A Finnish startup named IXI is on the verge of transforming the eyewear industry with its cutting-edge innovation: glasses that automatically adjust focus to match the viewer’s gaze. Developed over a four-year research and development phase, these revolutionary lenses promise to eliminate the drawbacks of traditional progressive lenses and offer seamless vision for both near and far distances.
IXI, originally founded in 2021 under the name Pixieray, was co-founded by Niko Eiden, a notable figure in the optics world and one of the original founders of virtual reality pioneer Varjo. Drawing on deep experience from companies like Nokia and Varjo, IXI has assembled a team of top engineers and medical device experts from firms such as GE Healthcare, Suunto, Microsoft’s HoloLens team, and smart ring manufacturer Oura.
At the heart of IXI’s glasses is a breakthrough in optics: liquid crystal lenses that can change their focal point in real time based on the user’s gaze. A layer of liquid crystals atop the lens shifts its orientation in response to an electric field, emulating a traditional lens’ behavior. Gaze tracking sensors, powered by embedded microchips, determine where the user is looking and direct the lens to focus accordingly. The entire system, including a miniature rechargeable battery and control circuits, is elegantly integrated into the frame—so much so that the glasses appear outwardly ordinary.
This medical-grade innovation requires certification in different countries, which is now underway. Simultaneously, IXI is preparing for full-scale production and building relationships with optical retailers, staying true to the typical eyewear distribution model where glasses are tailored to individual prescriptions.
Financing such a sophisticated venture has required substantial investment. IXI has successfully raised €33 million in a recent funding round, led by notable international players. These include Plural, a fund co-founded by Skype veteran Sten Tamkivi; the Finnish government’s investment arm Tesi; French investment giant Eurazeo; and U.S. tech behemoth Amazon. Earlier, the company had secured €3.6 million in seed funding from Amazon’s Alexa Fund and prominent tech investors like Risto Siilasmaa and Ilkka Paananen.
IXI’s innovation enters a market where tech-driven glasses are gaining traction—but in different ways. For example, Meta (formerly Facebook) has launched smart glasses that integrate camera, microphone, and augmented reality features. However, Meta’s glasses focus on enhancing digital connectivity rather than addressing vision correction. In contrast, IXI’s offering is a medical device with the primary goal of improving how people see.
Though the glasses are not yet on sale and the company currently has no revenue, the outlook is strong. IXI has already filed around 50 patent applications and secured 12 patents, placing it at the forefront of optical innovation. With their first product nearing commercial readiness and a top-tier investor lineup backing them, IXI could be on track to follow the path of fellow Finnish success story Oura—potentially becoming a billion-euro company in its own right.
Photo from IXI
