Eyebot

High-Level Overview

Eyebot is a technology company developing automated kiosks that deliver 90-second, self-serve vision tests, generating eyeglass prescriptions reviewed by licensed eye doctors, without appointments or insurance.[1][2][3] It serves retail environments like malls, universities, grocery stores, and optical shops, solving accessibility barriers in vision care—such as long waits, high costs, and limited provider availability—while enabling retailers to expand services efficiently.[1][2][4] Since its 2021 founding, Eyebot has raised $6M in seed funding and $20M in Series A, completed over 45,000 tests, and plans national scaling with pilots showing strong reception.[1][2]

Origin Story

Eyebot was founded in March 2021 by Matthias Hofmann, Ph.D., who serves as CEO and brings a decade of experience, including a patented refraction engine central to the kiosks.[1][4] Hofmann's background in deep tech drove the idea of "push-button vision testing" to address widespread undiagnosed vision issues and barriers in corrective eyewear access.[1][5] Early traction came from soft launches with positive feedback, leading to seed funding in 2024 from AlleyCorp, Ubiquity Ventures, and others, followed by a $20M Series A led by General Catalyst.[1][2] Pivotal moments include IRB-approved clinical validation with over 2,600 patients and deployment in real-world settings.[4][6]

Core Differentiators

• Clinically validated automation: 90-second tests via S1+ kiosks integrate precision optics, sensors, micro-actuators, and an AI refraction engine for on-device processing, with tele-doctor review for accuracy and compliance.[2][4][6]
• Seamless accessibility: Free tests, no appointments or insurance needed; prescriptions emailed within 24 hours or sent to retailers, fitting compactly in any retail space.[1][2][3]
• Retail empowerment: Enables online eyewear brands to open physical stores with minimal footprint and helps brick-and-mortar expand capacity in high-traffic spots like grocery chains.[2][5]
• Scalable AI edge: Handles complex measurements autonomously, blending hardware and generative AI for privacy, speed, and disease screening potential, backed by 2,600+ clinical trials.[1][4][6]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Eyebot rides the wave of AI-driven health assurance, applying supervised AI to condense specialist eye exams into self-serve kiosks, meeting consumers where they shop amid rising demand for proactive, affordable care.[2][4] Timing aligns with strong investor interest in AI-health hybrids and post-pandemic shifts toward accessible retail health tech, addressing U.S. vision care gaps where millions lack glasses or screenings.[1][5] Favorable market forces include retail efficiency needs and regulatory support for telehealth; Eyebot influences the ecosystem by partnering with retailers and doctors, boosting early disease detection and enabling new storefront models.[2][4]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Eyebot is poised for explosive growth, targeting 5,000+ U.S. locations to reach 97% of the population within 10 minutes, with international expansion and R&D for disease screening.[1][2] Trends like AI hardware integration and retail health embeds will propel it, evolving its role from kiosks to a vision care platform influencing global access. This builds on its mission—delivering prescriptions at the touch of a button—positioning Eyebot as a leader in equitable, tech-powered eye health.[3][4]