Distance Technologies, which develops glasses-free mixed reality designed for the automotive, aerospace, and defence markets, and empowering users with contextual AI, has closed €10 million in a seed funding round. This comes within months of closing $2.7 million in pre-seed funding.
Google Ventures aka GV (that backed wealth.com and Bounti recently) led this seed round, with additional investments from FOV Ventures and Maki.vc. This round marks the first Finnish investment from Google’s venture arm.
Next-generation of mixed reality
Founded by Urho Kontorri and Jussi Makinen, the company develops technology that is claimed to turn any transparent surface into an augmented reality display. It will enable users to view 3D digital objects overlayed on top of the panel they are viewing. The glasses-free and headset-free mixed reality solution avoids the need for heavy hardware, like a mixed reality headset or augmented reality glasses. The downside with the latter is that these options require a user to wear a device over their eyes to experience the technology.
This is possible with a computer-generated 3D light field that mixes with the real world. Offering infinite per-pixel depth and covering the entire field of view for maximum immersion, it is completely non-reliant on anything worn on the user’s face or body.
With the patented technology of the company, one can simply look through a windscreen or a window to see stunning mixed reality content with crystal clear clarity. To achieve this, one need not have a headset, a phone, a device, or glasses but just their eyes and stay free from eye strain.
‘Holy Grail’ moment in mixed reality
Distance first emerged from stealth at Augmented World Expo USA 2024 in June, showcasing a
proof-of-concept for its first commercial product to industry acclaim. Its glasses-free mixed reality means that any view within a window, windshield, or cockpit can now be enhanced with any computer-generated visual content or alphanumeric information.
This mixed reality content can include a wide range of situational analyses and information
unique and specific to that location or geospatial coordinate, all appearing completely natural.
Use cases
Designed for integration into next-generation automotive and most advanced defence systems, this technology demonstrator is already under evaluation by several leading automotive OEMs for potential use in both windshields and windows.
In addition, Tier-1 defence contractors and aviation companies are also exploring the adoption of this technology into commercial and military cockpits as well as vehicles. Moreover, the company’s tech seamlessly integrates the growing data streams from various AI systems in both defence and automotive industries, translating them into actionable insights for human operators through its next-generation human-machine interface.
“We believe that Distance has the potential to revolutionise experiences across a range of
verticals and drive disruption in multiple industries,” said Roni Hiranand, Principal at GV.
“Distance offers an open ecosystem, allowing manufacturers and integrators to supercharge the fusion of the physical and digital worlds in various applications. We’ve been impressed with how fast the team has moved to develop the technology, and we’re thrilled to support them as they look to deploy across these critical sectors.”
“Our vision has always been to bring the power of mixed reality everywhere, whether you can
wear a headset or not, making it a transformative and accessible experience across a wide
range of industries – ranging across automotive, defence, and aeronautics,” said Urho Konttori,
CEO and co-founder of Distance Technologies Ltd. “It’s so energising to work with GV that
recognises this potential, not only by investing in our company but by leading their first country
investment through Distance. Their decision to lead the round is a profound endorsement of our technology, our team, and our mission to impact billions of lives by seamlessly integrating this breakthrough technology into everyday experiences.”
