Latest News Smart Glasses Developer Laforge Optical Receives $1.1 Million From Somo Optical By Staff Friday, November 14, 2014 12:15 AM SAN MATEO, Calif.— Laforge Optical, the California-based startup that is developing a line of conventionally-styled smart glasses, has received $1.1 million from Somo Optical to fund lens development, manufacturing development, and development of its proprietary camera system. “The wearable tech revolution is amongst us and we believe all that is missing is a beautiful display,” said Laforge CEO Corey Mack. “It is our vision to bring a sense of taste and fashion to smart glasses while lowering the barriers to entry; this partnership allows us to do that. Over the past few months, we have talked to many players in the eyewear space from labs to designer labels to large distributors, and they share our enthusiasm for the product. We are very honored that a company with a long history of success an innovation in the ophthalmics space, like Somo Optical, has decided to join us in this journey.” Eddy Shin, CEO of Somo Optical, said his company has already produced a number of lens samples with the Laforge Optical technology embedded in them. A division of the Korea-based Somo Group, Somo Optical manufactures ophthalmic lens blanks, infrared sensors and camera sensors. It operates distribution branches and subsidiaries in Los Angeles, Beijing, Shanghai, Frankfurt and Osaka. As part of its expansion plans, Mack said Laforge Optical is relocating from Los Angeles to Silicon Valley. The company will soon move into Hero City, an incubator for tech start-ups at Draper University in San Mateo, Calif. Laforge Optical has also brought two new executives onboard, Mack said. Bill Kokonaski has joined the company as chief technology officer. Kokonaski is the former CTO of PixelOptics, which pioneered the development of electronic, auto-focusing eyewear. Kokonaski, will be responsible for managing product development and reinforcing the company’s intellectual property strategy. Franklin Rice has joined Laforge Optical as chief operating officer and vice president of finance. Rice was formerly CFO of Epalex, a biotech company that is creating a treatment for epilepsy and migranes. Rice will be responsible for assisting Laforge Optical with fundraising and regulatory matters. Rice has raised over $100 million dollars in dilutive and non-dilutive financing over his tenure with past companies, according to Mack. Mack was one of several leaders in the wearable technology field who spoke at Vision Monday’s 2014 Global Leadership Summit.