Translation of Innovations
to Impact
OVERVIEW
STELLAR will build upon an existing cluster of 150+ optics, photonics, imaging, and laser (OPI+L) companies. The engine will also enhance the capacity of economic development teams designed to meet the specific company needs and requirements, including the NextCorps Luminate Accelerator (Luminate), Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE), and NY Photonics. STELLAR will provide the ROC/FLX region with additional resources to advance OPI+L company growth at every stage, including seed, startup, and scale up. Translation of innovations to impact activities will attract new private investment, advance further commercialization, and augment the region’s existing supply chain capacity to support U.S. domestic production goals.
STELLAR will expand the proven Luminate Accelerator model through a dedicated effort to identify and recruit laser and laser application startups from across the globe. Luminate will develop specialized curricula for laser technology startups, around themes such as Design-for-Manufacturing, Freedom-to-Operate, new industry supply chain and sourcing partnerships, Laser Safety Compliance, and Process and Quality Control for Laser Production. The Engine will provide these startups with critical programming and support to transform them into investable companies primed for success and regional retention.
Analyzing the OPI+L ecosystem will inform a new venture model by shifting the focus from individual, high-risk micro-investments to understanding and investing in ecosystem-scale market needs and trends. This comprehensive data analysis, made possible by STELLAR, will identify critical technology gaps, promising application areas (e.g., ultrafast lasers, integrated photonics), and the ROI models required to attract private equity accustomed to investing in high-growth, vertically integrated industries. By proving the viability of the entire regional ecosystem rather than just one-off startups, STELLAR aims to de-risk investment, attract capital from outside the region, and achieve its ’10x’ goal of establishing a $100M Venture Development firm within three years.
DISCOVER
Our Core Projects
1
Business Acceleration
STELLAR will expand the scope and support offered by the proven Luminate Accelerator model with dedicated effort in identifying and recruiting laser and laser application companies. STELLAR will develop critical programming and curricula to support OPI+L startups propelling them forward as successful commercial ventures.
2
Business Attraction, Expansion, and Retention
STELLAR, in coordination with GRE, will drive significant business growth in the laser ecosystem, focusing on securing new domestic investment and job creation in breakthrough laser and laser-enabled technologies. Applied markets include defense, advanced manufacturing, communications, advanced computing, energy innovation, semiconductor, and healthcare.
3
Tech Transfer, Investment & Human Capital
STELLAR will leverage supply chain, R&D, and partnerships to advance its portfolio development, patent generation, and business R&D investments. The Engine will boost local IP licensing, use simplified investment vehicles, inform a new venture model by shifting to ecosystem-scale markets, and establish a venture development firm. We will invest in human capital to retain technically knowledgeable individuals and encourage pursuit of entrepreneurial ventures.
4
Infrastructure and Scale
STELLAR will establish physical space and resources needed for all its core functions and activities. The Engine will be headquartered at NextCorps in downtown Rochester, New York, providing offices for operation and startup development space, including laser-safety certified incubator space. Lab space is available through myriad academic and corporate partnerships. The Engine will streamline semiconductor processes and expand laser fabrication capabilities in materials. In later years, we will create a diode laser packaging facility.
OUR 10-year goals