LetinAR
Category: AI in Hardware
South Korean developer of AR optical modules (PinTILT™ technology) for AI-powered smart glasses, providing lightweight, power-efficient lens solutions to OEMs. LetinAR was founded in 2016. The company is led by Jaehyeok Kim. Based in Anyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Team size: 51-200. Total funding raised: $41.7M. Latest round: Venture Round. Key investors include LG Electronics; Korea Development Bank (KDB); Lotte Ventures; Naver D2SF; Kakao Ventures; KB Investment; DSC Investment; Korea Asset Investment; Platinum Technology Investment; Global Brain Corporation; SBVA.
- Founded
- 2016
- Headquarters
- Anyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
- Team size
- 51-200
- Total funding
- $41.7M
Value proposition
Proprietary PinTILT™ hybrid optical architecture combining advantages of waveguide and birdbath designs — delivering high light efficiency (10-15%), thin form factor, low power consumption (<1W), and injection-molded plastic manufacturing for cost-effective mass production of AI smart glasses optics.
Products and solutions
Letinus™ Lens Module (22° FOV); FrontiAR™ Lens Module (45° FOV); FrontiAR™ Pro Lens Module; T-Glasses (Letinus™ EV-Kit); KeplAR (FrontiAR™ EV-Kit); PinTILT™ optical technology; PinMR™ optical technology
Unique value
PinTILT™ technology achieves 10-15% optical efficiency (vs. <5% for typical waveguides) in a lens under 5g per eye, enabling all manufactured via standard injection molding — enabling truly wearable, all-day AI glasses at consumer price points.
Target customer
Smart glasses OEMs, AR device manufacturers, AR/XR device makers, Big Tech companies, enterprise AR solution providers, automotive HUD manufacturers, and Big Tech companies developing AI glasses.
Industries served
Consumer AI glasses; Enterprise AR; Automotive HUD; Motorcycle AR helmets; Industrial smart goggles
Technology advantage
PinTILT™ hybrid optics (combining TIR waveguide efficiency with birdbath-like direct light delivery); injection-molded plastic lens manufacturing (low cost, high scalability); 54+ patents in KR/US/CN; 10-15% optical efficiency vs. <5% for waveguides; <1W power consumption per eye; supports OLEDoS, microLED, LCOS, LCD displays; 22° to 45°+ FOV range; lens weight <5g per eye
How they differentiate
Unlike waveguide competitors that suffer from <5% light efficiency and high-cost glass substrates, or birdbath designs that are bulky, LetinAR's PinTILT™ILT hybrid achieves 10-15% efficiency in a thin plastic lenses via standard injection molding — enabling lower cost, lighter weight, and longer battery life simultaneously.
Main competitors
WaveOptics (UK, acquired by Snap); DigiLens (US); Lumus (Israel)
Key partnerships
NTT QONOQ Devices (Japan's largest telecom group — mass-produced AR product); Dynabook (formerly Toshiba Client Solutions); Aegis Rider (ETH Zurich spin-off, AR motorcycle helmet); LG Electronics (strategic investor and partner)
Notable customers
NTT QONOQ Devices (Japan); Dynabook (Japan); Aegis Rider (Switzerland); multiple Big Tech companies (under NDA)
Major milestones
2016: Founded by Jaehyeok Kim and Jeonghun Ha; 2018: First Series A funding ($3.6M); 2020: Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia; 54 patents filed; 2020: Series B funding (₩80억); 2022: LG Electronics Corporate Minority investment; 2022: PinTILT™ technology announced; 2023: CES Innovation Awards Honoree; 2024: First mass-produced AR product with NTT QONOQ Devices; 2024: SPIE PRISM Awards Finalist; 2026: $18.5M funding from KDB and Lotte Ventures; 2027: Planned IPO in South Korea
Growth metrics
Global AI glasses shipments surged to 8.7M units in 2025 (up 300% YoY); projected to cross 15M in 2026 per Omdia. LetinAR targeting 2027 IPO.
Market positioning
Leading independent AR optics component supplier in Asia, positioned as the key enabler for mass-market AI glasses with cost-effective, high-efficiency injection-molded plastic optics. Competes against waveguide specialists (WaveOptics, DigiLens) and birdbath approaches by offering a hybrid solution that bridges both worlds.
Geographic focus
Global (HQ in South Korea, targeting Japan, Europe, US markets; customers in Japan and Switzerland)
Patents and IP
54+ patents filed in South Korea, US, and China as of 2020; patented Pin Mirror and PinTILT™ optical architectures; multiple international patent filings for AR optics system with pin mirror (US 2019/0204601)
About Jaehyeok Kim
Jaehyeok Kim: Software Engineer at Samsung Software Membership; Hanyang University education. Co-founded LetinAR with high school friend Jeonghun Ha.
Official website: https://letinar.com/