Industry News
Finish Startup IXI Secures Series A Funding to Launch World-First Autofocus Eyewear
Finnish startup IXI has raised US$36.5 million in Series A funding to accelerate the development and commercial launch of its pioneering autofocus eyewear, marking a significant leap forward in vision technology and wearables. The round was led by London-based Plural, with participation from Tesi, byFounders, Heartcore, Eurazeo, FOV Ventures, Tiny Supercomputer, and existing investors including the Amazon Alexa Fund, Maki.vc, First Fellow, firstminute capital, John Lindfors, Illusian, and the Bragiel Brothers.
IXI is emerging from stealth with the world’s first autofocus glasses, leveraging advanced optics and real-time eye-tracking to provide naturally sharp vision. Unlike traditional progressive lenses, which often force wearers to compromise with narrow fields of view and peripheral distortion, IXI’s dynamic lenses automatically adapt to the wearer’s eyes, offering an expanded field of vision and seamless clarity at any distance. This innovation is set to disrupt the US$200 billion global eyewear market, which is growing at over 8% annually-outpacing even smart watches and smartphones.
Niko Eiden, co-founder and CEO of IXI, said: “Eyewear is the world’s oldest wearable, rooted in centuries of brilliance across science, design and craftsmanship. That being said, it’s incredible that we haven’t seen more technology leaps, leaving millions of people forced to compromise on how they see the world. The time for change is now. We’re creating a whole new era in vision tech—and we can't wait to show the world what’s coming. Backed by investors who see the scale of this opportunity, we’re ready to redefine what eyewear can be.”
Founded in 2021 by Niko Eiden (CEO) and Ville Miettinen (Chief Algorithm Officer)-the duo behind premium mixed reality hardware startup Varjo-IXI’s team brings deep expertise in optics, eye-tracking, and wearable technology. Their new eyewear integrates ultra-low-power adaptive optics and state-of-the-art dynamic lens technology in design-conscious frames, positioning the product as both a medical device and a lifestyle accessory for modern consumers.
IXI’s first-generation product, IXI Adaptive Eyewear, is currently in development. The new funding will be used to finalise product development and commence commercial operations, with further details expected as the launch approaches.
The Series A round attracted a strong consortium of international investors, reflecting confidence in IXI’s vision and technology. Sten Tamkivi, Partner at lead investor Plural, commented: “Niko, Ville and the team’s rare European hardware expertise puts them at the forefront of advanced optics and eye-tracking developments. They’re creating beautiful, literally invisible technology that pioneers a new approach to vision which will finally improve human eyesight once and for all. By backing IXI, we're not just investing in a company, but in a future where technology revolutionises how we see the world.”
With presbyopia and other age-related vision challenges on the rise, IXI aims to liberate millions from the limitations of conventional eyewear. By blending cutting-edge technology with elegant design, the company is setting a new standard for vision correction that works as seamlessly and intuitively as the human eye itself.
