Waveguide display developer Dispelix raises $33M

10 Nov 2021

Finland-based firm says its tech will enable next-generation lightweight smart glasses and AR displays.

Dispelix, an Espoo, Finland-based developer of lightweight single-layer waveguides and see-through displays for augmented reality (AR) applications, has closed a $33M Series-B round led by Atlantic Bridge alongside new investors CCB Trust and Flashpoint.

All existing investors including Lifeline Ventures, VTT Ventures, Finnish Industry Investment and 3M Ventures also participated in this round, bringing the startup’s total funding to date to $50 million.

“Our patented see-through display technology is the key enabler for augmented reality devices such as smart-glasses where weight, display quality and form factor are key attributes,” commented Antti Sunnari, co-founder and CEO of Dispelix.

Single-layer optics

“These can be best realized by feather-weight single-layer optics which is our unique strength and we are now gearing to scale these capabilities for mass production for our customers forthcoming consumer offerings. This new investment will allow us to serve more OEM customers better and faster, as their trusted and dedicated waveguide partner,” he said.

"Dispelix' see-through displays are the lightest and thinnest on the market and maintain vivid colors, image quality and wide field-of-view,” said Juuso Olkkonen, CTO and co-founder of the company.

“Our team of world-class scientists and engineers continue to push the boundaries of what's possible with our arsenal of unique software and hardware technologies, fundamentally changing the way nanophotonics based waveguides are designed and delivered.”

Paul Murray, Partner with Atlantic Bridge, added, “We invested in Dispelix as they have a unique mix of technologies that delivers a superior end-user experience for mixed reality smart-glasses and other AR devices – offering the lightest, lowest power and highest resolution displays.”

“Their ability to scale these benefits for their growing list of OEMs will be a key enabler in the adoption of next generation mixed reality platforms and to help deliver on the promise of the Metaverse.”

The Dispelix portfolio of products – with their 43 granted or pending patent families currently being integrated into an increasing number of consumer products under development by the company's OEM customers – is expected to hit the market during 2023.