ThinOptics
ThinOptics is a Sonoma, California-based direct-to-consumer eyewear company that designs ultra-thin polycarbonate reading glasses, sunglasses, and prescription frames engineered to attach to smartphones, keys, and wallets, serving presbyopia-affected adults and active-lifestyle consumers globally through e-commerce, QVC, and international shipping.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersSonoma, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What ThinOptics does
ThinOptics, Inc. is a Sonoma, California-based direct-to-consumer eyewear company founded in 2013 by Teddy Shalon and David Chute, currently led by CEO David Westendorf. The company designs, manufactures, and sells ultra-thin polycarbonate reading glasses, sunglasses, prescription frames, and blue-light-blocking lenses along with a proprietary family of portable carrying cases. Its core engineering differentiator is proprietary lens technology that produces glasses as thin as 3mm with flexible stainless steel temples, paired with magnetic mounting systems (Universal Pod, Magnetic Connect Case, MagSafe, Keychain, Wallet) that allow the eyewear to attach directly to a smartphone or other everyday-carry surface. The product line is anchored by the Moment Armless Readers (now with anti-scratch lenses), Brooklyn and Manhattan full-frame styles, Connect Readers, prescription frames (Nest, Loop, Drift, Glow, Cradle, Perch, Cove, Menlo Park, Los Altos), and the Shuffle Technology system that magnetically switches between full-frame and pince-nez configurations on the same device. The catalog spans 402+ SKUs at price points from $15 (cases) to $130 (premium sunglasses), with bundles up to $99.
The company's business model is pure one-time-purchase direct-to-consumer e-commerce with no subscription layer, no enterprise contracts, and no named B2B customers. The primary sales channel is thinoptics.com, supported by an online vision-strength test, a Clarity Kit for at-home diopter discovery, virtual try-on, and global shipping with multi-currency support across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America. Secondary retail is provided through a QVC television shopping partnership. Marketing relies on organic social (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, X, YouTube), content/blog SEO, an email list with a 20% first-order discount, affiliate programs, and earned media in Wired, Forbes, TechCrunch, and Healio. ThinOptics has raised approximately $866K cumulatively across a 2014 seed, a 2018 strategic investment from Lenskart ($500K), and a 2021 equity crowdfunding round (~$363,920) at an implied valuation of ~$29.2M, and operates with 11–50 employees.
ThinOptics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ThinOptics
- Legal name
- ThinOptics, Inc.
- Website
- https://thinoptics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ThinOptics is a Sonoma, California-based direct-to-consumer eyewear company that designs ultra-thin polycarbonate reading glasses, sunglasses, and prescription frames engineered to attach to smartphones, keys, and wallets, serving presbyopia-affected adults and active-lifestyle consumers globally through e-commerce, QVC, and international shipping.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ThinOptics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Reading Glasses & Eyewear
- NAICS
- Optical Goods Retailers (45613), Optical Goods Retailers (456130)
- SIC
- Ophthalmic Goods (3851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Reading Glasses (OTC) (CRAAAKAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sunglasses (Non-Prescription) (CRAAAKAB), Tech & Utility Accessories (Phone Cases, Watch Bands, Key Holders) (CRAAAJAK)
Keywords
Where ThinOptics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sonoma
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ThinOptics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct E-commerce Sales: Primary revenue stream through company's own online storefront (thinoptics.com). Products sold as one-time purchases across multiple configurations including readers-only, readers with cases, and multi-packs. No subscription model evident.
- Retail Distribution: Products available through QVC television shopping network, providing additional retail distribution channel beyond direct e-commerce
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Readers Only - Full Frame Styles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Readers with Basic Cases |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Readers with Premium Cases |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Multi-Packs and Bundles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Prescription Eyewear |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sunglasses |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cases Only |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Clarity Kit (Diagnostic) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
ThinOptics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ThinOptics designs, manufactures, and sells ultra-thin polycarbonate reading glasses, blue light readers, and sunglasses engineered to be as thin as 3mm so they can attach to smartphones, keychains, wallets, and other everyday carry items via magnetic cases. The portfolio includes full-frame readers (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Crescent), armless Moment Readers, prescription eyewear, sunglasses, and multi-pack bundles, sold primarily through the company's own e-commerce storefront with global shipping.
Product overview
ThinOptics is an eyewear company specializing in ultra-thin, durable reading glasses and sunglasses designed for portability. The product portfolio centers on Moment Readers (armless readers with anti-scratch lenses) and Full Frame Readers (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Crescent styles), paired with a range of carrying solutions including Milano oval cases, Universal Pod magnetic phone cases, Keychain cases, and Magnetic Connect phone cases. The company also offers prescription eyewear, blue light blocking readers, sunglasses (prescription and non-prescription), and multi-pack bundles like the Always With You Multi-Pack with Shuffle Technology and the Clarity Kit for finding ideal diopter strength. The America 250 collection offers limited-edition commemorative cases. Products are sold individually or in bundles combining readers with various case options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Moment Readers: Armless readers with anti-scratch lenses designed for portability and everyday movement
- Brooklyn
- Manhattan
- America 250 Collection
- Shuffle Technology
Products and services
- Moment Armless Readers Armless reading glasses with anti-scratch polycarbonate lenses and ultra-thin form factor (as thin as 3mm), designed for portability and everyday use. Targeted at consumers who want reading correction that attaches to a phone or keychain.
- Full Frame Readers (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Crescent) Full-frame reading glasses available in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Crescent styles, sold individually or bundled with cases. Available in multiple lens strengths (+1.00 to +3.00) for consumers needing traditional-style reading glasses.
Quantifiable outcome
- Anti-scratch lenses built for everyday movement and durability
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use ThinOptics
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
ThinOptics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
ThinOptics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- QVCcoreQVC serves as a retail distribution partner for ThinOptics products, making them available to television viewers who prefer shopping through the QVC platform. This partnership provides additional retail reach beyond the direct e-commerce channel.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ThinOptics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Warby Parker: Direct-to-consumer eyewear brand selling prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses. Operates in the same online-first, vertically integrated optical goods category as ThinOptics with comparable price points and target demographic.
- Zenni Optical: Online-first prescription eyewear retailer offering affordable glasses and sunglasses. Competes with ThinOptics on the online reading glasses and prescription lens customer, with a broader catalog and significantly lower pricing.
- Lenskart: Global eyewear omnichannel retailer with extensive DTC, retail, and manufacturing operations. Direct competitor in reading glasses and prescription eyewear, and notably a strategic investor in ThinOptics since 2018.
- EyeBuyDirect: Online prescription eyewear retailer offering affordable frames, sunglasses, and blue light glasses. Targets the same value-conscious online eyewear shopper as ThinOptics, with broader prescription and fashion selection.
- Readers.com: Online specialty retailer dedicated entirely to reading glasses, offering a wide assortment of OTC readers at multiple price points. Direct overlap with ThinOptics in the OTC reading glasses e-commerce category.
Broad incumbents
- Foster Grant: Established mass-market reading glasses and sunglasses brand sold through drugstores, mass merchants, and online. Competes in the OTC reading glasses segment with much wider retail distribution but at lower price points than ThinOptics.
- Peepers by PeeperSpecs: Reading glasses and blue light eyewear brand sold through retail and online channels. Overlaps with ThinOptics in the OTC readers category with broader mass-market positioning and lower pricing.
Emerging players
- Felix Gray: DTC blue light filtering glasses brand with a similar product-led growth, online vision test, and design-forward positioning. Overlaps with ThinOptics in the blue light reader category and digital device user segment.
- Gunnar Optiks: Performance and computer eyewear brand focused on blue light protection and gaming/office use cases. Comparable to ThinOptics' blue light blocking readers for the digital device user segment.
- Look Optic: DTC eyewear brand focused on affordable, fashion-forward readers and prescription glasses online. Competes with ThinOptics in the online reading glasses category with broader frame selection and lower price points.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ThinOptics social profiles
Digital presenceThinOptics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ThinOptics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
ThinOptics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ThinOptics 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 ThinOptics
What does ThinOptics do?
ThinOptics designs, manufactures, and sells ultra-thin polycarbonate reading glasses, blue light readers, and sunglasses engineered to be as thin as 3mm so they can attach to smartphones, keychains, wallets, and other everyday carry items via magnetic cases. The portfolio includes full-frame readers (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Crescent), armless Moment Readers, prescription eyewear, sunglasses, and multi-pack bundles, sold primarily through the company's own e-commerce storefront with global shipping.
Is ThinOptics a public or private company?
ThinOptics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ThinOptics founded?
ThinOptics was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ThinOptics based?
ThinOptics is headquartered in Sonoma, United States, in the North America region.
How does ThinOptics make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Direct E-commerce Sales are the primary driver. The others are retail Distribution.
Who are ThinOptics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Warby Parker, Zenni Optical, Lenskart, EyeBuyDirect and Readers.com. Broad incumbents are Foster Grant and Peepers by PeeperSpecs. Emerging players are Felix Gray, Gunnar Optiks and Look Optic.
Does ThinOptics have an API?
No public API is recorded for ThinOptics.
What industry is ThinOptics in?
ThinOptics's product category is Reading Glasses & Eyewear. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAAAKAG, Reading Glasses (OTC), with a secondary code of CRAAAKAB, Sunglasses (Non-Prescription). Its NAICS code is 45613 and its SIC code is 3851.