South Korea's LetinAR raises $18.5M for AI glasses optics
Original: South Korea’s LetinAR is building optics behind AI glasses
Why This Matters
Addresses key engineering challenge preventing mainstream AI glasses adoption
South Korean optical tech startup LetinAR secured $18.5 million from Korea Development Bank and Lotte Ventures for AI smart glasses components. The company develops PinTILT technology for thin, lightweight optical modules ahead of planned 2027 IPO.
LetinAR, founded in 2016 by CEO Jaehyeok Kim and CTO Jeonghun Ha, creates optical modules that project images into users' field of vision for smart glasses. The LG Electronics-backed startup raised funding as global AI glasses shipments surged 300% to 8.7 million units in 2025, with analysts projecting 15 million this year. The company's PinTILT technology arranges tiny optical elements to direct light precisely into the user's eye rather than scattering it. LetinAR supplies components to glasses manufacturers, focusing on making modules thin, lightweight, and power-efficient. The technology enables applications like motorcycle navigation displays that appear as floating arrows on roads, heading to European markets this year.