Wazi Vision
Wazi Vision is a Ugandan eyewear manufacturer founded in 2016 that designs and produces affordable bespoke and ready-to-wear frames locally using CNC machining and sustainable materials like acetate and repurposed cow horn, serving consumers, optical retailers, and institutional partners across Uganda and select international markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersKampala, Uganda
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Wazi Vision does
Wazi Vision is a Ugandan eyewear manufacturer founded in 2016 and headquartered in Kampala, operating the country's only bespoke eyewear production facility with in-house design and CNC machining combined with artisan craftsmanship. The company manufactures prescription glasses, sunglasses, kids' frames, and accessories using sustainable materials including Mazzucchelli-sourced cellulose acetate, repurposed cow horn from Uganda's meat industry, titanium, and nickel, and offers a distinctive Afrocentric Africa-Side Collection developed through an open-call process for African artisan designers.
The company runs a multi-channel go-to-market: direct-to-consumer e-commerce at wazivision.com with international shipping to the US, UK, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda; physical retail at a Kampala workshop/showroom and a Sebbi Hospital (Nansana) location; and a nationwide channel partnership with Med Optics covering five Ugandan cities, with the Forest Mall branch serving as the exclusive bespoke-order gateway. B2B revenue comes from white-label production, co-branded collections, bulk orders, and corporate gifting for retailers, optometrists, optical centers, hospitals, NGOs, schools, and government agencies.
Wazi's revenue model is entirely transactional (one-time frame sales) priced in Ugandan Shillings from roughly UGX 100,000 to UGX 450,000 per frame, with kids' frames priced affordably at UGX 150,000–200,000 to drive access. The company has raised disclosed funding of $800,000 from GreenTec Capital Partners (2017) plus undisclosed investments from R/GA Ventures (2019) and Renew Capital Angels (2023), was selected for the 2026 Villgro Africa–Fred Hollows Foundation Eye Health Accelerator, and is supported programmatically by partners including UK Aid, US Government (USAID/PEPFAR), and EYElliance. The company employs 51–100 people and operates from Kampala with Nansana and Forest Mall showroom extensions.
Wazi Vision firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wazi Vision
- Legal name
- Wazi Vision
- Website
- https://wazivision.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Wazi Vision is a Ugandan eyewear manufacturer founded in 2016 that designs and produces affordable bespoke and ready-to-wear frames locally using CNC machining and sustainable materials like acetate and repurposed cow horn, serving consumers, optical retailers, and institutional partners across Uganda and select international markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wazi Vision industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Eyewear Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115), Optical Goods Retailers (45613)
- SIC
- Ophthalmic Goods (3851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Eyewear Manufacturing & OEM/ODM (Frames & Sunglasses) (CRAAAKAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Prescription Eyewear Frames (Optical) (CRAAAKAA), Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment) (HLAHAJAD), Luxury Eyewear (Sunglasses & Optical) (CRAKAFAG)
Keywords
Where Wazi Vision is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kampala
- HQ country
- Uganda
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices3 records
Markets served
Wazi Vision business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer Eyewear Sales: Wazi Vision sells eyewear frames directly to consumers via its e-commerce website and physical locations. Products include prescription glasses, sunglasses (shades), kids' frames, and accessories. Revenue is generated through one-time product transactions with per-frame pricing.
- B2B / Wholesale & Custom Corporate Eyewear: Wazi Vision provides B2B solutions including white-label production, co-branded collections, bulk orders, and bespoke offerings tailored to business clients' needs. Targets retailers, optometrists, optical centers, hospitals, schools, government agencies, and corporate institutions seeking custom branded eyewear.
- Bespoke / Custom Eyewear Services: Custom-made frames ordered through Med Optics, where specialists take precise facial measurements and customers select frame design, material, and color. Frames are manufactured to order in Wazi Vision's Kampala workshop and delivered back to the ordering Med Optics branch.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kids' frames priced at UGX 150,000–200,000 for affordability and accessibility |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard acetate and metal frames range from UGX 100,000 to UGX 450,000 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | International shipping via DHL charged at UGX 250,000 per frame for US orders |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bespoke/custom frames — pricing not publicly disclosed, handled via Med Optics consultation |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Wazi Vision product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wazi Vision designs and manufactures bespoke and ready-to-wear eyewear frames in Kampala, Uganda using sustainable materials such as premium cellulose acetate, repurposed cow horn, titanium, and metal combined with CNC machining and artisan craftsmanship. The company sells frames directly to consumers via e-commerce and physical showrooms, distributes through optical retail partners such as Med Optics, and offers B2B services including white-label production, co-branded collections, and bulk orders for retailers, hospitals, schools, NGOs, and government agencies.
Product overview
Wazi Vision is a Ugandan eyewear company offering a portfolio of locally manufactured eyeglasses and sunglasses. The core offering consists of bespoke and ready-to-wear frames across multiple product lines: acetate frames (including Mazzucchelli-sourced materials), titanium frames, cow horn frames, metallic frames, and afrocentric designs. Products are organized by target demographic (Men, Women, Kids) and use case (shades/sunglasses, glasses/eyeglasses). B2B services include white-label production, co-branded collections, and bulk orders. The company also provides custom eyewear manufacturing through its Med Optics partnership, frame repairs, and community outreach programs including school vision screenings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bespoke Eyewear
- Acetate Frames
- Titanium Frames
- Kids Eyeglasses
- Metallic Clip-On Frames
- Afrocentric Frames
- Manufacturing for Business (B2B)
- Frame Repairs
Quantifiable outcome
- Wazi Vision selected for Villgro Africa–Fred Hollows Eye Health Accelerator 2026 alongside seven other health-tech startups from five African countries
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Wazi Vision
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Wazi Vision technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature5 records
Wazi Vision partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Med OpticscoreWazi Vision partnered with Med Optics, one of Uganda's leading eye care providers, to make high-quality locally made eyewear more accessible across the country. Med Optics stocks ready-to-wear Wazi frames at branches nationwide (Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja, Mbarara, Gulu) and handles bespoke/custom frame ordering exclusively at its Forest Mall, Lugogo branch. Trained specialists at Med Optics take precise facial measurements and forward specifications to Wazi's Kampala workshop for custom production.
- Sebbi HospitalcoreWazi Vision operates a physical retail/showroom location at Sebbi Hospital in Nansana, offering eye testing and eyewear fitting services alongside hospital vision care programs.
- EYEllianceminorEYElliance is listed among Wazi Vision's partner logos, suggesting a collaborative relationship focused on expanding eye care access through strategic partnerships and ecosystem development.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Wazi Vision competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lapaire Glasses: Affordable eyewear company operating across multiple African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, etc.) with a mission to improve vision access. Direct comparable to Wazi Vision on geography, customer base, and price-point positioning in the African affordable eyewear segment.
Emerging players
- Polette: European online eyewear brand with trendy, design-forward frames at accessible prices. Overlaps with Wazi's direct-to-consumer online motion and design-led positioning.
- Pala Eyewear: Independent sustainable eyewear brand with a fair-trade and ethical production mission aimed at the African market and diaspora. Closest match to Wazi on impact-driven, sustainably produced African eyewear positioning.
- David Kind Eyewear: UK-based independent eyewear brand offering premium handcrafted frames online and through opticians. Overlaps with Wazi on the bespoke/premium handcrafted positioning and D2C+optician distribution model.
Broad incumbents
- Zenni Optical: Online-first, low-cost prescription eyewear retailer serving US and select international markets. Direct overlap with Wazi's e-commerce D2C channel and value-priced positioning.
- Safilo Group: Global eyewear manufacturer and wholesaler producing licensed and proprietary frames for major brands. Comparable to Wazi on the eyewear manufacturing and OEM/ODM side, though at vastly larger scale and global reach.
- Warby Parker: Pioneering direct-to-consumer eyewear brand selling affordable prescription frames and sunglasses online and through retail stores. Closest business-model analog to Wazi's D2C + showroom motion, though at vastly greater scale and primarily in the US.
- EyeBuyDirect: Online eyewear retailer offering affordable prescription frames and sunglasses globally. Comparable to Wazi on online D2C low-price eyewear model.
- Lenskart: India-based eyewear retailer and manufacturer with a global omnichannel presence offering affordable prescription glasses/sunglasses online and in-store. Comparable on affordable D2C eyewear model and emerging-market expansion strategy, with substantial scale advantage.
Regional players
- BonLook: Canadian eyewear brand offering fashionable, affordable prescription frames and sunglasses online and through retail. Comparable on D2C eyewear model and accessible price strategy, though primarily serving the North American market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wazi Vision social profiles
Digital presenceWazi Vision financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wazi Vision leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Wazi Vision funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wazi Vision 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 Wazi Vision
What does Wazi Vision do?
Wazi Vision designs and manufactures bespoke and ready-to-wear eyewear frames in Kampala, Uganda using sustainable materials such as premium cellulose acetate, repurposed cow horn, titanium, and metal combined with CNC machining and artisan craftsmanship. The company sells frames directly to consumers via e-commerce and physical showrooms, distributes through optical retail partners such as Med Optics, and offers B2B services including white-label production, co-branded collections, and bulk orders for retailers, hospitals, schools, NGOs, and government agencies.
Is Wazi Vision a public or private company?
Wazi Vision is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Wazi Vision founded?
Wazi Vision was founded in 2016. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Wazi Vision based?
Wazi Vision is headquartered in Kampala, Uganda, in the Africa region.
How does Wazi Vision make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer Eyewear Sales are the primary driver. The others are B2B / Wholesale & Custom Corporate Eyewear and bespoke / Custom Eyewear Services.
Who are Wazi Vision's main competitors?
Lapaire Glasses is listed as a direct peer. Emerging players are Polette, Pala Eyewear and David Kind Eyewear. Broad incumbents are Zenni Optical, Safilo Group, Warby Parker, EyeBuyDirect and Lenskart. BonLook is listed as a regional player.
Does Wazi Vision have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wazi Vision.
What industry is Wazi Vision in?
Wazi Vision's product category is Eyewear Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAAAKAJ, Eyewear Manufacturing & OEM/ODM (Frames & Sunglasses), with a secondary code of CRAAAKAA, Prescription Eyewear Frames (Optical). Its NAICS code is 339115 and its SIC code is 3851.