Oculus (CEO Min-kyu Kim), a developer of AI-based auto-focus glasses, has been selected for the Tech Incubator Program for Startups (TIPS), a technology startup support program of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
TIPS is a program that fosters promising startups with outstanding technological prowess through collaboration between private sector operators and the government. Private sector operators first invest in startups, and the government then provides funding for research and development (R&D). With this selection, Oculus will secure up to 500 million won in R&D funding over two years, upon the recommendation of Big Bang Angels (CEO Hwang Byung-sun).
Oculus's smart reading glasses, currently under development, feature sensors within the glasses that measure the user's line of sight and distance in real time and automatically adjust the lens focus. They are attracting attention as a groundbreaking alternative that could address the inconveniences faced by presbyopia patients, such as the high non-adjustment rate of existing multifocal glasses and the burden of side effects from presbyopia surgery. In particular, the technology is expected to expand into an AI Eye-Care service that analyzes the shape of the user's cornea to detect early signs of eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration and provides customized vision management guidance. Oculus has strengthened its technological competitiveness by securing corneal analysis data, which is the core of this technology, for over 320,000 people.
With this TIPS selection, Oculus will receive two years of research and development (R&D) funding, starting in August 2025. During this period, Oculus plans to focus on developing distance sensor-based real-time focus control technology and an administrator data management system.
Oculus CEO Kim Min-kyu said, “Presbyopia is no longer a symbol of aging, but a problem that can be overcome with technology,” and added, “Based on this TIPS selection, we will provide practical solutions to presbyopia patients through smart reading glasses based on real-time distance sensing.”
“Oculus is a team with both innovative technology and a differentiated business strategy that targets a huge market,” said Kwon Hyuk-chan, Vice President of Big Bang Angels. “We expect that Oculus will grow into a leading company in the global digital healthcare market through this TIPS selection.”
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