]

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 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 […]

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. […]

  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 […]

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 […]

  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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

  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 […]

  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, […]

  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 […]

  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, […]