Funding of $36.5 million secured by IXI for the creation of autofocus spectacles
In the realm of groundbreaking innovations, a Finnish startup named IXI is making waves in the eyewear industry. Formerly known as Pixieray, this company has secured a significant investment of $36.5 million in Series A funding, with the goal of commercialising their revolutionary product—the world's first autofocus eyewear [1].
IXI's innovative approach stems from the marriage of low-power eye-tracking sensors and layered liquid crystal lenses. These lenses are designed to change their optical power within about 0.2 seconds, providing a seamless correction for both near and far vision without the need for bifocals or progressive lenses [2][3]. This technology promises to simplify vision correction by replacing multiple glasses with one adaptive pair.
The company, founded by optical engineers and entrepreneurs with backgrounds in precision optics and mixed reality, has attracted the attention of notable investors such as Amazon Alexa Fund, Plural, Tesi, byFounders, and others [1]. With this funding, IXI aims to complete the product development of their IXI Adaptive Eyewear and kick off commercial operations.
IXI's design goal has been to build this complex technology into frames that look conventional and unobtrusive, distinguishing itself from many earlier tech-heavy eyewear attempts [2][3][4]. The company is advancing toward market launch, positioning their autofocus glasses as a disruptive alternative for presbyopia correction and everyday vision needs.
As global populations age, diagnoses of presbyopia increase, and millions face significant compromises in multi-focal vision. Turning an already widespread challenge into a looming global issue, IXI is creating a new category of eyewear, featuring unique real-time and ultra-low-power eye tracking and state-of-the-art dynamic lens technology [4].
Meanwhile, researchers at Waseda University have also made strides in the field, developing an advanced contact lens [5]. However, the focus remains on IXI, as they navigate early prototype challenges such as edge fuzziness and safety considerations related to lens adjustment timing during complex visual tasks like driving or surgery [3]. They are refining designs to look more like regular glasses and improve user experience, hoping to overcome past market hesitations seen with smart eyewear products [3][4].
In the competitive $200 billion eyewear market, IXI is poised to disrupt the status quo with their autofocus glasses, redefining what advanced vision tech can look and feel like. As they move from research and prototype phases into commercialization, the future of vision correction is looking clearer than ever.
References:
[1] Medical Device Manufacturing News. (2025, April). IXI Raises $36.5 Million in Series A Funding. Retrieved from https://www.medicaldevice-manufacturing.com/news/ixi-raises-36-5-million-in-series-a-funding/
[2] VentureBeat. (2025, April). IXI's autofocus glasses could change the way we see the world. Retrieved from https://venturebeat.com/2025/04/01/ixis-autofocus-glasses-could-change-the-way-we-see-the-world/
[3] TechCrunch. (2025, April). IXI's new autofocus glasses could be a game-changer for presbyopia sufferers. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/01/ixis-new-autofocus-glasses-could-be-a-game-changer-for-presbyopia-sufferers/
[4] Wired. (2025, April). The Future of Eyewear: IXI's Autofocus Glasses. Retrieved from https://www.wired.com/2025/04/the-future-of-eyewear-ixis-autofocus-glasses/
[5] Medical Device Manufacturing News. (2023, October). Waseda University Develops Advanced Contact Lens. Retrieved from https://www.medicaldevice-manufacturing.com/news/waseda-university-develops-advanced-contact-lens/
- In the rapidly evolving landscape of gadgets and technology, IXI's autofocus eyewear, a breakthrough innovation in the eyewear industry, stands out as a promising blend of wearables and advanced vision tech.
- With the garnering of significant investment in Series A funding and the support of notable investors, IXI aims to revolutionize the $200 billion eyewear market by introducing its IXI Adaptive Eyewear, a groundbreaking product that simplifies vision correction using layers of liquid crystal lenses and low-power eye-tracking sensors.
