Latest news with #ValentynVolkov
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
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
12-06-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
XPANCEO Partners with the University of Dubai to Propel Deep Tech Innovation - Middle East Business News and Information
Dubai, June 11, 2025 — XPANCEO, a leading deep tech company pioneering the next generation of computing via the development of smart contact lenses, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Dubai. This strategic partnership underscores a shared commitment to driving innovation at the nexus of academia and industry. Ranked among the UAE's top six academic and corporate organizations by the Nature Index, XPANCEO is on track to unveil the world's first fully integrated smart contact lens by 2026. Its partner, the University of Dubai — established by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce in 1997 — is one of the region's most forward-thinking academic institutions. It is internationally accredited by AACSB and ABET, and is a key player in the UAE's thriving innovation ecosystem. Key areas of collaboration include joint R&D projects and co-authored publications that target high-impact scientific and technological advances. The partnership also includes internship and mentorship programs designed to integrate students into active research settings and provide co-supervision for senior research projects. Both parties will share access to laboratory facilities to support collaborative innovation. They will also organize and participate in conferences, workshops, and expert lectures to facilitate knowledge exchange . Additionally, the partnership will focus on joint involvement in innovation challenges and international hackathons. This partnership reinforces XPANCEO's ongoing commitment to building an ecosystem of visionary thinkers and innovators, while supporting the UAE's broader ambition to become a global innovation hub. 'At XPANCEO, we don't just build breakthrough technologies — we help shape the minds that will define the future. That's why we put a strong focus on cultivating new talent across our core research areas. Our collaboration with the University of Dubai gives students direct access to live challenges in optics, nanomaterials, and bio-integration. They bring curiosity, fresh perspective, and the drive to push science beyond today's limits. We bring deep expertise, infrastructure, and a set of ambitious tasks. This partnership is a hands-on step toward growing local talent and developing the kind of innovation ecosystem that the future demands.' Valentyn Volkov, Co-Founder, Scientific Partner at XPANCEO 'As a leading academic institution committed to research-driven innovation, we see this partnership as an opportunity to contribute to the advancement and responsible application of next-generation wearable technologies. This initiative aligns closely with our strategic goals to bridge the gap between academia and industry, foster emerging tech ecosystems in the UAE, and prepare our students to become pioneers of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.' Dr. Eesa Al Bastaki, President of the University of Dubai
