Investment of $36.5 million secured by IXI for the advancement of self-focusing spectacles technology
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IXI, a Finnish startup founded in 2021, is disrupting the $200 billion eyewear market with its innovative autofocus glasses. The company, previously known as Pixieray, rebranded to IXI in March 2025, and its technology is based on dynamic lenses that automatically adapt to the wearer's eyes[1][3].
IXI's glasses utilise liquid crystal lenses that can change curvature within 0.2 seconds. This rapid adjustment allows for seamless vision correction at multiple distances without the need for bifocals or progressive lenses[1][3]. The technology is inspired by camera autofocus technology and relies on sophisticated eye-tracking sensors to detect eye movement, combined with compact actuators to adjust focus instantly[1][3].
This real-time adaptation improves eye comfort by significantly reducing eye strain, which is beneficial for active users and those who switch focus frequently between near and far objects[1][3]. The innovative glasses aim to provide a wider field of view and work as nature intended the eyes to work[5].
IXI has secured $36 million in Series A funding, led by Plural, to advance research, refine technology, and prepare for market entry[1][3]. The funding will enable IXI to complete the product development of IXI Adaptive Eyewear and kick off commercial operations. The new funding round also saw participation from Tesi, byFounders, Heartcore, Eurazeo, FOV Ventures, Tiny Supercomputer, and IXI's existing investors[3].
While IXI has developed working prototypes and strong patent portfolios on adaptive eyewear technology, it has not yet launched commercial products due to ongoing challenges such as medical regulatory approvals for prescription-grade optics and engineering issues like battery integration and lightweight frame design[5].
Despite these hurdles, the company's approach aims to revolutionise conventional vision correction by offering wearers full-range clear vision without the need to tilt their heads or switch glasses for different focal distances[5].
Sten Tamkivi, Partner at Plural, believes that IXI's European hardware expertise puts them at the forefront of advanced optics and eye-tracking developments[3]. The founders of IXI, Niko Eiden (CEO) and Ville Miettinen (Chief Algorithm Officer), previously co-founded the premium mixed reality hardware startup, Varjo[3].
This development was also reported in "Medical Device Manufacturing News". As IXI navigates regulatory hurdles and optimises user-friendly hardware for mass-market adoption, it is set to make a significant impact on the global eyewear industry[1][3][5].
In a separate development, Ceryx Medical has secured $15 million to advance groundbreaking heart failure technology. Researchers at Waseda University have also made a breakthrough in eye wear technology with advanced contact lenses[2][4].
References:
[1] IXI. (2025). Press Release: IXI Raises $36.5 Million in Series A Funding to Develop Autofocus Glasses
[2] Ceryx Medical. (2025). Press Release: Ceryx Medical Secures $15 Million in Series A Funding
[3] Medical Device Manufacturing News. (2025). IXI Secures $36.5 Million in Series A Funding for Autofocus Glasses Development
[4] Waseda University. (2025). Press Release: Waseda University Researchers Develop Breakthrough in Eye Wear Technology
[5] TechCrunch. (2025). IXI's Autofocus Glasses Promise a Future Without Bifocals
"The innovative technology behind IXI's autofocus glasses, a disruption in the eyewear market, can be categorized as a type of advanced, cutting-edge wearable technology. This wearable technology, pioneered by IXI, is revolutionizing the field of gadgets, as it offers a solution for clear vision without the need for bifocals or progressive lenses."
"With the rapid advancement in technology, the future of eyewear industry might be dominated by gadgets like IXI's autofocus glasses, as they aim to provide full-range clear vision, thereby streamlining the process of vision correction and incorporating a more natural approach in the realm of wearables."
