Krux
February 12, 2026
Swiss Startup Raises $3.6M for Next-Gen Smart Glasses
Published: February 12, 2026 at 1:13 AM
Updated: February 12, 2026 at 1:13 AM
100-word summary
AlphaLum, an EPFL spin-out from ams OSRAM's incubator, just closed CHF 3.4 million ($3.6M) in seed funding led by Vsquared Ventures. The Lausanne-based startup claims its holographic optical tech is 10x more efficient than current waveguides, pairing ultra-low-power laser sensors with AI-powered motion tracking for hands-free AR. Founded in 2025 by CEO Markus Rossi and Tanja Koch, AlphaLum wants to become the go-to hardware supplier for mass-market smart glasses. If AlphaLum's cost and efficiency gains hold up at scale, the company could finally crack the manufacturing bottleneck holding AR wearables back from mainstream adoption.
What happened
AlphaLum, an EPFL spin-out from ams OSRAM's incubator, just closed CHF 3.4 million ($3.6M) in seed funding led by Vsquared Ventures. The Lausanne-based startup claims its holographic optical tech is 10x more efficient than current waveguides, pairing ultra-low-power laser sensors with AI-powered motion tracking for hands-free AR. Founded in 2025 by CEO Markus Rossi and Tanja Koch, AlphaLum wants to become the go-to hardware supplier for mass-market smart glasses.
Why it matters
If AlphaLum's cost and efficiency gains hold up at scale, the company could finally crack the manufacturing bottleneck holding AR wearables back from mainstream adoption.