Latest news with #RomanAxelrod
Business Insider
28-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Here's the pitch deck smart contact lens startup Xpanceo used to raise $250 million and become a unicorn
Xpanceo says smart contact lenses will be the computing interface of the future. The Dubai-based startup has raised $250 million at a $1.35 billion valuation. Here's the pitch deck laying out its team, product road map, and more. Smart contact lens startup Xpanceo announced earlier this month that it has raised $250 million in Series A funding, valuing the company at $1.35 billion. In the coming years, the Dubai-based startup envisions contact lenses that could offer augmented reality, night vision, and zoom, health tracking through tear fluid, and other features. "The initial idea was to merge all the screens you have into one limitless screen," and to arm wearers with "new abilities," said cofounder and managing partner Roman Axelrod, a 35-year-old serial entrepreneur. He said the company's unicorn status is a sign it's on the right path. Physicist Valentyn Volkov also cofounded Xpanceo. Hong Kong-based Opportunity Venture led the funding round, which also led Xpanceo's $40 million seed round in 2023. The funds will go to product development and expanding the company's team, which consists of about 100 employees. Xpanceo has built 15 prototype lenses, including ones that can charge wirelessly and measure interocular pressure, or eye fluid pressure. It aims to combine these capabilities into one lens by early 2027 and begin seeking FDA approval. After that, it plans to start on narrow business use cases, such as working with medical organizations on lenses that can measure interocular pressure. That's because launching a first-generation product to the consumer market can be "suicide," Axelrod said, nodding to Humane and Rabbit. Both AI wearables weathered negative reviews, and Humane's device was discontinued. Business customer projects could arrive as soon as 2028, and the lenses could be available to the public in the early 2030s, he said. In the future, lenses could be controlled by eye tracking, tongue movements, or voice control, the company said. Xpanceo isn't alone in attempting to solve the complexity of smart contact lenses. Google and Samsung began exploring the field roughly a decade ago. XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO XPANCEO
Arabian Business
09-07-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Dubai startup XPANCEO valued at eye-popping $1.35bn as it develops futuristic night-vision contact lenses
Dubai-based smart contact lens startup XPANCEO has closed a $250m Series A funding round at a $1.35 billion valuation, officially earning unicorn status as it accelerates efforts to launch the world's first all-in-one AI-powered extended reality (XR) smart lens. The funding round was led by Opportunity Venture (Asia), which also spearheaded XPANCEO's $40m seed round. The new capital will support final product development, global team expansion, and fast-track the company's go-to-market strategy — with a vision to replace smartphones, smartwatches, and other devices with a single seamless wearable: the eye-based smart lens. XPANCEO focuses on future after $250m funding boost in Dubai Roman Axelrod, founder and Managing Partner at XPANCEO, said: 'There's broad consensus across Big Tech that AI-powered wearable XR is the future. Yet, major players have only recently begun building glasses and headsets, so our smart lens technology puts us at least five years ahead. 'Becoming a unicorn is a powerful signal that we're on the right path. In just 24 months, we've developed 15 working prototypes, each unlocking a new layer of possibility. Our vision remains the same: to merge all your devices into a single, invisible interface – your eyes.' Unlike tech giants focused on bulky headsets or smart glasses, XPANCEO is developing a next-gen wearable that integrates: AI-powered XR for immersive experiences Real-time health monitoring, including intraocular pressure and glucose levels via tear fluid Zoom, night vision, and colour correction capabilities Wireless charging and data reading in real time 3D imaging through nano-optic lenses Since 2023, the new unicorn has developed 15 working prototypes and earned 24 international awards in optics, deep tech, and wearable innovation. Its team has contributed to 110 scientific publications and collaborates with top global institutions including University of Manchester, National University of Singapore, Donostia International Physics Centre and the University of Dubai. Dr. Valentyn S. Volkov, Founder and Scientific Partner at XPANCEO, said: 'To build something this ambitious, we had to push the boundaries of science itself. Our team possesses exceptional expertise at the forefront of physics, including on novel materials, nanoparticles development, nano-optics, and more. XPANCEO has scaled rapidly, doubling its team from 50 to 100 and expanding its state-of-the-art laboratories to support breakthrough research in nano-optics, novel materials, and wearable computing. With the personal computing market projected to exceed $750 billion over the next decade, investors see the firm as uniquely positioned to lead the post-smartphone era. Philip Ma, Managing Director of Opportunity Venture (Asia), said: 'We see XPANCEO as a once-in-a-generation project. They're not just building a product, they're rewriting the rules of personal tech. We backed them early because we saw the boldness of their vision'. Commercial launch timelines have not been disclosed, but with unicorn funding secured, the future of personal computing may soon be right before our eyes.
Wamda
09-07-2025
- Business
- Wamda
XPANCEO secures $250 million Series A at $1.35 billion valuation
UAE-based deeptech startup XPANCEO has raised $250 million in Series A funding at a $1.35 billion valuation. The round was led by Opportunity Venture (Asia), which also led its earlier $40 million seed round. Founded by physicist Valentyn S. Volkov and Roman Axelrod, XPANCEO is developing a multifunctional smart contact lens, integrating AR, health monitoring, night vision, and optical zoom into a lens thinner than a human hair. The device aims to replace all personal gadgets with a single, seamless wearable. The funds will support commercialisation, expand the global R&D and product teams, and accelerate regulatory and pilot tests. Press release: XPANCEO, a Dubai‑based deep‑tech pioneer developing the world's first multifunctional smart contact lens, has raised $250 million in a Series A funding round, valuing the company at $1.35 billion. With this milestone — marking XPANCEO as the UAE's 12th unicorn — the company aims to fast‑track the commercialisation of its groundbreaking lens that integrates augmented reality, continuous health monitoring, night‑vision, and more, all within a device thinner than a human hair. The round was led by Opportunity Venture (Asia), which previously led XPANCEO's $40 million seed round. The funding will support the final development phase of the smart contact lens, expansion of the R&D, design, product and operations teams, and preparation for market launch — ultimately consolidating multiple wearable technologies into a single, invisible device. XPANCEO's lens embeds nanophotonics micro‑displays directly onto the retina, offering AR experiences with a 30° field of view using ultra‑low power (1–3 µW). Beyond AR, the lenses enable real‑time health monitoring, including intraocular pressure tracking for glaucoma and biochemical analysis of tear fluid for markers like glucose, cortisol, hormones, and key vitamins — significantly enhancing diagnostic capabilities. Additional innovations include wireless charging, night vision, optical zoom, and colour‑blindness correction, with applications across healthcare, industrial, defence, and consumer sectors. Co‑founded in 2019 by physicist Dr. Valentyn S. Volkov and serial entrepreneur Roman Axelrod, XPANCEO merges deep scientific research in nano‑optics and biosensing with commercial viability. The company has already produced 15 working prototypes and contributed to 110 science publications. Looking ahead, XPANCEO will deploy the funding to scale its talent base, advance regulatory approvals, and pilot test use cases in healthcare, defence, industrial AR, and consumer wearables — setting the stage to replace phones, glasses, and smartwatches with a unified wearable interface. Roman Axelrod, XPANCEO's Co‑Founder and Managing Partner: 'There's broad consensus across Big Tech that AI‑powered wearable XR is the future... With this funding, XPANCEO is poised to lead the post‑smartphone era.' Dr. Valentyn S. Volkov, Scientific Partner: 'Our team has pushed the boundaries of science... AI‑driven R&D enabled 15 prototypes and 110 scientific publications in months.' Philip Ma, Managing Director at Opportunity Venture (Asia): 'They're not just building a product; they're rewriting the rules of personal tech.'
Mid East Info
08-07-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
XPANCEO Becomes a Unicorn with $250M Raise to Create Ultimate Form Factor for AI-Powered XR Computing - Middle East Business News and Information
The pioneering deep tech company behind the world's first smart contact lenses raises $250 million at a $1.35 billion valuation to fast-track the launch of a multifunctional, AI-powered XR lens that will replace all personal devices and end the era of screens. Dubai, UAE, July 8, 2025 — XPANCEO , a leading deep tech company developing the next generation of computing via smart contact lenses, today announced the successful closing of a $250 million Series A funding round at a $1.35 billion valuation , officially joining the ranks of unicorns . The round will accelerate the company's mission to launch the world's first all-in-one smart contact lens, integrating extended reality (XR), real-time health monitoring, night vision, and zoom into the ultimate interface for the next generation of computing: an AI-powered XR. The round was led by Opportunity Venture (Asia) , who previously spearheaded XPANCEO's $40 million seed round. The new capital will be used to finalize the development of the world's first smart contact lens, expand XPANCEO's world-class team across R&D, product, design, and operations, and accelerate the company's path to market, with the ultimate goal of replacing all personal gadgets with a single, seamless wearable. 'There's broad consensus across Big Tech that AI-powered wearable XR is the future. Yet, major players have only recently begun building glasses and headsets, so our smart lens technology puts us at least five years ahead,' said Roman Axelrod, founder and Managing Partner at XPANCEO . 'Becoming a unicorn is a powerful signal that we're on the right path. In just 24 months, we've developed 15 working prototypes, each unlocking a new layer of possibility. Our vision remains the same: to merge all your devices into a single, invisible interface – your eyes.' Since its last round in 2023, XPANCEO has achieved major technological breakthroughs, including the development of a lens for AR vision, a smart lens with intraocular pressure (IOP) sensing for glaucoma monitoring, a biochemical lens capable of measuring health parameters such as glucose directly from tear fluid, and a lens capable of real-time wireless charging and data reading. Other prototypes feature nanoparticle-enhanced lenses for night vision and color correction, as well as lenses designed for 3D imaging. These innovations have earned XPANCEO and its founders 24 international awards in deep tech, optics, and wearable technology. 'To build something this ambitious, we had to push the boundaries of science itself,' said Dr. Valentyn S. Volkov, Founder and Scientific Partner at XPANCEO . 'Our team possesses exceptional expertise at the forefront of physics, including on novel materials, nanoparticles development, nano-optics, and more. Our unique approach to research, which leverages AI to optimize our R&D workflows and patent analysis, allowed us to accelerate the development of an unprecedented number of prototypes in a short time and contribute to 110 scientific publications in leading journals, collaborating closely with world-renowned experts.' Founded by serial entrepreneur Roman Axelrod and physicist Dr. Valentyn S. Volkov, XPANCEO has rapidly scaled its operations, doubling both its team and laboratory capacity. The company has grown from 50 to 100 world-class scientists, engineers, and business leaders, while its state-of-the-art lab has expanded significantly to support the increasing scope of its research. XPANCEO collaborates with top global institutions – including the University of Manchester, the National University of Singapore, Donostia International Physics Center, and the University of Dubai – to remain at the forefront of material science and optics. With a market opportunity projected to surpass $750 billion over the next decade, the company is accelerating its push toward commercialization. 'We see XPANCEO as a once-in-a-generation project,' said Philip Ma, Managing Director of Opportunity Venture (Asia) . 'They're not just building a product, they're rewriting the rules of personal tech . We backed them early because we saw the boldness of their vision. Today, they've proven they can execute. With this funding, XPANCEO is poised to lead the post-smartphone era and redefine the personal computing landscape.'
Zawya
08-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
XPANCEO becomes a unicorn with $250mln raise to create ultimate form factor for AI-powered XR computing
The pioneering deep tech company behind the world's first smart contact lenses raises $250 million at a $1.35 billion valuation to fast-track the launch of a multifunctional, AI-powered XR lens that will replace all personal devices and end the era of screens. Dubai, UAE — XPANCEO, a leading deep tech company developing the next generation of computing via smart contact lenses, today announced the successful closing of a $250 million Series A funding round at a $1.35 billion valuation, officially joining the ranks of unicorns. The round will accelerate the company's mission to launch the world's first all-in-one smart contact lens, integrating extended reality (XR), real-time health monitoring, night vision, and zoom into the ultimate interface for the next generation of computing: an AI-powered XR. The round was led by Opportunity Venture (Asia), who previously spearheaded XPANCEO's $40 million seed round. The new capital will be used to finalize the development of the world's first smart contact lens, expand XPANCEO's world-class team across R&D, product, design, and operations, and accelerate the company's path to market, with the ultimate goal of replacing all personal gadgets with a single, seamless wearable. 'There's broad consensus across Big Tech that AI-powered wearable XR is the future. Yet, major players have only recently begun building glasses and headsets, so our smart lens technology puts us at least five years ahead,' said Roman Axelrod, founder and Managing Partner at XPANCEO. 'Becoming a unicorn is a powerful signal that we're on the right path. In just 24 months, we've developed 15 working prototypes, each unlocking a new layer of possibility. Our vision remains the same: to merge all your devices into a single, invisible interface – your eyes.' Since its last round in 2023, XPANCEO has achieved major technological breakthroughs, including the development a lens for AR vision, a smart lens with intraocular pressure (IOP) sensing for glaucoma monitoring, a biochemical lens capable of measuring health parameters such as glucose directly from tear fluid, and a lens capable of real-time wireless charging and data reading. Other prototypes feature nanoparticle-enhanced lenses for night vision and color correction, as well as lenses designed for 3D imaging. These innovations have earned XPANCEO and its founders 24 international awards in deep tech, optics, and wearable technology. 'To build something this ambitious, we had to push the boundaries of science itself,' said Dr. Valentyn S. Volkov, Founder and Scientific Partner at XPANCEO. 'Our team possesses exceptional expertise at the forefront of physics, including on novel materials, nanoparticles development, nano-optics, and more. Our unique approach to research, which leverages AI to optimize our R&D workflows and patent analysis, allowed us to accelerate the development of an unprecedented number of prototypes in a short time and contribute to 110 scientific publications in leading journals, collaborating closely with world-renowned experts.' Founded by serial entrepreneur Roman Axelrod and physicist Dr. Valentyn S. Volkov, XPANCEO has rapidly scaled its operations, doubling both its team and laboratory capacity. The company has grown from 50 to 100 world-class scientists, engineers, and business leaders, while its state-of-the-art lab has expanded significantly to support the increasing scope of its research. XPANCEO collaborates with top global institutions – including the University of Manchester, the National University of Singapore, Donostia International Physics Center, and the University of Dubai – to remain at the forefront of material science and optics. With a market opportunity projected to surpass $750 billion over the next decade, the company is accelerating its push toward commercialization. 'We see XPANCEO as a once-in-a-generation project,' said Philip Ma, Managing Director of Opportunity Venture (Asia). 'They're not just building a product, they're rewriting the rules of personal tech. We backed them early because we saw the boldness of their vision. Today, they've proven they can execute. With this funding, XPANCEO is poised to lead the post-smartphone era and redefine the personal computing landscape.'
