Dubai-based smart contact lens startup, XPANCEO, has officially achieved unicorn status after closing a groundbreaking $250 million Series A funding round. With a $1.35 billion valuation, XPANCEO is set to revolutionize the wearable tech industry by launching the world’s first all-in-one AI-powered extended reality (XR) smart lens.

Pioneering the Future of Wearable Technology

The Series A round was led by Opportunity Venture (Asia), the same firm that spearheaded XPANCEO’s successful $40 million seed round. This new capital injection will propel the startup’s final product development, facilitate global team expansion, and fast-track its go-to-market strategy. XPANCEO’s ambitious vision is to replace smartphones, smartwatches, and other devices with a single, seamless wearable: the eye-based smart lens.

XPANCEO’s founder and Managing Partner, Roman Axelrod, said, “There’s broad consensus in Big Tech that AI-powered wearable XR is the future. But while others focus on bulky headsets or glasses, our smart lens technology places us at least five years ahead in terms of capability and design.”

Next-Gen Smart Lens Technology

Unlike traditional wearable tech that relies on glasses or headsets, XPANCEO’s smart lens is designed to integrate several cutting-edge features into a single, ultra-light, and invisible interface. Some of the most notable features of the lens include:

• AI-Powered XR: Immersive extended reality experiences directly through the eyes.
• Health Monitoring: Real-time health metrics, including intraocular pressure and glucose levels, detected via tear fluid.
• Zoom, Night Vision, and Colour Correction: Enhanced vision features for both day and night.
• Wireless Charging and Real-Time Data Reading: Seamless power and data synchronization.
• 3D Imaging with Nano-Optic Lenses: A revolutionary approach to visual enhancement.

XPANCEO’s tech promises a futuristic world where all personal devices are seamlessly integrated into a single wearable device that fits right on the user’s eye, eliminating the need for separate smartphones or gadgets.

Breaking Boundaries in Wearable Innovation

XPANCEO has already made impressive strides in its mission. Since its inception, the company has developed 15 working prototypes and received 24 international awards in optics, deep tech, and wearable innovation. XPANCEO’s team has also contributed to 110 scientific publications and collaborates with top global institutions like the University of Manchester, National University of Singapore, Donostia International Physics Centre, and the University of Dubai.

Dr. Valentyn S. Volkov, XPANCEO’s Founder and Scientific Partner, explained, “To build something this ambitious, we had to push the boundaries of science itself. Our team includes experts at the forefront of physics, nanoparticle development, nano-optics, and wearable computing.”

Expansion and Industry Recognition

Since 2023, XPANCEO has scaled rapidly, doubling its team size from 50 to 100 employees and expanding its cutting-edge laboratories to support breakthrough research in nano-optics, novel materials, and wearable computing. The company’s work is seen as a leader in the next wave of personal computing.

Philip Ma, Managing Director of Opportunity Venture (Asia), emphasized the uniqueness of XPANCEO’s approach: “XPANCEO is not just building a product; they are rewriting the rules of personal tech. We believe in their bold vision, and we were proud to back them early.”

A New Era of Personal Computing

With the global personal computing market projected to exceed $750 billion over the next decade, XPANCEO is positioned to become a market leader in the post-smartphone era. While the company has yet to disclose specific timelines for its commercial launch, the secured unicorn funding is expected to accelerate its journey toward bringing this groundbreaking technology to the market.

XPANCEO’s AI-powered smart lens is set to redefine personal tech, providing a seamless, multifunctional device that merges virtual and physical worlds while monitoring your health and enhancing your vision – all through a single wearable interface. The future of personal computing may soon be right before our eyes.