CREAL raises USD 8.9 million to advance AR and vision care innovation

CREAL has raised USD 8.9 million to advance AR and vision care technology with ZEISS. The funding will support the development of light field displays for more immersive and eye-friendly digital experiences.

CREAL, a Vaud-based pioneer in light field display technology, has closed a USD 8.9 million equity funding round led by ZEISS, with participation from the UBS private investor network and other existing backers. The investment will enable CREAL to accelerate the development of its advanced visual display systems for augmented reality (AR) and digital vision care.

Founded in Lausanne, CREAL has developed a patented light field micro-display capable of projecting digital images with real-world depth, supporting the eye’s natural focusing mechanism. This approach provides more comfortable and realistic digital experiences compared to traditional displays, a key advantage for prolonged AR usage and medical applications.

The new capital will support two major priorities: advancing the company’s licensing partnership with ZEISS to integrate its technology into next-generation diagnostic and treatment devices, and further miniaturizing its AR module for eventual integration into lightweight, everyday glasses. These developments are expected to benefit both enterprise solutions and, over time, consumer markets.

“As AI reshapes how we work and create, AR is poised to become the killer interface to this new era,” said Tomas Sluka, CEO and Co-Founder of CREAL, in the company’s official press release. “But if we’re going to wear AR glasses all day, they must be healthy, comfortable, and natural to use.”

The company has now raised over USD 32 million, with backing from key investors such as Swisscom Ventures, Verve Ventures, DAA Capital Partners, and ZEISS. CREAL’s team includes experts from EPFL, CERN, Magic Leap, and Intel, reinforcing the company’s strong research and engineering capabilities.

A consistent fixture among Western Switzerland’s top start-ups, including a fifth-place ranking in the 2022 TOP 100 Swiss Startups Awards, CREAL exemplifies the region’s strength in AR, optics, and advanced manufacturing.