Finland-based startup Ixi has raised US$36.5 million in series A funding to develop autofocus prescription glasses.

The company uses eye-tracking and liquid crystal lens technology to adjust for presbyopia.

The round was led by Plural, with participation from Tesi, byFounders, Heartcore, Eurazeo, FOV Ventures, and Tiny Supercomputer. Previous investors like Amazon Alexa Fund also joined.

Founded by Niko Eiden and Ville Miettinen, former Nokia and Varjo employees, Ixi aims to simplify vision correction with smart glasses.

Ixi has applied for multiple patents and plans to showcase a prototype later this year.

🔗 Source: TechCrunch

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Autofocus technology faces unique challenges in eyewear applications

Applying autofocus technology to eyewear represents a significant engineering challenge that explains why companies like Laclarée have delayed product launches from 2022 to 2026.

Unlike camera autofocus, which has evolved since the 1960s through distinct phases including active systems using ultrasonic or infrared measurement and passive systems analyzing light patterns, eyewear autofocus must function continuously while being nearly invisible to users 1.

Modern autofocus systems primarily use either contrast detection (which maximizes image sharpness through iterative adjustments) or phase detection (which splits incoming light to immediately determine focus position), but adapting these approaches to wearable form factors requires dramatic miniaturization 2.

The liquid crystal lens technology IXI is developing must also overcome power constraints that cameras don’t face, as evidenced by their target two-day battery life while maintaining constant focal adjustments.

This explains why previous entrants like Vixion have compromised on aesthetics with visible lens components, highlighting the significant technical hurdle of creating genuinely invisible smart eyewear.

2️⃣ Eyewear market outpaces other consumer electronics categories

IXI’s claim about eyewear market growth is supported by recent market analyses showing substantial opportunities beyond the more hyped AR/VR segment.

The global eyewear market is projected to grow from approximately $161.94 billion in 2024 to $288.83 billion by 2033 at a CAGR of 6.64%, with increasing visual impairment rates and aging populations serving as key drivers 3.