Elcyo Wins First Place at LAUNCHPAD SEED 2024
- Accelerating Innovation to Create a Society Where Glasses Protect Eyes-
Kyoto, Japan, 13 December 2024. Elcyo, a pioneering company developing "Autofocal Glasses" equipped with liquid crystal lenses, is pleased to announce that its victory at LAUNCHPAD SEED 2024 Powered by Tokyu Fudosan. The pitch event, held on November 28, 2024, is one of Japan’s largest competitions for early-stage startups. Elcyo emerged as the winner among nine finalists selected from hundreds of applicants.
With this achievement, we aim to accelerate the development of our Autofocal Glasses, contributing to solving vision-related challenges and enhancing people’s quality of life.
About LAUNCHPAD SEED
LAUNCHPAD SEED is a premier pitch competition for seed-stage startups, designed to provide a platform for early-stage innovators with the potential to transform industries. Finalists, chosen through rigorous selection, pitch their ideas to an esteemed panel of investors, entrepreneurs, and executives.
At LAUNCHPAD SEED 2024, nine finalists presented their groundbreaking products and visions, selected from hundreds of applicants.
Official Website: https://www.ivs.events/ja/launchpadseed2024
Elcyo’s Pitch Highlights
During the event, Elcyo CEO Sunri Lee delivered a compelling presentation. She began by addressing the alarming statistic that "by 2050, 1 in 10 people globally will be at risk of blindness." She highlighted the increasing strain on eyes caused by excessive use of digital devices and noted that despite this, "the role of glasses has remained largely unchanged since the Edo period."
Elcyo’s Autofocal Glasses, which dynamically adjust focus in real-time based on the wearer’s needs, aim to usher in an era where glasses actively protect eyes.
Watch the pitch: https://youtu.be/uTkH5VjaW1U
Message from CEO Sunri Lee
“We are deeply honored to have been awarded first place among such an incredible lineup of startups. This recognition is both humbling and motivating, as it reminds us of the responsibility we have to deliver on our vision.
As a seed-stage startup, we will focus our efforts and resources to drive our business forward with speed and precision, leveraging strong collaboration both internally and externally.
At next year’s Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, we plan to showcase a prototype of our Autofocal Glasses with integrated eye-sensing technology, as well as a VR system that simulates eye diseases. Through these exhibits, we hope to raise awareness about the importance of protecting eye health.
We are actively seeking partners and collaborators—individuals and organizations passionate about liquid crystal technology, eyewear innovation, and preventive health. Together, we can build an ecosystem to scale our impact not only in Japan but globally.
We look forward to connecting with those who share our vision. Don’t hesitate to reach out!”
Expo 2025 Press Release: https://en.elcyo.com/1a70e1f9e6e942adbb6e132b2620a5fc
About Elcyo
Founded in 2019 as a spin-off from Osaka University, Elcyo is committed to improving eye health with its mission of "Better Vision for a Better Life." Elcyo’s flagship product, the "Autofocal Glasses," dynamically adjusts lens power to match the wearer’s needs in real-time, providing an experience similar to standard eyeglasses but with the added advantage of automatic focus adjustment. The glasses are designed to be thin, offer a wide field of vision, and accommodate a broad range of prescriptions.
Elcyo’s Autofocal Glasses are set to revolutionize vision care for those suffering from presbyopia and eye conditions, freeing users from the hassle of switching glasses. The technology also shows potential for applications in the XR field, and we are actively engaging with partners interested in leveraging our vision adjustment technology.
Elcyo is dedicated to solving vision challenges and enhancing QOL through continuous innovation and development.
Recruitment
To accelerate the research and development of Autofocal Glasses, Elcyo is expanding its team.
Open Positions:
- COO Candidates with startup experience
- Product Development Engineers with expertise in:
- Liquid crystal product development
- Optical device design (e.g., microscopes, digital cameras)
- Machine learning and optical evaluation programming (Python)
- CAD design and programming (C#) etc.
If you're interested in joining our team, please contact us via the form below:
Company Information
- Company Name: Elcyo Co., Ltd.
- CEO: Sunri Lee
- Founded: April 25, 2019
- Location: Kyoto University Katsura Venture Plaza, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto
- Employees: 10 (including 2 executive members)
- Capital: JPY 8,980,000
- Website: https://en.elcyo.com/
Contact For inquiries about purchasing Fresnel Liquid Crystal Lenses or collaborating on research and development, please contact us: Contact Form: https://en.elcyo.com/recruit
Email: contact@elcyo.co.jp