8:30 AM 

Entrepreneurship in Optics & Photonics: Understanding the Entrepreneurial Mindset

• Introduction to the startup mindset
• Transitioning from academia or corporate roles
• Traits and skills of successful leaders
• Market trends, disruptive innovation, and success stories
• Identifying opportunities through photonics-based solutions
• Key insights on leadership adaptability and influence

Building a Business Model

• Business Model Canvas & Lean Startup methodology
• Interactive group activity: Draft your startup model

Break (15 minutes)

From Lab to Launch: IP, Licensing & University Negotiations

• Navigating tech transfer and IP ownership
• Case studies and negotiation pitfalls

• Open seating for cross-department networking

Lunck Break

Seed Funding & Capital Strategy

• Grants, angel investment, and venture capital
• Aligning funding with growth stages
• Founder case study: Raising the first $100K

Customer Discovery & Market Validation - Alex Fang  (Entrada Ventures) 

• Identifying real problems vs. “nice-to-haves”
• Customer interviews for scientists and engineers
• Building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
• Finding product-market fit

Afternoon break

Investor Panel: What Makes a Startup Fundable?
Investors in deep-tech and optics share what they look for and offer advice for founders.

Debrief & Pitch Day Preparation

• Recap of the day
• Assignment: Prepare a 5-minute startup pitch

Networking Reception

Day 2 Welcome

9:15 AM – Go-to-Market Strategy: Pricing, Channels & Competitive Edge - Mark Lutkowitz (fibeReality, LLC)

1. Understanding Your Target Market
   • Early adopters and niche markets in optics/photonics
   • Segmenting by industry, geography, and application
   • Aligning features with pain points
2. Pricing Strategies
   • Value-based vs. cost-plus vs. competitive pricing
   • Tiered models for B2B and hybrid products
   • Pricing strategies for early-stage startups
   • Common pitfalls: underpricing, overpromising
3. Distribution & Sales Channels
   • Direct vs. indirect sales (partners, resellers)
   • Selling to academia, government, and industry
   • Leveraging photonics supply chains
4. Competitive Positioning
   • Defining your Unique Value Proposition (UVP)
   • Mapping the competitive landscape
   • Positioning against incumbents and emerging players

Building a Scalable Team

• Structuring early teams for growth
• Identifying key roles and competencies

Break

Visionaries in Action: Startup CEOs Share Their Journeys

• CEO Panelists: Steve Fantone (Optikos), Samantha Scott (JuneBrain), Gordon Keeler (Beacon Photonics), 

Lunch

Final Pitch Showcase & Contest     

• CEO & Investor Panel offers constructive feedback
• Monetary prize to the winner

Final Reflections & Program Close

• Wrap-up discussion
• Key takeaways
• Staying engaged with Optica’s innovation ecosystem