PhotonDelta and Luminate NY announce collaboration
The organisations, based in the Netherlands and the US, aim to supercharge global photonics innovation by giving start-ups access to the benefits of each other’s accelerator programmes, including coaching, funding, and go-to-market strategies
PhotonDelta, the Netherlands-based photonic chip accelerator, and Luminate NY, an accelerator for start-ups with optics, photonics, and imaging enabled technologies, have announced a strategic collaboration to support the growth of early-stage photonics companies across North America and the Netherlands.
This partnership aims to bring together two photonics ecosystems to strengthen international innovation, expand access to resources, and provide enhanced support for start-ups seeking to commercialise photonics technologies. Through this collaboration, start-ups that are part of PhotonDelta or Luminate can get access to the benefits of each other’s accelerator programmes, enabling them to leverage these ecosystems and relationships to accelerate innovation and scaling into the global market.
PhotonDelta and Luminate plan to work together to identify and vet candidates for participation in their programmes and accelerator cycles. In addition, both organisations say they will introduce start-ups to their networks of industry experts, investors, mentors, and production facilities. The collaboration also aims to provide soft-landing services as they establish a presence in both the US and the Netherlands, thereby offering start-ups access to the US and European markets.
According to the organisations, the Memorandum of Understanding also underpins the importance of the strategic collaboration between the Netherlands and New York State in the field of semiconductors and integrated photonics.
The scope of the collaboration includes joint programming, beginning with a series of planned investor summits, pitch events, and webinars. This will include the Luminate 5×5 Pitches in August, Luminate Investor Summit in New York City on 12 September, the Luminate Finals on 22 October, and the PIC Summit Europe event in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, on 4-5 November. Executives from both organisations will meet quarterly to exchange insights on photonics developments and identify start-ups with strong potential for acceleration, funding, or market entry, and develop new initiatives such as the Global Photonics Engineering Contest, which recently concluded with 33 submissions from all over the world.
“The global integrated photonics industry is expected to grow with a CAGR of 45 percent to $10.3 billion by 2029,” said Eelko Brinkhoff, CEO at PhotonDelta. “This partnership will give start-ups access to a more powerful, connected support network in the USA and the Netherlands. By combining our two ecosystems, we can fast-track innovation, investment, and access to new markets, empowering a new generation of photonics pioneers.”
Sujatha Ramanujan, managing director and chief investment officer of Luminate NY, said: “Our shared commitment to growing the photonics industry is at the heart of this partnership. Working with PhotonDelta allows us to combine strengths, support cross-border growth, and accelerate the development of breakthrough technologies. We look forward to working with future promising start-ups that can lead this next wave of technological transformation.”
