DigiLends
Sunnyvale, US · Founded 2003 · California corporation · 41 employees on LinkedIn · 13 known investors
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DigiLens develops waveguide optics and holographic display technology using a proprietary material set combined with inkjet printing and a holographic contact copy process. Its optics target efficiency, brightness, and resolution for augmented reality and next-generation mobile computing devices.
Also known as DigiLens · DigiLens Inc.
Founders & leadership
DigiLends was founded in 2003 by Jonathan Waldern.
Board
Investors · 13
Also in the syndicate · 6
Funding
SEC filings, press & company announcements$25M disclosed across 1 of 4 rounds · 2018–2022
- Undisclosed amountSeries DNov 2021
Samsung Electronics (lead), 37 Interactive Entertainment, Alsop Louie Partners, Diamond Edge Ventures, Dolby Family Ventures, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, UDC Ventures
Source ↗
▶$25MraisedMay 2018 · 1 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Jonathan WaldernDirector
- Christopher PickettExecutive Officer, Director
- Patrick SuelDirector
- Jim WhimsDirector
- Robert YoungDirector
- Thorsten Alexander KernDirector
- Offering amount
- $50M
- Amount sold
- $25M
- Minimum investment
- $130K
- Proceeds to insiders
- $100K
- First sale
- Apr 2018
- Incorporated
- Corporation, California
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Valuation · disclosed
Disclosed eventsSource: SEC prospectus filings, and round valuations the company or its investors disclosed — follow each entry's link for the claim.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026DigiLens Inc. develops optical waveguide technology and associated materials for augmented reality eyewear. Its core offering, described as Crystal Waveguides, combines a proprietary material set with inkjet printing and a holographic contact copy process, an approach the company positions as enabling optimization and rapid design iteration.
The company also addresses the smartglasses category directly, describing optics aimed at efficiency, brightness and resolution at low cost for mobile computing devices. It presents ARGO as an all-in-one true AR smartglasses product. DigiLens states that its technology is used by AR brands, indicating it supplies both components and a finished device.
Business model
DigiLens supplies waveguide optics and materials to companies building augmented reality products, and also offers its own smartglasses product, ARGO.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market
Market position
DigiLens positions its waveguide technology on a combination of optical quality and cost, and states that it powers AR brands.
Technology
The technology centers on holographic waveguide optics. DigiLens describes a proprietary material set used together with inkjet printing and a holographic contact copy process for producing waveguides, and states that this combination supports optimization and quick iteration. The resulting optics are described in terms of efficiency, brightness and resolution.
Go-to-market
Makers of augmented reality and smartglasses hardware, described by the company as brands in the AR market.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Competitors · 2
by search overlap
Companies competing with DigiLends for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Timeline · 9
launches, deals, and filingsCorning Incorporated joined DigiLens' Series D round at its second close. The round included more than $50 million in new investments and valued the company at over $530 million.
$50M source ↗
DigiLens introduced the full-color Crystal30 second-generation waveguide at CES 2022, described by the company as the most efficient diffractive waveguide on the market and suited to both indoor and bright outdoor environments.
DigiLens announced the close of the first round of its Series D funding, with over $50 million raised and a stated valuation of over $500 million. Investors included Samsung Electronics (lead), Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Diamond Edge Ventures, Alsop Louie Partners, 37 Interactive Entertainment, UDC Ventures and Dolby Family Ventures. Hark Sang Kim, EVP at Samsung Electronics, joined the board of directors.
$50M source ↗
The company announced Design v1 developer smartglasses aimed at accelerating XR content creation and T-REx (Transparent Resolution Expander), a solid-state wobbulation technique that doubles waveguide resolution without tradeoffs in size, power consumption or form factor.
SBG Labs, Inc., led by former DigiLens CEO Jonathan Waldern, acquired all DigiLens patents and trademarks through an open-bid foreclosure sale held by a syndicate of DigiLens' secured lenders, took over the Sunnyvale headquarters, and planned to offer display products under the DigiLens trademark.
DigiLens Inc. shut down in March 2003 after failing to secure a $15 million fifth financing round that would have brought total funding to $82 million. CEO Jonathan Waldern left to found SBG Labs while other board members sought a sale or restructuring; lenders ultimately foreclosed.
$15M source ↗
After contracting a foundry to supply silicon oxynitride wafers, the optical components company shut its Sunnyvale fabrication plant, cut half its 40-person staff and put the $25 million facility up for sale.
The company secured $4 million with promises of a further $11 million if an outside lead investor could be found; the round had been expected to close in March 2003.
$4M source ↗
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
Legal entities · 1
corporate structureIn the news
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- DigiLendsdigilens.com · web
- DigiLens Completes the Second Close of Its Series D Funding Rounddigilens.com · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does DigiLends do?
- DigiLens develops holographic waveguide optics and materials for augmented reality smartglasses.
- Who founded DigiLends?
- DigiLends was founded by Jonathan Waldern in 2003.
- Who are DigiLends's investors?
- DigiLends's investors include Alsop Louie Partners, Bold Capital Partners, Diamond Edge Ventures, Nautilus Ventures Management Company (Us), Llc, Sony Ventures Corporation, Dolby Family Ventures, MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL.
- How much funding has DigiLends raised?
- DigiLends has disclosed $25M raised across 1 of its 4 known rounds.
- Where is DigiLends headquartered?
- DigiLends is headquartered in Sunnyvale, US.