Romanian startup .lumen, which focuses on improving mobility for the visually impaired, has successfully raised €5 million in a funding round, including €1 million secured within a single day from private European investors through the SeedBlink platform.

On July 16, over 600 investors gathered to hear Cornel Amariei, CEO and founder of .lumen, present the company’s vision and innovative technology. The significant interest generated at this event led to the rapid achievement of the €1 million target.

The .lumen smart glasses utilize Pedestrian Autonomous Driving (PAD AI) technology to emulate the functionalities of a guide dog, offering a revolutionary assistive solution for visually impaired individuals. The funds raised will support the launch of a limited series of these glasses in Q4 2024 and their entry into the U.S. market by Q4 2025. The company aims to sell 10,000 pairs of glasses by the end of 2026.

The funding round was facilitated by SeedBlink, an all-in-one investment and equity management platform, whose robust European infrastructure played a crucial role in attracting investments. Key co-investors include the European Innovation Council and the Venture to Future Fund, which contributed €4 million.

Cornel Amariei expressed his gratitude and emphasized the potential for innovation in Romania: “This record funding round on SeedBlink is a testament to the innovation potential in Romania. Although the European Innovation Scoreboard ranks Romania as the least innovative country in the EU, we believe that Romania can offer life-changing innovations to the world. We thank everyone who shares this belief!”

Ionuț Patrahau, Managing Partner at SeedBlink, also highlighted the significance of this funding round: “Supporting startups like .lumen is a strong act of confidence in innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of our modern economy. They challenge the status quo, push technological boundaries, and create solutions that improve lives. In the case of .lumen, their work goes beyond business; it touches the very essence of human dignity by ensuring mobility and independence for visually impaired individuals.”

The activities of .lumen are supported by key co-investors such as the European Innovation Council and the Venture to Future Fund, which have contributed €4 million as part of the total €5 million funding round. The funds obtained will support .lumen’s strategic plans, including the launch of a limited series of glasses in Q4 2024 and entry into the U.S. market in Q4 2025. The company aims to sell 10,000 pairs of glasses by the end of 2026 to contribute to the independence and safety of visually impaired people worldwide.

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