Vienna’s Vitrealab closes €9.4 million Series A to develop light engines for AR glasses

Vienna-based Vitrealab, a developer of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for augmented reality (AR) displays, has secured €9.4 million in Series A funding. This investment will accelerate the development of its Quantum Light Chip (QLC) for AR displays, furthering the potential of next-generation AR glasses. The funding round, "significantly oversubscribed," highlights the growing interest in European deeptech solutions. The round was led by LIFTT Italian Venture Capital and LIFTT EuroInvest, with participation from several other investors including Constructor Capital and aws Gründungsfonds. Vitrealab's technology uses PICs to create laser-based light engines for AR glasses, aiming to enhance brightness, widen fields of view, and reduce power consumption. The company's QLC is designed to address key performance and scalability challenges in the AR display sector. This funding will enable Vitrealab to move from advanced prototypes to industrial-grade solutions. The company's vertically integrated approach, supported by in-house manufacturing equipment and direct laser writing technologies, supports scaling from prototype to volume production. This approach could strengthen Europe's position in the global AR market. Vitrealab, a spin-off from the University of Vienna, previously secured a seven-digit Seed round in 2021. With its focus on high-performance AR glasses, the company is collaborating with Tier-1 OEMs and technology partners.