Akonia Holographics: Difference between revisions - VR & AR Wiki - Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality Wiki

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{{Company Infobox

|image=

|image=[[File:Akonia Holographics logo1.png|350px]]

|Type=[[Subsidiary]] ~~(Acqui-hired)~~

|Type=[[Subsidiary]]

|Industry=[[Augmented Reality]], [[Optics]], [[Holography]]

|Founded=~~{{Start date|~~2012~~|08}}~~

|Founded=August 2012

|Founder=Ken Anderson, Mark Ayres, Fred Askham

|Headquarters=[[Longmont, Colorado]], U.S.

|Notable Personnel=Ken Anderson (Co-Founder & CEO)

|Products=HoloMirror holographic display technology

|Parent=[[Apple ~~Inc.~~]] (Since 2018)

|Parent=[[Apple]] (Since 2018)

|Website=

}}

~~'''~~Akonia Holographics ~~LLC'''~~ was an American [[AR]] [[company|startup company]] based in [[Longmont, Colorado]] that specialized in developing advanced [[optical system]]s and materials for [[holography]], particularly focusing on [[display technology]] for [[augmented reality]] (AR) glasses. <ref name="PatentlyApple2018"/><ref name="Reuters2018"/> Founded in August 2012, the company developed a proprietary technology called '''HoloMirror''' aiming to produce thin, transparent [[smartglasses|smart glass]] lenses capable of displaying vibrant, full-color images with a wide [[field of view]] (FOV).<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><ref name="PatentlyApple2018"/><ref name="Pitchbook"/> Akonia Holographics was acquired by [[Apple Inc.]] in 2018, with the acquisition confirmed by Apple on August 29, 2018.<ref name="Reuters2018"/><ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><ref name="PatentlyApple2018"/>

[[Akonia Holographics]] was an American [[AR]] [[company|startup company]] based in [[Longmont, Colorado]] that specialized in developing advanced [[optical system]]s and materials for [[holography]], particularly focusing on [[display technology]] for [[augmented reality]] (AR) glasses. <ref name="PatentlyApple2018"/><ref name="Reuters2018"/> Founded in August 2012, the company developed a proprietary technology called '''HoloMirror''' aiming to produce thin, transparent [[smartglasses|smart glass]] lenses capable of displaying vibrant, full-color images with a wide [[field of view]] (FOV).<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018">{{cite web |url=https://blocksandfiles.com/2018/08/30/akonia-holographics-gets-bitten-by-apple-and-moves-into-paradise/ |title=Akonia Holographics gets bitten by Apple and moves into paradise - Blocks and Files |date=2018-08-30 |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref><ref name="PatentlyApple2018"/><ref name="Pitchbook"/> Akonia Holographics was acquired by [[Apple Inc.]] in 2018, with the acquisition confirmed by Apple on August 29, 2018.<ref name="Reuters2018"/><ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><ref name="PatentlyApple2018"/>

== History ==

Akonia Holographics was founded in August 2012 by Dr. Ken Anderson (CEO), Dr. Mark Ayres (CTO), and Dr. Fred Askham (VP Materials Development).<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><ref name="~~TracxnFounders~~"/> The company emerged with roots tracing back to [[InPhase Technologies]], another Longmont-based company focused on holographic technology, primarily for [[holographic data storage]].<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/> InPhase had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2011.<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/> Akonia acquired key assets, including InPhase's extensive [[patent]] portfolio (over 200 patents by some accounts later attributed to Akonia itself) and potentially leveraged a related US Department of Energy grant to continue research into photopolymer media.<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><ref name="PatentlyApple2018"/><ref name="USAspending2014">{{cite web |url=https://www.usaspending.gov/award/ASST_NON_DESC0011282_8900 |title=GRANT to Akonia Holographics, LLC |award_id=DESC0011282 |date=2014-02-18 |publisher=USAspending.gov |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>

Akonia Holographics was founded in August 2012 by Dr. Ken Anderson (CEO), Dr. Mark Ayres (CTO), and Dr. Fred Askham (VP Materials Development).<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><ref name="Tracxn2025">{{cite web |url=https://tracxn.com/d/companies/akonia-holographics/__Lz36qI50qTf7QyHw-o2-244q9sL7qQ3-0Q4D6oO9-8Q4Y6l |title=Akonia Holographics - 2025 Company Profile, Funding & Competitors - Tracxn |date=2025-03-28 |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref> The company emerged with roots tracing back to [[InPhase Technologies]], another Longmont-based company focused on holographic technology, primarily for [[holographic data storage]].<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/> InPhase had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2011.<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/> Akonia acquired key assets, including InPhase's extensive [[patent]] portfolio (over 200 patents by some accounts later attributed to Akonia itself) and potentially leveraged a related US Department of Energy grant to continue research into photopolymer media.<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><ref name="PatentlyApple2018"/><ref name="USAspending2014">{{cite web |url=https://www.usaspending.gov/award/ASST_NON_DESC0011282_8900 |title=GRANT to Akonia Holographics, LLC |award_id=DESC0011282 |date=2014-02-18 |publisher=USAspending.gov |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>

Initially, Akonia focused on holographic data storage, securing an $11.6 million Series A [[venture capital]] funding round in August 2012 led by Acadia Woods Partners.<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><ref name="MarketingDive2018">{{cite web |url=https://www.marketingdive.com/news/apple-buys-ar-lens-startup-akonia-holographics/531252/ |title=Apple buys AR lens startup Akonia Holographics - Marketing Dive |date=2018-08-31 |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref><ref name="CrunchbaseFunding">{{cite web |url=https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/akonia-holographics/company_financials |title=Akonia Holographics - Funding, Financials, Valuation & Investors |publisher=Crunchbase |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref> Later estimates suggest total funding reached approximately $19.1 million across its lifetime.<ref name="Tracxn2025"/> Facing challenges in the data storage market, the company pivoted its focus around 2015-2016 towards developing holographic [[display]]s for the burgeoning augmented reality market.<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><ref name="VentureBeat2016">{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/business/akonia-uses-holography-to-create-transparent-augmented-reality-display/ |title=Akonia uses holography to create transparent augmented reality display |publisher=VentureBeat |date=2016-12-26 |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref><ref name="MacRumors2018">{{cite web |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2018/08/29/apple-purchased-akonia-holographics/ |title=Apple Purchased Akonia Holographics, a Company That Makes Lenses for AR Glasses |date=2018-08-29 |publisher=MacRumors |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>

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== Legacy ==

Following its acquisition, Akonia Holographics ceased to exist as an independent entity, with its team, technology, and intellectual property integrated into Apple's Technology Development Group, contributing to the tech giant's research and development efforts in augmented reality and [[spatial computing]].<ref name="~~BlocksandFiles2018~~"/><ref name="Bloomberg2018">{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-30/apple-buys-augmented-reality-display-startup-akonia-holographics |title=Apple Buys Augmented-Reality Display Startup Akonia Holographics |date=2018-08-30 |publisher=Bloomberg |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>

Following its acquisition, Akonia Holographics ceased to exist as an independent entity, with its team, technology, and intellectual property integrated into Apple's Technology Development Group, contributing to the tech giant's research and development efforts in augmented reality and [[spatial computing]].<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><ref name="Bloomberg2018">{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-30/apple-buys-augmented-reality-display-startup-akonia-holographics |title=Apple Buys Augmented-Reality Display Startup Akonia Holographics |date=2018-08-30 |publisher=Bloomberg |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>

While Apple did not release AR glasses in the years immediately following the acquisition, patents filed by Apple citing Akonia's work or inventors suggest that the company's holographic display technology and expertise have influenced Apple's approach to AR display development, potentially informing aspects of future products or the technology used in devices like the [[Apple Vision Pro]]'s display systems.<ref name="UploadVR2019"/><ref name="Kguttag2020"/> The acquisition represented a significant milestone in the maturation of the AR industry, highlighting the value placed on core display technologies by major players seeking to develop consumer-focused AR wearables. Akonia's work contributed to advancing the potential for thinner, lighter, and more visually compelling AR experiences.

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<ref name="Tracxn2025">{{cite web |url=https://tracxn.com/d/companies/akonia-holographics/__Lz36qI50qTf7QyHw-o2-244q9sL7qQ3-0Q4D6oO9-8Q4Y6l |title=Akonia Holographics - 2025 Company Profile, Funding & Competitors - Tracxn |date=2025-03-28 |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>

<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018">{{cite web |url=https://blocksandfiles.com/2018/08/30/akonia-holographics-gets-bitten-by-apple-and-moves-into-paradise/ |title=Akonia Holographics gets bitten by Apple and moves into paradise - Blocks and Files |date=2018-08-30 |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>

<ref name="TracxnFounders">{{cite web |url=https://tracxn.com/d/companies/akonia-holographics/__Lz36qI50qTf7QyHw-o2-244q9sL7qQ3-0Q4D6oO9-8Q4Y6l/founders-board-members |title=Akonia Holographics - 2025 Founders and Board of Directors - Tracxn |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>

<ref name="Pitchbook">{{cite web |url=https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/64199-72 |title=Akonia Holographics 2025 Company Profile: Valuation, Investors, Acquisition | PitchBook |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>

<ref name="Owler">{{cite web |url=https://www.owler.com/company/akonia |title=Akonia Holographics's Competitors, Revenue, Number of Employees, Funding, Acquisitions & News - Owler Company Profile |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>

~~<ref name="SchedKenAnderson">{{cite web |url=https://boulderstartupweek2016.sched.com/speaker/ken_anderson.1ve44j0c |title=Ken Anderson - Boulder Startup Week - Sched |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>~~

<ref name="PatentlyApple2018">{{cite web |url=https://www.patentlyapple.com/2018/08/apple-acquires-akonia-holographics-inventors-of-advanced-optical-technologies-based-on-holography-for-ar-headsets.html |title=Apple Acquires Akonia Holographics, Inventors of Advanced Optical Technologies based on Holography for AR Headsets |date=2018-08-30 |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>

<ref name="Reuters2018">{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-akonia-holographics-exclusive/exclusive-apple-acquires-firm-that-makes-lenses-for-ar-glasses-idUSKCN1LF1YQ |title=Exclusive: Apple acquires firm that makes lenses for AR glasses |author=Stephen Nellis |date=2018-08-29 |publisher=Reuters |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>

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<ref name="SiliconAngle2018">{{cite web |url=https://siliconangle.com/2018/10/10/report-apple-secretly-acquired-ai-based-visual-effects-startup-spektral-30m/ |title=Report: Apple has secretly acquired AI-based visual effects startup Spektral for $30M |date=2018-10-10 |publisher=SiliconAngle |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>

<ref name="Bloomberg2018">{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-30/apple-buys-augmented-reality-display-startup-akonia-holographics |title=Apple Buys Augmented-Reality Display Startup Akonia Holographics |date=2018-08-30 |publisher=Bloomberg |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>

<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018">{{cite web |url=https://blocksandfiles.com/2018/08/30/akonia-holographics-gets-bitten-by-apple-and-moves-into-paradise/ |title=Akonia Holographics gets bitten by Apple and moves into paradise - Blocks and Files |date=2018-08-30 |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>

</references>

[[Category:Companies]]

[[Category:Augmented reality companies]]

[[Category:Holography]]