Democrat and Chronicle | UR grad wins $1M Luminate NY prize in Rochester competition

A Rochester firm won the $1 million top prize in the second-annual Luminate NY competition Thursday for its specialized contact lens.

Ovitz, a startup led by a University of Rochester graduate, beat out nine other finalists from across the region and around the world.

Luminate’s finale again coincided with the CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival. Held in the Big Tent on East Main Street, the event showcased 10 finalists — all startups in optics, photonics and imaging — making a last, abbreviated pitch of their product…