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The Startup: Heliotrope Photonics

The Founder: Minh Tran, PhD (Tandon '23)

Participated In: Tech Venture Program, Startup Coaching

Minh Tran, PhD, co-founder & CTO of Heliotrope Photonics, is on a mission to revolutionize solar energy — and the world is paying attention. An NYU Tandon School of Engineering alumna, Tran is leveraging her advanced research to bring high-impact, scalable technology to the clean energy market. With a series of accolades and achievements under her belt, she’s quickly emerging as one of the most promising innovators in deep tech.

From NYU Lab to Startup

Tran earned her doctorate from NYU Tandon’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in 2023, conducting research under the mentorship of Senior Vice Dean and Alstadt Lord Mark Professor Eray Aydil, a renowned expert in materials science. Her PhD and postdoctoral research focused on novel materials for optoelectronic applications, forming the scientific backbone of what would become Heliotrope Photonics.

In the lab, Tran explored how tunable photonic coatings could dramatically enhance the performance of solar panels. That exploration turned into innovation — and eventually, into a startup.

A Game-Changing Solar Coating

Heliotrope Photonics is developing a cost-effective, plug-and-play solar coating designed to boost the efficiency and performance of existing photovoltaic systems. Their thin-film coating, based on years of rigorous research, can be applied to new or existing solar panels to increase energy capture without major retrofitting or redesign. This breakthrough promises to make solar energy more accessible, adaptable, and economically viable — especially in markets where solar adoption is growing but cost remains a key barrier.

Rising Through NYU’s Startup Ecosystem

In 2023, Tran and her co-founders entered the NYU Entrepreneurs Challenge, the university’s largest startup competition hosted by the Berkley Center for Entrepreneurship. Competing in the Tech Venture Competition track, the Heliotrope team advanced to the final round and took home the Audience Choice Award, signaling strong interest in their solution from both investors and the public.

Their success in the Challenge paved the way for deeper engagement with NYU’s entrepreneurial resources. In 2024, Heliotrope was selected to participate in the NYU Tech Venture Accelerator, a highly competitive, six month-long program that offers deep tech ventures mentorship, training, and up to $50,000 in non-dilutive funding. The Program helps university-affiliated startups like Heliotrope navigate the complex path from lab research to market-ready innovation.

Heliotrope’s trajectory continued to rise when it was honored as the NYU Startup to Watch at the inaugural NYU Innovators’ Dinner in 2024 — a celebration of NYU’s most promising entrepreneurial talent.

National Recognition and Industry Leadership

Tran’s leadership and technical brilliance earned her national recognition when she was named to the 2025 Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Manufacturing & Industry category. In April, she was also featured as a panelist at the Tech Venture Summit, NYU’s annual flagship event highlighting the university’s top research-driven startups and thought leaders in science and innovation.

From Researcher to Role Model

Tran’s journey from PhD researcher to award-winning founder exemplifies the power of university innovation to shape the future of industry. Through Heliotrope Photonics, she is not only advancing solar technology but also demonstrating how deep tech ventures can emerge from academic research to solve real-world problems.

With a Forbes 30 Under 30 nod, a standout product, and a growing list of achievements, Tran and the Heliotrope team are poised to make a lasting impact on the clean energy sector — and inspire the next generation of NYU innovators to do the same.

To learn more about Heliotrope, follow them on LinkedIn!