Augmented Reality Sees its Way Through a Contact Lens

QUICK PITCH:
LENS is redefining reality through the first augmented system built into a contact lens called IRIS.

THE BUSINESS:
IRIS will use photographic image generation to project virtual objects onto the physical world around them. By using a cubical environmental grid emitted from a beam projector attached to the user, IRIS will be aware of the movements of the user allowing the user to manipulate and interact with the images.

THE “AHA” MOMENT:
For augmented reality to become an integral part of our society the devices must be aesthetically appealing. They must be discrete and non-obtrusive allowing for users to feel like the system is an extension of them. A contact lens is a perfect platform for AR to exist in. By studying the wearable space, the idea started with how to subtly integrate smart systems into clothing. We took it a step further by asking how wearables can be used in a rapidly emerging virtual/augmented reality market, thus bringing to life the idea of IRIS.

BUSINESS IT COULD DISRUPT:
The entirety of the consumer electronic market. By bringing an affordable device to the market we will be able to take a significant chunk out of smart phone sales. Super imposed images will make physical screens obsolete.

MARKET SIZE:
The virtual reality market has existed for decades but has only saw a re-emergence in the past two years. This is due to technological advancements of 3D printing and advancements in nano systems. The entirety of the consumer AR market is valued at 6 billion dollars with an expected exponential increase over the next ten years.

LIKELY COMPETITORS:
Magic leap will be our primary competitor in the mixed reality market. With their development on smart goggles and 3D stereoscopic imagery we believe we are taking AR one step further.

PARTNERSHIP AND/OR COLLABORATIONS:
We have connected with the Netherlands based augmented reality company Cinoptics. Other collaborators on IRIS include TalosX, Texas Instruments, Stratasys, IMG Tech, and IBM.

MANAGEMENT TEAM:
Nick Reyes, Maryam Fakhrizadeh, Diego Torres, Shanmugesh Buhvanesh, Bohan Lin, Amanda Nemec, Elio Angile.

WHO ARE YOUR ROLE MODELS:
Our role models encompass a wide range of individuals in different fields. All have the same thing in common: the belief that their ideas and their existence can help progress humanity forward. These are people no different than you and I, who aspired to help out the masses no matter what the personal repercussions would be. Against all odds they followed their dreams and used their respective platform to make a better day. Martin Luther King Jr, Steve Jobs, John Lennon, Mahatma Gandhi, Buddha, Mohammed Ali, Oprah, Tupac Shakur, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Edgar Allan Poe, Aubrey Graham, Walt Disney, Albert Einstein, Paulo Coelho, and Steven Spielberg.

WHATS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR:
Creating and working for the people. There is a feeling that what you are doing isn’t just feeding into a stagnant system but that you are truly producing something of value. Do not mistaken all work does have value and is important but entrepreneur work allows for an unparalleled amount of freedom. That freedom is also what makes being an entrepreneur so terrifying because there is truly a freedom for anything to exist, good or bad. When you find balance as an entrepreneur it allows for your own personal unique creativity to flow into your work that really can change the world.

WHATS THE BEST ADVICE ANYBODY HAS GIVEN TO YOU:
Love. Embrace everything that comes your way good or bad because it all has a reason. The universe never wants to defeat you it only wants to cement your values and make you a stronger person.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHERS:
Be yourself and believe in what you love, always. Truly find out what makes you happy and pursue it with every ounce of your energy. The hardest part is understanding yourself and your place. Once you can conquer yourself, you can understand and sympathize with any person because you realize we are all not different, we are all the same. Let your imagination run wild, love with all your heart, work hard, smile, anything is possible, and your job is to help as many people as possible.