Pensievision, a startup based in San Diego, has been named the “Company of the Year” in the eighth round of the Luminate NY optics, photonics, and imaging (OPI) accelerator competition. The announcement was made by Governor Kathy Hochul at the Luminate NY Finals 2025 event held in Rochester. Pensievision will receive $1 million in investment from New York State through the Finger Lakes Forward Upstate Revitalization Initiative to help anchor its growth in the region.
The company plans to use this funding to engage with local supply chains, hire engineering talent from area universities, and partner with Rochester-based design and manufacturing firms. Pensievision’s technology focuses on breakthrough 3D imaging for use in medical diagnostics, factory settings, and space missions. It combines miniaturized single-lens setups with artificial intelligence and astronomy-inspired optics for high-precision insights in environments where traditional systems are not effective.
Governor Hochul said, “Thanks in part to the successful Luminate NY competition, our state continues to lead the nation on cutting-edge technological ideas and research. The winners of the competition’s eighth round represent some of the world’s most innovative businesses that are bringing transformative products in the optics, photonics and imaging supply chain to market. I congratulate this year’s winners, and remain committed to supporting the fast-growing, high-tech businesses and industries that will move New York forward.”
Tal Almog, President of Pensievision, stated: “Luminate gave us unmatched access to optics expertise, precision manufacturers, and advisors who helped shape our business model and customer acquisition strategy. It has fast-tracked our ability to validate use cases, secure pilots, and prepare for institutional funding. This follow-on funding will help us to reinforce Rochester’s role as a global hub for optics and photonics innovation.”
amPICQ received the Outstanding Graduate Award along with $500,000 in follow-on funding for their work designing Photonic Integrated Circuits aimed at advancing quantum-safe security across multiple industries.
For this round’s Distinguished Graduate Award—three companies tied: Oblate Optics from San Diego; Pixel Photonics from Münster; and SNOChip from Princeton—each awarded $200,000 for innovations ranging from ultra-thin lenses to waveguide-integrated superconducting nanowire detectors and new on-chip optical components.
Audience members voted LirOptic as Audience Choice winner with a $10,000 award.
Judging was conducted by industry professionals based on business pitches after a seven-month accelerator program run by NextCorps.
All winning companies must commit to establishing operations in upstate New York for at least 18 months as part of their awards.
Luminate NY is recognized as one of the largest accelerators worldwide focusing on OPI technologies. Since its inception it has invested $21 million into 85 startups which have created over 210 jobs statewide while spending more than $21 million with regional suppliers.
Dr. Sujatha Ramanujan of Luminate NY commented: “Each year, the caliber of innovation in Luminate speaks to the strength of the program and the unique ecosystem New York offers. What stands out in this round is how many of the technologies are positioned to not only transform markets like healthcare and advanced manufacturing but also to accelerate growth in the semiconductor space, an industry where our region has critical advantages. Luminate ensures that these companies are not just developing breakthrough ideas but are equipped with the resources, networks, and capital to bring them to scale here in New York.”
The program selects 10-12 companies annually for a hybrid seven-month course providing instruction hours alongside business development support. Applications for Round Nine are open until January 12, 2026 via https://luminate.org/.
Empire State Development President Hope Knight said: “The Luminate NY competition’s laser focus on accelerating innovation and investment in New York’s world-renowned optics, photonics and imaging industries has further established the Finger Lakes as an OPI hub. Congratulations to all finalists who took part in Round Eight of the Luminate competition, and we are excited about the growth and impact that these forward-thinking companies will bring to the region.”
State Senator Jeremy Cooney added: “I’m excited to congratulate the winners of Round Eight of the Luminate NY accelerator program. As a city with a deep legacy of leading new technologies…it’s only right that we continue investing in cutting-edge optics innovations…Thank you…to Empire State Development and Finger Lakes Forward for their continued support.”
Assemblymember Harry Bronson stated: “The Luminate NY competition continues to be a hub for bringing innovative entrepreneurship…to Rochester…I hope we will continue seeing these groundbreaking companies make NYS their home.”
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello noted: “Monroe County has long been an innovation hub for optics…We extend gratitude to Governor Hochul for her unwavering commitment…and thanks also to Empire State Development.”
Mayor Malik D. Evans said: “New York State officials…deserve credit for supporting…inventors…When statistics suggest…the U.S….is becoming less innovative…NextCorps…prove that we can buck this trend.”
Additional details about NextCorps can be found at https://nextcorps.org/.
This initiative aligns with Finger Lakes Forward—the regional economic plan focusing on sectors such as photonics—which aims at driving economic growth through targeted investments.
