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Governor Hochul Announces Round 5 Winners of Luminate NY Accelerator Competition

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Lidrotec Receives $1 Million in Investment; Four Additional Companies Secure Follow-on Investments

Applications Now Being Accepted for Round 6 of the Optics, Photonics, and Imaging Competition until January 9, 2023

NYS Investment Complements “Finger Lakes Forward” – the Region’s Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy

Photo of Luminate NY Winner Available Here

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Governor Kathy Hochul today announced Lidrotec as the winner of Round 5 of the Luminate NY optics, photonics, and imaging startup accelerator competition. The Bochum, Germany-based Lidrotec received the “Company of the Year” award at Luminate Finals 2022, which was held live during Optica’s Frontiers in Optics + Laser Science conference in Rochester. The company will receive $1 million in investment from New York State through the Finger Lakes Forward Upstate Revitalization Initiative. As required by the award, all winners of the competition will commit to establishing operations in the region for at least the next 18 months. Through Luminate NY, Lidrotec was introduced to AIM Photonics. This collaboration is helping Lidrotec build the infrastructure for developing the next iteration of its technology and execute on its plans to establish US operations. Luminate NY, which is administered by NextCorps, is the world’s largest business accelerator for emerging companies that have optics, photonics, and imaging enabled technologies. The Finals event marks the completion of the fifth year of the cohort-based program. Earlier this year, Governor Hochul included funding for Luminate NY in the New State budget for four more consecutive years.

“New York is on the cutting edge of technological research, as we continue to welcome great talent and opportunities here through our Luminate NY competition,” Governor Hochul said. “We are adding another chapter to the Finger Lakes Region’s unparalleled history in imaging and optics by bringing the most promising companies here to speed the commercialization of groundbreaking technologies. Today’s winners will be able to take advantage of the nation’s most robust, sophisticated, and highly integrated optics, photonics and imaging supply chain that exists here to scale their businesses, leading to their growth as well as New York State’s economy.”

Lidrotec’s patent-pending wafer-dicing laser technology for the semiconductor industry enables thinner cuts with a virtually 0% damage rate, providing significant cost savings and productivity increases. Its innovation is in the efficient use of liquids in the laser processing zone, which cool and rinse wafers while the laser cuts out the chips. The resulting benefits include thinner cuts with higher precision, no damages to the material, clean surfaces without debris, and higher processing speeds—all without the need to adapt the production process.

Lidrotec CEO Alexander Igelmann said, “Luminate provided us with a new network into the United States, along with contacts to suppliers and clients. These vital connections will help us to meet our development milestones during the next two years, which include market validation for our novel laser technology.”

Munich, Germany based Custom Surgical was awarded the Outstanding Graduate Award and $500,000 in follow-on investment. They also received the $10,000 Audience Choice award. The company is modernizing surgery by providing an effective way to record, store, and share medical images and leverage them to diagnose and treat patients. Alertgy from Melbourne, FL secured the Distinguished Graduate award and $250,000 for its technology, which gives diabetics and the world’s 2 billion pre-diabetics a way to non-invasively monitor their blood glucose levels on demand.

There was a tie for Honorable Achievement, with MEETOPTICS from Barcelona Spain and SCOUT from Alexandria, VA each receiving $125,000. MEETOPTICS is building an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven platform that helps engineers and researchers in the optics and photonics industry quickly access and compare products and technologies from trusted manufacturers online. SCOUT is providing alternatives to the terrestrial sensing paradigm with on-orbit imaging systems and autonomy software for the automated detection, tracking, and characterization of space objects and orbital debris.

Videos on all competing startups in the competition are available here.

Investments today were presented after a panel of judges from the optics, photonics, and imaging (OPI) industry and venture capitalist community scored the participating companies based on their business pitches and due diligence completed during the six-month accelerator program.

Since its inception, Luminate NY has invested $15 million in 53 startups. The companies in the portfolio now share a net worth of more than $400 million. In addition to providing an estimated 1.5 to 2 times return on investment, many of the companies are establishing U.S. operations or some aspect of research and manufacturing in the Rochester region, which has resulted in 150 jobs (100 full-time and 20 contract positions), with an additional 120 projected in the near future from two companies. Last year’s winner, PreAct Technologies, committed to establishing its pilot, high-tech manufacturing in Rochester, which is expected to create 60 jobs.

Luminate NY Managing Director Dr. Sujatha Ramanujan said, “This accelerator is providing the critical support that early-stage companies need to bring their technologies to market and expand their businesses in both U.S. and global markets. We are grateful to Governor Hochul for the program’s continuation.”

The Luminate NY accelerator is based in Rochester and selects ten promising companies each year to participate in its six-month program. During this time, companies are provided with comprehensive training and resources to advance their technologies and businesses. Applications are now being accepted for Round 6 through January 9, 2023. Teams that can physically locate to Rochester will receive $100,000 in funding upon program start in April 2023. Teams that are unable to come to Rochester due to travel and Visa restrictions will receive $50,000 in funding upon program start and an additional $50,000 that must be used to engage resources in the Finger Lakes region during their time in the accelerator.

The Finger Lakes Region is home to an incredibly rich ecosystem of forward-thinking entrepreneurs who are looking to grow their business. Rochester offers the American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics’ Test, Assembly, and Packaging facility at Eastman Business Park, the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics, the Rochester Institute of Technology, and more than 150 local OPI companies which employ over 17,000 employees.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner 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, and in particular Round 5 winner Lidrotec, whose technology complements New York’s strengths in semiconductor manufacturing. We look forward to the growth and impact that these forward-thinking companies will bring to the region.”

State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “Luminate NY continues to bring high-quality jobs to our Greater Rochester region through their accelerator competition, and this round’s winners are no exception. I’m grateful for the advancements in technology, health, wellness, and scientific discovery that these companies will leverage in our area. Thank you to Governor Hochul, Finger Lakes Forward, and Empire State Development for their support of these initiatives.”

Assemblymember Harry Bronson said, “The Luminate NY Accelerator Program attracts the most creative and dynamic light technology startups from across the globe. The winners of this competition will advance our optics, photonics and imaging industries across NYS. Congratulations to the team at Lidrotec! We are excited to see you grow your company here in the Finger Lakes Region. Lidrotec’s ingenuity and inventiveness will continue to bring job opportunities and investment to our area. We must meet their vision and successes with equitable workforce development programs that not only support our emerging and expanding industries but also provide career pathways for all members of our community.”

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said, “Congratulations to Lidrotec and all the winners of the Luminate NY program – which continues to inspire innovators and jumpstart the businesses of tomorrow across the Greater Rochester region. Thank you to Gov. Kathy Hochul and Luminate NY for continuing to foster economic growth in our community – providing quality jobs for our neighbors and strengthening our economy.”

Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said, “The Luminate NY accelerator provides our city with an enormous economic boost and expands Rochester’s already dense web of groundbreaking innovators in optics, photonics and imaging. We are thrilled to host the Luminate Finals and wholeheartedly welcome Lidrotec to the region. Congratulations to all of the winners and thanks to Governor Hochul and the Finger Lakes Forward Initiative for making these important investments that benefit our citizens.”

For additional information about Luminate NY, visit: https://luminate.org/.

For additional information about NextCorps, visit: https://nextcorps.org/.

Accelerating Finger Lakes Forward 
Today’s announcement complements “Finger Lakes Forward,” the region’s comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. The regionally designed plan focuses on investing in key industries including photonics, agriculture and food production, and advanced manufacturing. Now, the region is accelerating Finger Lakes Forward with a $500 million State investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative. The State’s $500 million investment will incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion – and the region’s plan, as submitted, projects up to 8,200 new jobs. More information is available here.

About Empire State Development
Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency (www.esd.ny.gov). The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing the Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I LOVE NEW YORK,” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.

Media Contacts:
Shari Voorhees-Vincent | [email protected] | (585) 399-7055
Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313
Shannon Wojcik | Luminate | [email protected] | (585) 831-6267

A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/60b2c6e9-556e-482b-a465-51656ad6f9c7

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d1dd9bba-0489-4160-a069-f0411ee3cd9f

GlobeNewswire is one of the world's largest newswire distribution networks, specializing in the delivery of corporate press releases financial disclosures and multimedia content to the media, investment community, individual investors and the general public.

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Saviynt Appoints James Ross as RVP-ANZ to Strategically Accelerate Growth in the Australia and New Zealand Region

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LOS ANGELES, May 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Saviynt, a leading provider of cloud-native identity and governance platform solutions, today announced the appointment of James Ross as RVP-ANZ as the company has seen rapid growth in the Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) region, with double digit growth year over year.

Saviynt has solidified its position as a key player in the cloud identity security landscape with its Identity Cloud. The company’s continued focus on innovation and client satisfaction has contributed significantly to building a safer Australia with prominent customers across the energy and utilities, finance, retail, energy, and transport and logistics sectors.
“James’ appointment as the Regional Vice President (RVP) for ANZ marks a strategic move to accelerate growth and solidify market presence in the region,” said Dan Mountstephen, SVP APAC at Saviynt. “With a proven track record of dynamic leadership at Collibra, ForgeRock, and CA Technologies, James brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role. His visionary approach and collaborative spirit are poised to inspire and mobilize teams toward ambitious targets.”
Saviynt has consistently expanded its client base and deepened its relationships with existing customers through customized solutions and unparalleled support, cementing its reputation as a trusted partner in the region’s cybersecurity ecosystem. As RVP ANZ, Ross is set to foster key partnerships and implement agile strategies to propel the company towards new heights of success in the dynamic ANZ market.
“Joining Saviynt excites me because it’s an opportunity to help more organizations simplify their identity ecosystem in order to drive efficiencies and improved security posture. I am committed to leveraging Saviynt’s cutting-edge solutions to continue to broaden our partnerships in the region to improve our accessibility for customers, strengthen our regional delivery, whilst continuing to provide a great customer experience,” said Ross.
To learn more about Saviynt, please visit our website.
About Saviynt
Saviynt empowers enterprises to secure their digital transformation, safeguard critical assets, and meet regulatory compliance. With a vision to provide a secure and compliant future for all enterprises, Saviynt’s cutting-edge solutions have been recognized as industry leaders. For more information, please visit www.saviynt.com.
Press Contact
Jacklyn [email protected]
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2418209/James_Ross_RVP_ANZ_Saviynt.jpg
 

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Appdome Sweeps Cybersecurity Excellence Awards

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Unified Mobile Defense Platform Recognized for Innovation and Leadership Across Nine Cybersecurity Categories
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Appdome, the mobile app economy’s one-stop shop for mobile defense, today announced it has received a total of nine (9) Cybersecurity Excellence Awards. The Appdome Unified Mobile App Defense Platform was awarded best in class across nine categories in recognition of the comprehensive breadth, depth and value of the Appdome platform to brands and enterprises alike.

“We congratulate Appdome on being recognized as an award winner in 9 categories of the 2024 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards,” said Holger Schulze, CEO of Cybersecurity Insiders and founder of the 600,000-member Information Security Community on LinkedIn, which organizes the 9th annual Cybersecurity Excellence Awards. “With over 600 entries across more than 300 categories, the awards are highly competitive. Appdome’s achievement reflects outstanding commitment to the core principles of excellence, innovation, and leadership in cybersecurity.”
Within a single pane of glass, Appdome delivers the most complete set of no-code, no-SDK, fully automated mobile defenses to mobile brands and enterprises, empowering mobile developers, cybersecurity, fraud and IT teams to deliver on any mobile cyber objective quickly and easily.
The nine (9) categories in which Appdome received a Cybersecurity Excellence Award are:
Mobile Security Platform: Appdome is the only enterprise-grade mobile security platform built for full mobile defense lifecycle management, visibility and control to brands and enterprises alike, including key features for build, test, release, monitor, response, and compliance automation. Mobile Security Automation: Appdome is the only mobile defense solution that uses machine learning to code and build over 300+ mobile app security, anti-fraud, anti-cheat, anti-malware, anti-bot, geo-compliance and other defenses in Android & iOS apps in the DevOps pipeline.Mobile Social Engineering Defense:  The Appdome Social Engineering Prevention solution is the first of its kind to protect mobile users from voice phishing (Vishing) scams and other imposter scams, T.O.A.D. attacks, Remote Access Trojans (RATs), Gold Pickaxe, FaceID bypass and more without an SDK or external servers.Mobile Bot Defense: The Appdome MOBILEBot™ Defense solution is the first mobile anti-bot solution to come out of the box compatible with any industry standard web application firewall (WAF) on the market and provide multi-layered bot, credential stuffing and Account Take Over (ATO) defense without an SDK, external server, performance limits, or restrictions.Mobile Geo Compliance:  Only the Appdome Mobile Geo-Compliance solution guarantees accurate and authentic geo location of mobile devices, applications and users without code or coding in the mobile app, without implementing an SDK and without deploying additional servers.Mobile XDR: The Appdome ThreatScope™ Mobile XDR solution is the only mobile attack and threat monitoring service that comes pre-packaged into the mobile defense lifecycle, requires no device agent, device profile, separate code, coding, SDK or server, and provides real-time detection and automated response across internal (employee facing) and external (consumer facing) Android & iOS apps.DevOps Mobile Security Tool: The Appdome platform’s fully integrated Security Release Management™ capabilities and Appdome Certified Secure™ mobile DevSecOps certification offer the only true enterprise-grade compliance assurance, audit and control for mobile defense at brands and enterprises, allowing quick verification that all security, anti-fraud and compliance objectives have been met.   Mobile Application Security:  With 300+ separate defenses for mobile apps, Appdome has the most comprehensive set of mobile application security features available in one product, fully compatible with all mobile Android & iOS apps.”Nine Cybersecurity Excellence Awards for Mobile Defense tells a very compelling story for the incredibly complex Dev, Sec, and Ops challenges organizations face detecting and defeating mobile-based risks and attacks,” said Chris Roeckl, Chief Product Officer at Appdome. “Point products make these challenges worse by adding complexity and overloading already taxed cyber and engineering teams. Appdome is the only platform simplifying work, bringing all these unique challenges under a single pane of glass, delivering 300+ protections and simultaneously resolving the security, fraud, resilience and compliance challenges brands and enterprises face.”
Learn more about the award-winning Appdome Platform at www.appdome.com or request a personalized demo at https://www.appdome.com/request-a-demo/appdome-home/
The full list of awards are available from the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards website  https://cybersecurity-excellence-awards.com/
About AppdomeThe Appdome mission is to protect every mobile app and mobile user in the world. Appdome provides the mobile industry’s only Unified Mobile App Defense platform, powered by a patented mobile coding engine, Threat-Events™ Threat-Aware UX/UI Control, and ThreatScope™ Mobile XDR. Using Appdome, mobile brands eliminate complexity, ship faster and save money by delivering 300+ Certified Secure™ mobile app security, anti-malware, anti-fraud, mobile anti-bot, anti-cheat, geo compliance, MiTM attack prevention, code obfuscation, social engineering and other protections in Android and iOS apps with ease, inside the mobile DevOps and CI/CD pipeline. Leading financial, healthcare, government and m-commerce brands use Appdome to protect Android and iOS apps, mobile customers and mobile businesses globally. Appdome holds several patents including U.S. Patents 9,934,017 B2, 10,310,870 B2, 10,606,582 B2, 11,243,748 B2 and 11,294,663 B2. Additional patents pending.
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/772169/AppDome_Logo_9_27_23.jpg

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Courageous Whistleblowers Reclaim Derogatory Terms As Data Shows 80% of Financial Professionals Stay Silent on Suspected Internal Fraud, Fearing Retaliation

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Enron whistleblower, Sherron Watkins, alongside stars of Apple TV’s The Big Conn, Sarah Carver and Jennifer Griffith, reclaim derogatory labels for whistleblowers          Concerning new data shows more than half of financial professionals in the UK and US have spotted or suspected internal fraud in their workplaces, yet four out of five stay silent fearing retaliation          32% of professionals in finance have seen whistleblowers victimized behind their back or to their faceJACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — New data from fraud detection software company Medius shows more than half of financial professionals in the UK and US (56%) have spotted or suspected internal fraud in their workplaces yet four in five (81%) stayed silent. When asked why, 45% of professionals cited the fear of recrimination.

Whistleblowers Sherron Watkins, Sarah Carver and Jennifer Griffith have joined forces to reclaim the derogatory names they were called after reporting serious internal financial fraud.
To help empower others to come forward, the whistleblowers are reclaiming the terms “snitch”, “rat” and “traitor”.
Sherron Watkins is the former Vice President of Enron Corporation who alerted the CEO to accounting irregularities, warning the organization “‘might implode in a wave of accounting scandals.” Watkins received national acclaim for her courageous actions and TIME magazine named her along with two others as their Persons of the Year in 2002, calling them simply ‘The Whistleblowers.’
Sarah Carver and Jennifer Griffith are the stars of Apple TV’s The Big Conn after they exposed a fraud scheme of more than $550 million while employed at the Social Security Administration. In efforts to silence their disclosures, they experienced multiple acts of severe retaliation and were denied protection. Ultimately, both Carver and Griffith were forced from employment.
Concerns of repercussions are vindicated – the survey reveals the extent to which financial professionals in the UK and US have witnessed negative consequences for whistleblowers firsthand:           
59% have seen whistleblowers subsequently left out of important decisions           33% have seen whistleblowers moved to a different team           32% have heard whistleblowers called derogatory names behind their backs or directly to their faceWhen asked what would encourage them to flag suspicious activity, 93% of workers surveyed would feel more comfortable doing so if they had more evidence, yet nearly half (48%) said the legal system simply does not adequately protect whistleblowers.
Jim Lucier, CEO at Medius, a leading global provider of cloud-based accounts payable automation and spend management solutions, said:
“White collar crime is on the rise and no organization is safe. Employees are the last line of defense against fraud but confidence to report suspicious activity is declining. AI anomaly-detection technology can provide employees with the evidence and assurances they need to be more forthcoming. Building a culture where employees feel comfortable to report their suspicions could save organizations millions in the long-run.”
Medius works with over 4,000 customers across 102 countries and processes $200 billion in annual spend. It uses the power of AI and automation to detect fraud the moment invoices are submitted safeguarding against bad actors and potential threats, internal and external.
Sherron Watkins, whistleblower who was called a “snitch”, said: “When someone is troubled by corporate wrongdoing and they attempt to sound the alarm, the pathway is uncharted, things happen organically. Normal rational people speak about their concerns with their closest friends and work colleagues, who often suggest staying safe saying “keep your head down, if you must report, go soft, nothing black and white.” Yet black and white evidence is what is needed to get the attention of those in power, either internally or with media or outside watchdog groups to prevent or stop fraudulent activity.”  
Jennifer Griffith, whistleblower who was called a “traitor”, said: “Choosing to blow the whistle involves more than just the desire to right a wrong.  It’s about protecting their employers from fraud. However, it’s more often than not seen as causing trouble for the employer, or as a self-serving action to get a financial reward. No one who chooses to blow the whistle expects to have their reputation attacked, their credibility impugned or to lose their job. The cost of ignoring a whistleblowers complaints are far greater than acknowledging that a problem exists and taking steps to fix it.  It’s been 19 years since I blew the whistle and the problems that existed then with the Social Security Administration still exist today. We must do more to protect whistleblowers.”
Sarah Carver, whistleblower who was called a “rat”, said: “The government’s attempt to conceal the fraud resulted in exacerbated damage, whereas a more prudent approach would have entailed immediate acknowledgement and rectification upon initial disclosure. The retaliatory measures aimed at silencing me made me stronger and fight harder to find someone to listen and stop the fraud.”
Georgina Hallford-Hall, CEO of Whistleblowers UK, said: “Too many organisations talk the talk but fail to engage with whistleblowers often at great cost to both. Technology used properly can remove the fear that both organisations and whistleblowers have about dealing with whistleblowing because it removes the person and focuses on the concerns or malfeasance. WhistleblowersUK are calling on the UK government to introduce an Independent Office of the Whistleblower to protect everyone from discrimination setting standards that end stigmatisation and discrimination making it safe to speak up.”
The billboard advertising campaign runs on Wall Street from Saturday, 18th May to Friday, 24th May 2024.
For more information about how Medius can prevent fraud, visit: https://www.medius.com/whistleblowing/
Notes to Editor
Methodology
The research was conducted by Censuswide with 1500 financial professionals in the UK and US (aged 18+) between 04/22/24 – 05/07/24. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles and are members of The British Polling Council.
For more information, please contact: 
Fight or Flight for [email protected] / +44 330 133 0985
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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