Swave Photonics, a leader in holographic display innovation, has recently reported the successful completion of a EUR €27 million (USD $28.27 million) Series A funding round. The funding will be instrumental in propelling the development of its Holographic eXtended Reality (HXR) platform, aimed at promoting a “reality-first user experience” for AI-driven augmented reality (AR) smart glasses and heads-up displays (HUDs).
This funding initiative was jointly led by imec.xpand and SFPIM Relaunch, with new investors including EIC Fund, IAG Capital Partners, and Murata Electronics North America, Inc., along with returning investors Qbic Fund, PMV, imec, and Luminate participating.
In 2023, Swave previously secured a EUR €10 million (USD $10.47 million) Seed round, which facilitated the rollout of its HXR technology and expansion of its workforce.
“This round will expedite Swave’s product launches as we strive to address the current hurdles in AR experiences through authentic holography,” stated Mike Noonen, CEO of Swave. “We are delighted with the ongoing support from both our current and new investors. They realize that Swave uniquely amalgamates semiconductor, holographic, and AI technologies to deliver cost-efficient and genuinely useful solutions.”
Swave’s HXR technology leverages what the company describes as “the world’s smallest pixel” to manipulate light and create 3D holographic visuals, enabling a user experience where digital data interacts dynamically with a user’s environment to produce images easily processed by the human visual system.
As per Swave, augmented reality devices still encounter challenges like exorbitant costs, awkward size and weight, high energy consumption, and visual issues such as Vergence-Accommodation Conflict, which can lead to discomfort or fatigue for users. The company asserted that its HXR technology not only addresses these challenges but also removes the requirement for the most expensive components in AR devices, such as waveguides or varifocal lenses.
“AR glasses are poised to become the central interface for AI-driven spatial computing and other applications, and Swave is strategically placed to facilitate this future,” remarked Theo Marescaux, co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Swave. “We are collaboratively designing every component—from our holographic SLMs equipped with advanced nano-pixels, to real-time computing chips, light engines, and AR combiners—providing the most sophisticated and integrated solution to date.”
Swave’s technology has been in development for over a decade, and the company currently possesses 60 key technology patents. The HXR platform was initially unveiled in April 2024. With this recent Series A funding, Swave is set to roll out product development kits, with production devices anticipated to follow shortly, according to co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Dmitri Choutov.
For further details on Swave Photonics and its holographic display technologies for augmented reality smart glasses, please visit the company’s website.
