Vitrealab lands oversubscribed $11M Series A
Vitrealab, a European photonics startup focused on augmented reality display hardware, has raised an oversubscribed $11 million Series A to accelerate the development and industrialisation of its Quantum Light Chip (QLC). The round was led by LIFTT Italian Venture Capital and LIFTT EuroInvest, with participation from Constructor Capital, aws Gründungsfonds, Gateway Ventures, PhotonVentures, xista Science Ventures, Moveon Technologies and Hermann Hauser Investment.
The company says the new capital will be used to move its technology from advanced prototypes toward industrial-grade solutions, deepen collaborations with customers and partners, and demonstrate next-generation light-engine architectures designed for everyday AR eyewear.
Why AR’s bottleneck is optics, not software
As consumer and enterprise interest in augmented reality continues to build, the industry’s most stubborn constraint has increasingly been the display stack—specifically optics and light management—rather than application software. AR devices are expected to deliver a difficult mix of requirements: high brightness for outdoor use, low power consumption for all-day wear, a wider field of view for immersion, and a form factor compact enough to fit into normal-looking glasses.
Traditional optical architectures often force trade-offs among these variables. Increasing brightness can add heat and drain batteries; widening the field of view can introduce distortion or bulk; shrinking components can reduce optical efficiency. In this context, Vitrealab is betting that a fundamental redesign of the light engine—rather than incremental tweaks—can unlock the next phase of AR hardware.
Quantum Light Chip: photonics as the light-engine redesign
Vitrealab is developing photonic integrated circuits built to control and shape laser light with high precision. The company’s technology targets laser–LCoS light engines, aiming to reduce optical losses and system complexity while maintaining critical performance attributes such as beam quality and polarisation.
The company argues that this approach can produce a rare combination for AR: higher brightness and a wider field of view, while still enabling lightweight smart-glasses form factors. If validated at scale, such gains could help AR displays transition from niche products to mainstream devices that can be worn comfortably throughout the day.
From quantum research roots to manufacturing readiness
Vitrealab was founded in 2018 by Dr. Chiara Greganti and Dr. Jonas Zeuner, both former researchers at the University of Vienna. The company traces early support to Anton Zeilinger’s Quantum Group, reflecting its origins in academic photonics and quantum research.
At the center of its strategy is the QLC, which the company says is developed using proprietary direct laser writing and in-house fabrication tools. By keeping design and manufacturing capabilities under one roof, Vitrealab aims to speed up iteration cycles from prototype to production while maintaining the precision and reproducibility demanded by optical components.
This vertical integration is also positioned as an advantage for working with larger device makers, including Tier-1 OEMs planning mass-market AR products, where consistent yields and predictable performance are essential.
What the funding will be used for
According to the company, the Series A proceeds will support three main priorities:
- Industrialisation of the Quantum Light Chip, moving from prototype-grade components toward production-ready modules and processes.
- Strengthening customer and partner collaborations, particularly around integration into next-generation AR display systems.
- Demonstrating new light-engine architectures that can meet the constraints of everyday eyewear, including size, weight, and energy efficiency.
Investor view: hardware readiness as the gating factor
Investors backing the round framed the opportunity around a widening gap between market interest and hardware readiness. Marco Cravetto, Business Analyst at LIFTT, said the sector is reaching a point where demand is rising but display technology remains a limiting factor.
“Augmented Reality has reached a point where the market is ready but the hardware is not, and in particular the display,” Marco Cravetto said. He added that Vitrealab addresses the challenge with a proprietary laser-based approach combining performance, industrial scalability and a strong European intellectual property base.
Next steps for Vitrealab and the AR ecosystem
For Vitrealab, the transition from lab-grade innovation to industrial output will be the critical test. AR display components must not only perform well in controlled demos; they must also withstand manufacturing variability, integration constraints, and cost targets that define consumer electronics.
Dr. Jonas Zeuner, CTO of Vitrealab, said the Series A is intended to push the company beyond prototypes. “The successful closing of our Series A is a strong validation of our technology and our vision for scalable AR display systems,” Dr. Jonas Zeuner said. “This funding allows us to move from advanced prototypes to industrial-grade solutions, while continuing to push the boundaries of what is possible with photonic integrated circuits in display applications.”
If the company can deliver on industrialisation and integration, its photonics-based approach could become one of the enabling layers behind slimmer, brighter AR glasses—solving what many in the industry view as the hardest problem first: making light behave in a device people will actually wear.
Related
