Akonia Holographics: Difference between revisions

|Founded={{Start date|2012|08}}<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> <!-- Precise day in Aug 2012 not consistently cited -->

|Founder=Ken Anderson, Mark Ayres, Fred Askham<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><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>

|Notable Personnel=Ken Anderson (Co-Founder & CEO)<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><ref name="Tracxn2025"/><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>, Mark Ayres (Co-Founder & CTO)<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><ref name="TracxnFounders"/>, Fred Askham (Co-Founder & VP Materials Development)<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><ref name="TracxnFounders"/>

|Parent=[[Apple Inc.]] (Since 2018)<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><ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/>

'''Akonia Holographics LLC''' was an American [[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 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>

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>

Akonia actively developed its HoloMirror technology, leveraging its expertise in holographic materials and systems. The company claimed its approach could overcome common limitations in AR displays, such as narrow field of view and washed-out colors, and aimed for lower manufacturing costs.<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><ref name="PatentlyApple2018"/> By the time of its acquisition, Akonia held a significant portfolio of intellectual property related to holographic systems and materials.<ref name="PatentlyApple2018"/><ref name="MarketingDive2018"/><ref name="Investopedia2018">{{cite web |url=https://www.investopedia.com/news/apple-buys-maker-augmented-reality-lenses/ |title=Apple Buys Maker of Augmented Reality Lenses - Investopedia |date=2018-08-30 |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>

The technology involved using [[waveguide (optics)|waveguide optics]] combined with [[Volume hologram|volume holographic]] elements recorded in a proprietary layer of [[photopolymer]] plastic, which was then laminated between thin layers of glass.<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><ref name="PatentlyApple2018"/> This approach aimed to create lenses that were thin, lightweight, and highly transparent (>90% transmission claimed), resembling conventional eyeglasses, while being capable of displaying bright, full-color [[virtual image]]s overlaid onto the real world.<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><ref name="PatentlyApple2018"/><ref name="Pitchbook"/><ref name="MarketingDive2018"/>

*'''Wide Field of View (FOV):''' The technology was designed to provide a significantly wider FOV compared to many contemporary AR headsets, which often suffered from a "letterbox" effect.<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><ref name="PatentlyApple2018"/> Some reports indicated Akonia was targeting a 60-degree diagonal FOV in prototypes.<ref name="AppleInsider2018">{{cite web |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/08/29/apple-buys-ar-headset-lens-maker-akonia-holographics-fuels-apple-glasses-rumors |title=Apple buys AR headset lens maker Akonia Holographics, fuels 'Apple Glasses' rumors |date=2018-08-30 |publisher=AppleInsider |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref><ref name="UploadVR2019">{{cite web |url=https://www.uploadvr.com/apple-patent-wide-fov-foveated-ar/ |title=Apple Patent Filing Reveals Wide Field Of View Foveated AR Display Concept - UploadVR |date=2019-09-23 |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref><ref name="RoadToVR2018">{{cite web |url=https://www.roadtovr.com/apple-acquires-ar-optics-startup-akonia-holographics/ |title=Apple Acquires AR Optics Startup Akonia Holographics – Road to VR |date=2018-08-30 |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>

*'''Full-Color, Vibrant Images:''' Akonia aimed to produce displays with "ultra-clear, full-color performance," addressing issues of washed-out or low-brightness images seen in some AR displays.<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><ref name="MacRumors2018"/><ref name="AppleInsider2018"/>

*'''Potential for Lower Manufacturing Cost:''' The company asserted that its HoloMirror technology, particularly its single-layer holographic media approach, could enable AR headsets with a lower manufacturing cost compared to more complex multi-layer waveguide systems, potentially facilitating mass-market adoption.<ref name="PatentlyApple2018"/><ref name="ZDNet2018"/><ref name="Kguttag2020">{{cite web |url=https://www.kguttag.com/2020/05/22/analyzing-apple-glass-leak-part-2-akonia-waveguide-with-an-lcos-microdisplay/ |title=Analyzing Apple Glass Leak (Part 2) – Akonia Waveguide with an LCOS MicroDisplay |author=Karl Guttag |date=2020-05-22 |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>

Akonia's extensive patent portfolio covered holographic systems, materials, recording processes, and specific optical element designs, such as [[gradient-index optics]] (GRIN) and "skew mirrors".<ref name="PatentlyApple2018"/><ref name="GooglePatentsSkew">{{cite web |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2017176389A1/en |title=WO2017176389A1 - Wide field-of-view holographic skew mirrors - Google Patents |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref> Analysis suggests the technology might be suited for use with [[Liquid crystal on silicon]] (LCOS) [[microdisplay]]s.<ref name="Kguttag2020"/>

Apple Inc. confirmed its acquisition of Akonia Holographics on August 29, 2018, following a report by Reuters.<ref name="Reuters2018"/><ref name="MacRumors2018"/> While the exact date the deal closed and the financial terms were not disclosed, reports suggested the acquisition likely occurred earlier in 2018, as the company had become notably quiet in the preceding months.<ref name="MacRumors2018"/><ref name="Investopedia2018"/> Apple issued its standard statement regarding acquisitions of smaller companies: "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."<ref name="Reuters2018"/><ref name="MacRumors2018"/>

 

The acquisition was widely seen as a significant strategic move by Apple, strengthening its capabilities and ambitions in the augmented reality space.<ref name="Reuters2018"/><ref name="MarketingDive2018"/><ref name="MacRumors2018"/><ref name="RetailDive2018">{{cite web |url=https://www.retaildive.com/news/apple-acquires-akonia-to-feed-ar-ambitions/531146/ |title=Apple acquires Akonia to feed AR ambitions - Retail Dive |date=2018-08-30 |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref> It provided Apple with valuable intellectual property (IP), specialized expertise in holographic optics and materials, and a team experienced in developing core components for AR headsets.<ref name="BlocksAndFiles2018"/><ref name="PatentlyApple2018"/> Akonia's technology addressed key challenges in AR hardware development, namely creating high-quality, immersive displays within a form factor suitable for everyday wear.<ref name="PatentlyApple2018"/><ref name="Investopedia2018"/>

 

 

 

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.

* [[Augmented reality]]

* [[Holography]]

* [[Waveguide (optics)]]

* [[Smartglasses]]

* [[Head-mounted display]]

* [[Apple Inc.]]

* [[Apple Vision Pro]]

* [[List of mergers and acquisitions by Apple]]

<ref name="Kguttag2020">{{cite web |url=https://www.kguttag.com/2020/05/22/analyzing-apple-glass-leak-part-2-akonia-waveguide-with-an-lcos-microdisplay/ |title=Analyzing Apple Glass Leak (Part 2) – Akonia Waveguide with an LCOS MicroDisplay |author=Karl Guttag |date=2020-05-22 |accessdate=2025-05-03}}</ref>

[[Category:Augmented reality companies]]

[[Category:Optics companies of the United States]]

[[Category:Apple Inc. acquisitions]]

[[Category:2018 mergers and acquisitions]]