Advancing Photonics Technologies

????Today, please join Advancing Photonics Technologies in celebrating David McGee, Professor of Physics at The College of New Jersey! His proposal, “RUI:GOALI: Maskless microfabrication using polarization-driven photomechanics“ was recently awarded a major National Science Foundation (NSF) grant! ???? For this award, David will work with Matt Singer at Thorlabs, highlighting the power of industry-academia and cross-regional, ecosystem-wide research collaborations. Read more about the award here: https://lnkd.in/g2yWpzQH TCNJ Science | TCNJ Engineering | Sunita Kramer | Jennifer Rutherford #AdvancingPhotonicsTechnologies #APT #WeAreAPT #photonics #optics #innovation #technology #research #industrycollaboration #TCNJ #TheCollegeofNewJersey

????Happy Friday, APTers!??Advancing Photonics Technologies was elated to participate in yesterday’s Funders and Founders All Stars Event, hosted by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and held at The College of New Jersey.? We loved catching up with our friends and making new ones! Having a table alongside other innovation ecosystem leaders and sharing our story with entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators were milestones in APT’s history.?? Kudos to Milton Urgiles and Curtis Lee for organizing an incredible day! ?? The journey that got APT to now is a testament to each and every member of our community leaning into, stepping up (in our socks, always!), and doubling down on our collective efforts to build our photonics innovation and investment ecosystem in #NewJersey, #Pennsylvania, & #Delaware.??We’d like to shout out two APTers in particular: Madhu Stemmermann, CEO of SunRay Scientific Inc. and Simin Cai, CEO of Go!Foton, who attended yesterday’s event.??Simin literally came right from catching the redeye back from a business trip! ?? Throughout the day, it was great to see: - Robert Chimenti, who has been instrumental as Co-PI and APT Core Team member in driving Rowan University’s NEW M.S. in Photonics: https://lnkd.in/guFSjH-n? Doug MacDonald, Cecily Kovatch, Lucy H. Partman, PhD, Monika Athwal, John Wisniewski,?Kremena Mironova, Tim Rollender, Ram Akella, Tim Sullivan, and Kathleen Coviello, who have supercharged innovation in NJ through incentives such as the Angel Investor Tax Credit and the NJ Innovation Evergreen Fund that spur investment in startups, innovation, and regional economic development:?https://lnkd.in/e4Xsv85R Judith Sheft and Frances Keel, whose NJCSIT Catalyst R&D Voucher Pilot Program has helped countless startups access critical R&D resources, facilities, and equipment:?https://lnkd.in/eiFansgB Winnie Cheng and Alberto Gutierrez, who have scaled NJ FAST powered by Plug and Play at Stevens Institute of Technology, providing programming for #FinTech and #InsurTech startups Sunita Kramer, who champions a life-changing culture of innovation at TCNJ for students and faculty, including David McGee Sho Islam, who leads the Office of Business Engagement at Middlesex County, NJ - County Government, providing invaluable business development services. What a great day and SUPER way to start spring! ??? #AdvancingPhotonicsTechnologies #APT #WeAreAPT #photonics #innovation #earlystage #strategicinvestment #venturecapital #technology #photonicsFriday #deeptech #biotech #economicgrowth #ecosystembuilding #NJEDA

?? Attn Advancing Photonics Technologies companies ?? ??THIS FRIDAY hosted by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)

?? We LOVE seeing our Advancing Photonics Technologies partners and friends shining brightly as thought leaders and subject matter experts in their fields! Way to go Brent Schneeman!??????? #AdvancingPhotonicsTechnologies #WeAreAPT #KnockMySocksOff #APTlySocked #APTintheWild #APTWorld

???? Last week, Advancing Photonics Technologies students at The College of New Jersey—David McGee’s Lab—& Princeton University—Craig Arnold’s Group—visited Edmund Optics, following Rutgers University–New Brunswick & Deirdre O'Carroll’s students’ trip! A massive shout out to Cory Boone for planning an amazing visit and signing our Larry Laser Finds his Spark book and Marisa Edmund for leading a culture of joy and belonging! Major thank-you to our panelists for inspiring us with their career stories and advice! Bonus was a post-tour SIDE-QUEST to Rowan University to visit Robert Chimenti’s lab! Here’s what students said: - “Visiting Edmund Optics solidified my confidence that a career in photonics is where I want to be headed.” -Phillip - “Visiting Edmund Optics was wonderful! I’m so glad I learned about the company culture, future goals, and the fascinating field of optics. Thank you to the fantastic panel who shared their insights and experiences. I’m even more excited?for future visits!” -Coleman - “I am thrilled to be a?new APTer. I now feel inspired to pursue?a future involving optics.?It is incredible to realize how much every single part of life involves optics. Hearing from the bright engineers and inspiring CEO of Edmund Optics opened my eyes to how pertinent this field really is; the future is optics, and I look forward to being part of this future.” -Brielle - “Optics is everywhere, influencing many technologies. The field holds immense potential and its impact on the future is undeniable. The future is optics.”?-Christopher - “The trip to Edmund Optics was so much fun…Optics is underrepresented, and it’s?refreshing to meet like-minded?individuals in the vocation.” -Griffin -?“Thank you again for inviting us to Edmund Optics. It was super interesting to see their lab and facilities.” - Philip - “It was great to get to know the company personally and learn about their core philosophies, respect for their history, and investments in the future. That’s the kind of company you’d want to do business and collaborate with.” -Shu - “Visiting Edmund Optics was a journey through the past, present, and future—an experience that was both exciting and inspiring, filled with innovation and endless possibilities.” -Ankit - “It was exciting to see that a leading optics company like Edmund Optics is based right here in New Jersey, so close to us. Their team was incredibly welcoming, giving us a deep dive into their technology, values, and vision for the future. The visit was insightful and inspiring!” -Marco - “I really appreciated the hands-on experiments that were a part of the tour! You could tell that staff actually cared!" -Dante - “Our tour provided insights on optical manufacturing. We enjoyed and were encouraged by hearing employees’ stories and learning about the job pipeline.” -Shivani #AdvancingPhotonicsTechnologies #APT #WeAreAPT #photonics #optics #innovation #education #workforcedevelopment #careersinscience #womenownedbusiness

Today, Advancing Photonics Technologies is spotlighting Stephen Socolof, Managing Partner at Tech Council Ventures and member of APT’s Strategic Investment Working Group.??A graduate of Stanford University and The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, Steve is an early-stage venture capitalist, with over 25 years of experience and deep expertise in the commercialization of photonics technologies. Photonics is an important area of technology that powers communications, networking, data centers, security, and medical devices.?? New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware have strong capabilities in photonics, and Steve’s expertise in mentoring, scaling, and investing in startups help APT and our partners, entrepreneurs, and investors enhance our photonics and optics collaborations, partnerships, production, and economic impact. A fun fact about Steve is that he has lived in New Jersey three different times! The first was from when he was born to when he was 1.??Then, he moved to DC and returned to New Jersey for middle and high school.??Then, he left for college and post-college life and returned to work for Lucent 28 years ago!??Steve, we are thrilled you have stayed in New Jersey to champion venture capital and photonics in our state and region! Please join us in celebrating Steve!??? In addition to spotlighting Steve today, APT is also celebrating Pi Day 2025! We wish ALL our APTers a Happy Friday/Pi Day!???????? We hope you take a moment today to celebrate. ?As a brain break for today, grab some pie and enjoy “18 Ways NASA Uses Pi”:?https://lnkd.in/gVStR93D.??Fun fact: photonics and optics technologies enable these applications, and without them, we could not get from the Earth, to the Moon, to Mars, and beyond! TechUnited | BioNJ | Nokia Bell Labs | NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory #AdvancingPhotonicsTechnologies #APT #WeAreAPT #photonics #innovation #earlystage #strategicinvestment #venturecapital #technology #photonicsFriday #deeptech #biotech #economicgrowth #HappyPiDay #PiDay2025

???? Earlier this week, Advancing Photonics Technologies hosted our APT Doubles Down Reception.?Our community showed up and spoke up about the importance of ecosystem building for our photonics industry, innovation, and investment community in #NewJersey, #Pennsylvania, & #Delaware. ? We missed our APTers who could not attend and felt their light vibes, energy, and enthusiasm in the room!?And what a room it was!?APTers from all 3 states mixed, mingled, GOT THEIR APT SOCKS, & DOUBLED DOWN on the work we are driving forward, momentum we are building, and economic impact we are creating. We heard from ecosystem leaders including: - Pastor Keith Davis, Camden Dream Center Technology Training School - Ravi Guntupalli, Teledyne Princeton Instruments - Stephen Socolof, Tech Council Ventures - Simin Cai, Go!Foton - David McGee, The College of New Jersey? - Scott Daniel, Materium Technologies ? These leaders illuminated the importance of APT, our why, and our work—and yes that is an “our” because APT is a “we.”? APTers also shared: - “I truly enjoyed attending APT Doubles Down Reception. IT LOOKS LIKE I’ve been in the wrong rooms lately! That was a fantastic gathering!...This is a highly motivated group of photonic thought leaders - all right here in New Jersey! Please keep me connected.” - “It was a great event - I’m grateful for being included and for the new connections (and socks ??).? - “I’m so impressed by the community you’ve built around photonics and the continued momentum. Looking forward to great things!” - “Really great event last night…Everyone enjoyed coming together—and the overall?tone was optimism and partnership. Thank?you for inviting?me. (And thank you for the socks!) - “We are deeply committed to the photonics industry in NJ, PA, and DE–with its leading research universities, vibrant community colleges, and a high concentration of optics and photonics-related companies.?We are proud to be part of this thriving ecosystem and to contribute to its growth and innovation. We are committed to support ATP as it aims to advance critical technologies, economic growth and job creation. We are committed to foster regional innovation and talent.” - “It was awesome to feel the momentum created around photonics.” - “I made helpful new connections, and I would be very interested in participating in the CEO dinners.” - “It was a great event- I only wish it was a few hours longer (!) so I could meet everyone there.” - “Clearly, I missed a great reception!?I’m in next time!” - “I would love to show my support, but unfortunately have a trip to visit customers that’s been scheduled for a few months. Please let me know...if there is another way I can support! ? As we continue doubling down,?we would love to hear from you!?Reach out to learn more! ? #AdvancingPhotonicsTechnologies #APT #WeAreAPT #Photonics #Innovation #EcosystemBuilding #strategicinvestment #venturecapital #technology #photonicsFriday #deeptech #economicgrowth #industrypartnerships

?????? Thank you Teledyne Princeton Instruments for being a key partner in Advancing Photonics Technologies’ work and in building our community! Ravi Guntupalli’s remarks inspired us all, reminding us that #Teledyne and its impact is truly “Everywhere [we] look”! Julianne Boden has also played an integral role in deepening Teledyne’s engagement with APT and building momentum in our photonics innovation and investment ecosystem in NJ, PA, and DE! #AdvancingPhotonicsTechnologies #APT #WeAreAPT

Non-dilutive capital stacks with grants, tax credits, rebates, hybrid capital, and debt that complement venture capital are critical to the successful commercialization and scaling of photonics technologies. ????Today, Advancing Photonics Technologies is spotlighting Gillian D. Francis, a member of our Strategic Investment Working Group, and Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Rapid Ventures. Rapid accelerates the scaling, investment, and market adoption of novel climate technologies addressing the most critical energy sustainability challenges. Adopting a place-based approach, Rapid collaborates with global, market-ready startups that are either revenue-generating or have a clear path to revenue in the near term, ensuring they are well-positioned to make a significant impact. Gillian brings a wealth of broad and deep expertise and over 23 years of experience in capital markets, private markets, real assets, venture capital, impact investing, blended finance, #fintech, #deeptech, #cleanenergy and #climatetech with J.P. Morgan, Citi, and Lockheed Martin. For the past 9 years, Gillian has been an EIR/Mentor to climate tech and fintech startups and scaleups with NSF I-Corps, Columbia Technology Ventures, Greenshot Climate Accelerator, Techstars, Village Capital, and Launch NY. She is excited about APT’s role in advancing energy technologies using photonics in mitigation, adaptation, and resilience technology solutions that will target cities and communities in #NewJersey, #Pennsylvania, and #Delaware. She can’t wait for Rapid Ventures to help photonics technology startups and scaleups safely exit the “commercial valley of death.” A fun fact that you might not know about Gillian is that she combines her passions for playing squash and tackling climate change by attending SquashVoyage international squash camps at Galomar Hotel, the pioneer of sustainable innovation as the first 100% energy self-sufficient hotel in the Autonomous Region of Madeira! Please join us today in celebrating Gillian! ?? #AdvancingPhotonicsTechnologies #APT #WeAreAPT #photonics #innovation #earlystage #strategicinvestment #venturecapital #technology #photonicsFriday #deeptech #economicgrowth #commercialization

And that’s a wrap! ?????? We had a PHENOMENAL TIME at #PhotonicsWest! As we head home, of course outfitted in our on-brand APT socks!, we are even more laser focused on continuing the magic and momentum and collectively powering our region’s bright future. If you missed us in #SanFrancisco, join us in #Princeton on February 24 to hear exciting updates and learn how you can get involved! With our Choose New Jersey, Inc., Rowan University, Princeton University, and NJMEP partners, we rocked out the Expo, welcoming new APTers into our #NewJersey, #Pennsylvania, and #Delaware community! We attended the Global Business Forum and technical sessions, learning about key focus areas, cutting-edge innovations that power everything from #nationalsecurity to #advancedmanufacturing, and increasingly ubiquitous applications of photonics and optics technologies in the age of #AI, #aerospace, #datascience, and #energyefficiency. And, we celebrated one of our team members, a post doc in the Arnold Group, who received a prestigious award for his research on #3Dprinting! A massive shout-out to the 30+ companies who represented our region at the biggest photonics conference in the world: Esco Optics, Inc. | Avantier Inc. | KrellTech | Epolin | Denton Vacuum | HORIBA | Thorlabs | Sensors Unlimited Inc, a Raytheon Company | Hamamatsu Corporation | Edmund Optics | Ascentta | m-oem | VitroCom | Inrad Optics | AKELA Laser Corporation | Deltronic Crystal Industries, Inc. | Princeton Infrared Technologies, Inc. | Spectrogon US Inc | Santec Corporation | Hyperion Optics | Haas Laser Technologies, Inc | American Beryllia Inc. | CO2 Clean - Applied Surface Technologies | TDK-Lambda Americas | Quantum Computing, Inc. | Waveguide Optical Technologies | Nokia Bell Labs | Go!Foton | Princeton Scientific Corp. | Cybel | Avo Photonics | Sumitomo Corporation | Phase Sensitive Innovations, Inc. | Agilent Technologies | Rutgers University | Spark Photonics Foundation Thank you SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics and ALL our partners for a delightful week! See you at Photonics West 2026! #AdvancingPhotonicsTechnologies #APT #WeAreAPT #photonics #optics #innovation #photonicsFriday #SPIE