Sujatha Ramanujan, Nextcorps Luminate
Abstract
Luminate is the largest business accelerator in the world that works only with optics, photonics, and imaging startups. Every year ten companies are chosen from hundreds of companies that apply to the program from around the world. Those companies receive seed money, office and lab space, and intensive business training. But why those ten companies? What makes a startup stand out in an intensely competitive industry? There are common technical, organizational, and work-environment factors that determine the success or failure of an entrepreneurial endeavor. Drawing on examples from her broad (and sometimes painful) experience as both an investor and an entrepreneur, Dr. Ramanujan will share specific methods for avoiding, overcoming, and enduring the significant challenges faced by early-stage businesses. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the entrepreneurial landscape and how to navigate a path toward long-term viability.
About the speaker
Dr. Sujatha Ramanujan is the Managing Director of Luminate, the world's largest accelerator program for optics, photonics, and imaging companies. She is a serial entrepreneur and seasoned executive with 25 years of experience in Clinical Devices and in Consumer Electronics. Sujatha has started, built and grown three startup businesses in cardiac surgical equipment, optical communications, and nanomaterials. Sujatha has held scientific, technical leadership, and laboratory head positions in Chrysler Corporation, GE, Kodak, Carestream, and Intrinsiq Materials. Working with regional investment councils she provides guidance to start-ups, M&A strategies for growing businesses and vetting of technologies to investors. Dr. Ramanujan holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan and is an Executive Board Member of the National Women’s Hall of Fame.
Pre-talk dinner
