Dispelix – An international pioneer in AR display technology
Augmented reality (AR) displays are not just for consumers – they are already used in many wearable devices designed for professional use, such as visors and helmets. Finnish Dispelix develops and supplies transparent waveguides that are used as see-through displays in various AR-devices.
Why?
Augmented reality technology will revolutionise how we behave and work – as professionals, as consumers, and in defence applications. Existing AR display solutions have not managed to optimally meet the current needs of consumer and enterprise markets. The end-product’s large size, wear discomfort and high price of AR displays, for instance, have hindered widespread adoption of the technology. These general challenges for AR headsets can be resolved with the waveguide displays that Dispelix designs and delivers. Dispelix waveguide displays enable consumer AR eyewear to look and feel like normal eyeglasses, light in weight and visually attractive.
What and how?
Controlling light at the nanoscale is extremely challenging. Dispelix has developed Waveguide Studio software to solve complex multi-objective optimisation problems in the design of diffractive grating structures and waveguides. The software allows Dispelix to develop waveguide displays that enable the company’s international customers to realize their AR product visions. The software uses high-performance computing to simulate and optimize the passage of light extremely accurately and quickly. The Dispelix simulator is up to 20,000 times faster than conventional ray-tracing methods. As a fabless supplier, Dispelix works in close cooperation with its production partners in manufacturing the waveguide displays to its customers.
Growth and internationalisation
Dispelix’s business operations have been international from the very beginning. Target customers include leading global tech corporations operating in the enterprise and consumer markets. Dispelix’s latest target market is the defence industry. The company recently announced a long-term supply agreement with Collins Aerospace, one of the world’s largest aviation and defence companies.
Consumer market for AR eyewear is expected to open up more broadly in 2027. Dispelix aims for strong growth through supply agreements for waveguide display components for the consumer market.
The importance of venture capital
Dispelix develops and supplies its international customers with sophisticated waveguide display components that require unique expertise in design and manufacturing. Venture capital investments are of vital importance to commercialising the innovations of deep tech companies like Dispelix. Dispelix has so far raised over USD 50 million in venture capital. Other investors alongside Tesi include Atlantic Bridge, Lifeline Ventures, VTT Ventures and 3M.
Tesi first invested in Dispelix back in 2018 to promote the development of Finland’s deep tech market and to accelerate the company’s growth into a global leader in the design and manufacture of waveguides.
General information
Dispelix was founded in 2015 as a spinoff from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The company’s R&D operations are situated in Espoo and Joensuu, both Finnish cities offering high-standard cleanroom facilities suited to demanding requirements. Dispelix has sales-focused offices in the USA and China.
Dispelix owns over 200 international patents and has another over 200 patents pending. Since developing the deep tech needed for waveguides calls for world-class specialists and expertise, around 60 per cent of the company’s personnel hold a doctorate in natural sciences or technology. Some 20 different nationalities are represented in the company’s personnel.
