Cellid
Cellid is a Tokyo-based company founded in 2016 that designs and manufactures waveguide optical modules — including a 60° FOV glass waveguide and the world's first full-color plastic waveguide — for use in augmented reality smart glasses sold to enterprise OEMs and consumer brands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersRoppongi, Japan
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cellid does
Cellid株式会社 (Cellid Inc.) is a Tokyo-headquartered, private for-profit company founded in 2016 that designs and manufactures waveguide optical modules for augmented reality (AR) smart glasses. The company focuses on two core technology variants: a glass waveguide achieving a 60° field of view (the largest commercially claimed in its category) and a plastic waveguide weighing under 4g that is the world's first full-color plastic waveguide. These modules are produced using Surface Relief Grating (SRG) patterning combined with Nanoimprint Lithography, and the plastic waveguide won the 2024 SID Display Component of the Year award. Cellid's products also integrate built-in eye tracking with approximately 3-degree accuracy and support high-brightness displays up to 2000 nits for outdoor visibility.
The company's business model operates along two revenue tracks: B2B waveguide component sales to AR glasses OEMs and wearable device manufacturers, and technology licensing and co-development with partners. Cellid monetizes its optical engine through direct component sales to OEMs, joint development agreements (e.g., with Foxconn Group companies GIS and Jorjin), and downstream distribution such as its authorized-distributor role in Japan for Jorjin-branded products. Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales to medical, manufacturing, and enterprise customers with event-driven demand generation at CES 2026 (Las Vegas) and MIDO 2026 (Milan). Marketing channels include industry trade shows, crowdfunding campaigns on Makuake (the SABERA launch raised over 45 million yen in eight hours), and joint partner exhibitions.
Cellid serves three overlapping customer segments: enterprise and industrial buyers (medical, manufacturing, retail, healthcare, transportation, remote support, translation) reached through component customers like Jorjin; consumer buyers reached through the SABERA brand co-developed with jig.jp and Boston Club; and AR device manufacturers (OEMs) integrating Cellid waveguides into their own AR glasses products. The company has raised approximately USD 42.9 million (cumulative) across multiple rounds, most recently a USD 13 million round in February 2025 led by Development Bank of Japan and an approximately USD 7.7 million round in April 2025, and it is entering mass production in 2026 across three reference products: HJ1 (with Foxconn Group), J9 (with Jorjin), and SABERA (with jig.jp and Boston Club).
Cellid firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cellid
- Legal name
- Cellid株式会社
- Website
- https://cellid.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Cellid is a Tokyo-based company founded in 2016 that designs and manufactures waveguide optical modules — including a 60° FOV glass waveguide and the world's first full-color plastic waveguide — for use in augmented reality smart glasses sold to enterprise OEMs and consumer brands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cellid industry classification
Industry- Product category
- AR Display Components
- NAICS
- Glass and Glass Product Manufacturing (32721)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- AR Smart Glasses (CRACAIAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Optoelectronic Receivers & Transceivers (Photodetectors/Optical Modules) (HDAHALAM), Smartphone Components & Modules (Displays, Cameras, Batteries, Sensors, RF modules) (CRACALAD)
Keywords
Where Cellid is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Roppongi
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cellid business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Waveguide Component Sales: Cellid manufactures and sells waveguide optical modules and display components to AR glasses manufacturers and wearable device makers. The company supplies waveguides as components for integration into finished consumer and enterprise AR products.
- Technology Licensing and Co-development: Cellid generates revenue through strategic partnerships that include technology development agreements, co-development arrangements, and shared resource partnerships with companies like GIS and Foxconn Group companies for manufacturing expansion.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Cellid product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cellid develops and manufactures waveguide optical components (glass and plastic waveguides) for augmented reality (AR) glasses displays, using Surface Relief Grating and Nanoimprint Lithography manufacturing processes. The company supplies its waveguide modules to AR glasses manufacturers and partners with OEMs such as Jorjin Technologies and Boston Club to produce AR smart glasses products. Cellid also develops spatial detection software for AR applications.
Product overview
Cellid is a Tokyo-based AR display technology company (established 2016) that develops waveguide technologies and AR smart glasses. The company's product portfolio centers on waveguide optical modules (both glass and plastic variants) which are integrated into AR glasses products. Key products include the HJ1 AI Smart Glasses developed with Foxconn Group partners (Jorjin Technologies and GIS), the J9 AI Smart Glasses (Cellid serving as authorized distributor in Japan), and the SABERA Smart Glasses brand developed with jig.jp and Boston Club. Cellid supplies its waveguide technology to other manufacturers and collaborates with partners across manufacturing, eyewear design, and audio technology to bring AR glasses to market.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- HJ1 AI Smart Glasses AR smart glasses featuring ultra-thin waveguide technology with high-brightness display up to 2000 nits, lightweight 46g design, built-in eye tracking, and AI processing capabilities. Developed through partnership with Foxconn Group companies Jorjin Technologies and GIS, targeting enterprise and consumer AR use cases.
- J9 AI Smart Glasses Next-generation AI smart glasses featuring gaze-controlled UI enabling hands-free, voice-free operation, powered by Cellid's latest waveguide technology. Designed for medical, manufacturing, and enterprise sector applications. Cellid acts as authorized distributor in Japan.
- SABERA Smart Glasses AR glasses brand developed jointly by jig.jp Co., Ltd., Boston Club Co., Ltd., and Cellid. Incorporates Cellid's waveguide display technology with prescription lens compatibility, targeting consumer and B2B markets domestically before global expansion.
- Glass Waveguide Technology Glass-based waveguide optical modules using Nanoimprint Lithography, achieving up to 60° field-of-view for AR glasses displays. Supplied as components for integration into AR glasses products and won the 2024 SID Display Component of the Year award.
- Plastic Waveguide Technology Lightweight plastic waveguide optical modules using Nanoimprint Lithography, weighing under 4g. World's first full-color plastic waveguide, enabling ultra-lightweight AR glasses for consumer and enterprise applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 80% user satisfaction in customer pilots
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Cellid
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cellid technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Cellid partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Jorjin Technologies Inc.coreCellid supplied its latest waveguide technology for Jorjin Technologies' next-generation AI smart glasses 'J9,' featuring gaze-controlled UI and ultra-lightweight form factor. Cellid serves as authorized distributor in Japan. The collaboration combines development and manufacturing capabilities to accelerate AR glasses adoption across medical, manufacturing, and enterprise sectors. Jorjin's HJ1 AI smart glasses using Cellid's glass waveguide were unveiled at CES 2026.
- jig.jp Co., Ltd.corejig.jp hosted the SABERA smart glasses launch event in Tokyo on April 17, 2026, developing the AR glasses brand jointly with Boston Club and Cellid. SABERA raised over 45 million yen in crowdfunding within 8 hours and targets 100,000 units within three years.
- Boston Club Co., Ltd.coreEyewear manufacturer based in Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture, partnering with jig.jp and Cellid to develop the SABERA AR glasses brand. Boston Club provides eyewear manufacturing expertise and design capabilities.
- Best VisionminorTaiwanese eyewear manufacturer collaborating with Cellid and Merry Electronics to showcase next-generation smart glasses concept at MIDO 2026 in Milan. Best Vision brings eyewear design and manufacturing expertise.
- Merry ElectronicsminorAudio technology developer collaborating with Cellid and Best Vision to showcase next-generation smart glasses concept at MIDO 2026. Merry Electronics contributes AI audio solutions for integrating voice and display technologies.
- General Interface Solution (GIS)coreGIS, a Foxconn Group company, provided strategic funding to Cellid and entered into a collaborative partnership to expand manufacturing of AR glass display modules. The partnership aims to advance AR technology and increase market presence through technology development and shared resources. GIS brings Foxconn Group's mass production capabilities to accelerate Cellid's manufacturing expansion.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cellid competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Microsoft (HoloLens): Microsoft's HoloLens is a long-established AR headset targeting enterprise and industrial use cases, competing with Cellid's waveguide technology for AR display integration in enterprise settings. While Microsoft focuses on complete AR headsets rather than waveguide components, it represents the incumbent benchmark for enterprise AR adoption.
- Meta (Reality Labs): Meta's Reality Labs develops AR glasses (including Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and Orion prototype) and has acquired waveguide expertise. Meta represents the broader incumbent threat: a deep-pocketed platform player pursuing vertical integration in AR optics that could pressure independent suppliers like Cellid.
- Apple (Vision Pro): Apple's Vision Pro and ongoing AR glasses development represent the high-water mark for AR display investment by a tech incumbent. While Apple primarily uses different display architectures, its market influence sets expectations and competitive benchmarks for the AR glasses category where Cellid participates.
- Snap (WaveOptics acquisition): Snap acquired WaveOptics in 2021 to integrate waveguide displays into its Spectacles AR glasses. Snap is both a competitor (consumer AR glasses) and a potential acquirer/partner given its waveguide IP stack. This represents the platform-level competition and consolidation pattern in AR optics.
Direct peers
- Magic Leap: Magic Leap develops AR headsets with proprietary waveguide optics for enterprise and consumer applications, making it a direct competitor in the AR optics and AR glasses category. Both companies pursue waveguide-based AR display technology targeting similar enterprise and consumer use cases.
- Vuzix: Vuzix is a publicly traded AR smart glasses company focused on enterprise and industrial applications, producing waveguide-based display products. Vuzix serves overlapping enterprise verticals (manufacturing, healthcare, logistics) and competes for similar OEM and end-customer relationships.
- Lumus: Lumus is a leading waveguide optics company developing reflective waveguide technology for AR glasses. As a direct component-level competitor, Lumus supplies waveguide modules to AR device manufacturers in the same category as Cellid's glass and plastic waveguide products.
- DigiLens: DigiLens develops waveguide display technology (specifically surface relief gratings) for AR and XR applications, directly competing with Cellid's SRG-based waveguide technology. Both companies target AR glasses OEMs and similar consumer/enterprise applications.
- Dispelix: Dispelix is a Finnish waveguide technology company specializing in single-layer and multi-layer waveguide displays for AR glasses. It is a direct component competitor to Cellid in the AR optics supply chain, serving many of the same AR device OEMs globally.
Emerging players
- Oppo (Air Glass): Oppo's Air Glass consumer AR monocle product uses micro-LED and waveguide technology, representing an emerging Asian consumer electronics player pursuing AR glasses. Oppo competes in similar consumer AR form-factor categories and is a potential OEM customer or competitor to Cellid's waveguide technology.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cellid social profiles
Digital presenceCellid financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cellid leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Cellid funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors10 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cellid M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cellid
What does Cellid do?
Cellid develops and manufactures waveguide optical components (glass and plastic waveguides) for augmented reality (AR) glasses displays, using Surface Relief Grating and Nanoimprint Lithography manufacturing processes. The company supplies its waveguide modules to AR glasses manufacturers and partners with OEMs such as Jorjin Technologies and Boston Club to produce AR smart glasses products. Cellid also develops spatial detection software for AR applications.
Is Cellid a public or private company?
Cellid is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Cellid founded?
Cellid was founded in 2016. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Cellid based?
Cellid is headquartered in Roppongi, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Cellid make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Waveguide Component Sales are the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing and Co-development.
Who are Cellid's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Microsoft (HoloLens), Meta (Reality Labs), Apple (Vision Pro) and Snap (WaveOptics acquisition). Direct peers are Magic Leap, Vuzix, Lumus, DigiLens and Dispelix. Oppo (Air Glass) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Cellid have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cellid.
What industry is Cellid in?
Cellid's product category is AR Display Components. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAIAE, AR Smart Glasses, with a secondary code of HDAHALAM, Optoelectronic Receivers & Transceivers (Photodetectors/Optical Modules). Its NAICS code is 32721 and its SIC code is 3827.