WaveOptics
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersAbingdon, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
WaveOptics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WaveOptics
- Legal name
- Wave Optics Ltd
- Website
- http://www.enhancedworld.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WaveOptics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- AR Optical Components
- NAICS
- Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (33513)
- SIC
- Electronic Components & Accessories (3670), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs) (HDAHAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors) (IMAGAJAF), Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL) (HDAHALAL)
Keywords
Where WaveOptics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Abingdon
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
WaveOptics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- AR Optical Components: Sale of waveguides, projectors, and optical engines to AR device manufacturers. WaveOptics is a B2B supplier of optical components for augmented reality smart glasses and headsets.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
WaveOptics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WaveOptics designs and manufactures diffractive waveguide technology and projector systems used as optical components for augmented reality (AR) smart glasses and headsets. The company sells three core hardware product lines — waveguides, projectors, and integrated optical engines (modules) — to consumer electronics OEMs building AR wearables, with Snap Inc. (Spectacles) named as a flagship customer.
Product overview
WaveOptics offers a portfolio of three interconnected optical hardware products for the AR eyewear market: waveguides (diffractive waveguide AR technology), projectors (DMD, LCoS, and MicroLED-based projectors), and optical engines (integrated modules combining waveguides with projector technology). These products are designed to work together as a complete optical system, enabling customers to build AR wearables by combining the light-transferring waveguides with illumination projectors and integrated engine modules for rapid prototype development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Waveguides Diffractive waveguide AR components designed for mass manufacture, offering the widest range of fields of view for maximum design flexibility. Sold to consumer electronics OEMs building AR eyewear.
- Projectors In-house projector systems built on DMD, LCoS, and MicroLED technologies to address optical performance, efficiency, and size requirements for AR wearables. Sold to AR device manufacturers.
- Optical Engines Integrated optical engine modules that combine WaveOptics' diffractive waveguides with projector technology to enable rapid AR product development and prototyping for OEMs.
Companies that use WaveOptics
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
WaveOptics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
WaveOptics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WaveOptics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lumus: Lumus is a direct competitor in waveguide-based AR optics, specializing in reflective (rather than diffractive) waveguides. Both companies supply optical engines to AR device makers and compete head-to-head on field of view, efficiency, and form factor.
- DigiLens: DigiLens develops diffractive waveguide technology for AR headsets and smart glasses, directly competing with WaveOptics in the same core waveguide category. Both target AR device OEMs with similar B2B optical engine sales models.
- Vuzix: Vuzix manufactures AR smart glasses and optical components for enterprise and consumer markets. It both produces finished AR glasses and competes in the optical components space that WaveOptics serves.
Broad incumbents
- Microsoft (HoloLens): Microsoft's HoloLens division develops AR headsets with proprietary waveguide and MEMS-based optical engines, serving enterprise AR markets. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping optical engine technology targeting similar device-maker customers.
- Sony: Sony is a broad incumbent in display and optical components with AR-relevant capabilities including OLED/microdisplay manufacturing and sensor technologies. It competes as an integrated supplier to AR device makers across multiple component categories.
- Goertek: Goertek is a major AR/VR hardware manufacturing partner and an investor in WaveOptics. It develops freeform optics and AR module assemblies, competing as both a contract manufacturer and a component supplier in the AR optics value chain.
Regional players
- Beijing NED (Ned+AR): Beijing NED is a Chinese AR optics company developing freeform optics for AR applications. It is identified alongside WaveOptics as a key player in the freeform optics for AR market, primarily serving Asian AR device makers.
Emerging players
- Dispelix: Dispelix designs and manufactures diffractive waveguides for AR glasses, focusing on single-layer waveguide designs for consumer AR wearables. It is an emerging competitor with direct overlap to WaveOptics' core waveguide product.
- North Ocean Photonics: North Ocean Photonics develops micro-LED based AR optical engines and waveguide solutions. It competes in the AR optical engine space with a focus on MicroLED illumination, partially overlapping with WaveOptics' projector portfolio.
- LetinAR: LetinAR develops pin-mirror based AR optics as an alternative to diffractive waveguides. It represents an emerging technology approach that overlaps with WaveOptics in serving AR smart glasses OEMs.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
WaveOptics social profiles
Digital presenceWaveOptics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WaveOptics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
WaveOptics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WaveOptics 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 WaveOptics
What does WaveOptics do?
WaveOptics designs and manufactures diffractive waveguide technology and projector systems used as optical components for augmented reality (AR) smart glasses and headsets. The company sells three core hardware product lines — waveguides, projectors, and integrated optical engines (modules) — to consumer electronics OEMs building AR wearables, with Snap Inc. (Spectacles) named as a flagship customer.
Is WaveOptics a public or private company?
WaveOptics is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was WaveOptics founded?
WaveOptics was founded in 2014. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is WaveOptics based?
WaveOptics is headquartered in Abingdon, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does WaveOptics make money?
One revenue line is on record: AR Optical Components.
Who are WaveOptics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lumus, DigiLens and Vuzix. Broad incumbents are Microsoft (HoloLens), Sony and Goertek. Beijing NED (Ned+AR) is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are Dispelix, North Ocean Photonics and LetinAR.
Does WaveOptics have an API?
No public API is recorded for WaveOptics.
What industry is WaveOptics in?
WaveOptics's product category is AR Optical Components. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAAAH, Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs), with a secondary code of IMAGAJAF, Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors). Its NAICS code is 33513 and its SIC code is 3670.