Metasurface lens manufacturer secures tens of millions in financing led by Xiaomi, the world's first company to overcome mass production challenges in infrared technology | Exclusive by 36Kr

Author | Zhang Ziyi

Editor | Yuan Silai

36Kr learned that MetaLens, a manufacturer specializing in the design and production of metalenses, recently completed a Series A+ financing round worth tens of millions of yuan. The investors include Xiaomi Strategic Investment, Shunwei Capital, Chengmei Capital, and Shanghai Angel Club as a joint investment. This round of financing will be mainly used for the continuous construction of the mass - production line for metalenses, the expansion of infrared lens production, and the R & D and mass production of visible - light lenses.

Founded in 2020, MetaLens is mainly engaged in the design and manufacturing of metalenses. It is the world's first company to achieve mass production in both the far - infrared and near - infrared fields and make technological breakthroughs in the visible - light field. Currently, the company has achieved full - range coverage of lens products, from independently developing metalens design software, integrating lens optical design, to establishing production lines for the independent mass production of metalens lenses.

A metalens is a two - dimensional planar lens in which nanostructures with special electromagnetic properties are arranged in a certain way. It can flexibly control parameters such as the amplitude, phase, and polarization of incident light. Due to its characteristics of being "thin, light, simple, inexpensive, high - performance, and stable", metalenses are predicted to be widely used in fields such as mobile phone cameras, automotive electronics, and sensors in the future.

Currently, with the rapid development of emerging consumer electronics, automotive electronics, drones, and other application scenarios, there are increasing requirements for optical lenses to be more lightweight, compact, and cost - effective. However, traditional optics are more restricted by materials, and the competition is fierce. The emergence of metalenses makes up for the disadvantages of traditional lenses. In terms of mass - production technology, semiconductor chip technology is adopted to ensure high production capacity, high yield, and high stability. With these advantages, metalenses show broad application prospects in many fields.

At present, the commercial metalens lenses launched by MetaLens in the market are mainly concentrated in the infrared field. Common applications include infrared temperature measurement and security monitoring in the far - infrared field, as well as face recognition and 3D scanning in the near - infrared field. All of these products have been mass - produced and are continuously delivered to industry customers. In the visible - light field with huge market potential, MetaLens has achieved technological breakthroughs and completed the R & D and design of key lens products, including consumer electronics lenses and automotive lenses, which have advantages in terms of volume and cost. Currently, these products are in the process of commercialization and mass production, and mass production is expected to be achieved next year. At the same time, the products will be applied in some consumer electronics scenarios, gradually realizing the industrialization of visible - light metalenses.

36Kr learned that in addition to the optical lens scenario, MetaLens is also deploying spectroscopic device products in the visible - light field, especially color routing products. Color routing products are applications of metalenses in the CIS image sensor scenario, which can double the light efficiency of image sensors. This means that under the same lighting conditions, image sensors using metalens technology can capture more light, thereby improving the image quality. Currently, some industry end - products are using this technology, and the market prospects are broad. MetaLens is also making great efforts in this area to promote the application of metalens technology in various scenarios.

In addition, MetaLens has started to deploy in the field of optical computing. It uses tunable metasurface technology to design large - scale optical computing chips to meet the high - computing requirements of the AI era. Currently, MetaLens' optical computing business team is in the process of technological R & D, and the first - generation products are expected to be launched and start iteration next year.

In terms of production capacity, in January 2025, MetaLens built the world's first mass - production and delivery line for metalenses in Huzhou, with a factory area of 6,000 square meters. Currently, the production line has been officially put into operation, and its monthly production capacity is sufficient to meet the demand for millions of lenses.