A BREAKTHROUGH IN PRESBYOPIA AND MYOPIA CORRECTION
Laclarée is a deep tech startup based in Lyon, France, that has developed a new generation of autofocus eyewear in partnership with Kickmaker.
The vision: deliver glasses that automatically adjust focus at any distance, with no trade-off on aesthetics or comfort.
The challenge is significant: packing complex technology into a compact, wearable, everyday object.
Laclarée had a functional proof of concept (POC) that validated the optical principle, but the electronics and software architecture were not designed to scale toward a production-ready product. Everything had to be built from the ground up: specifications, PCBs, drive firmware, and a verification strategy.
The project falls within a medical device framework, bringing with it the full weight of regulatory and safety requirements.
The challenge
The Kickmaker team took full ownership of the electronics and embedded software development. The project combines several layers of complexity. First, a significant physical constraint: integrating the entire system intelligence into the temples of an eyeglass frame.
Then, a demanding technology stack:
- Miniaturized electronics
- Real-time embedded software
- An optical system based on liquid lenses
On top of that, critical performance requirements:
- All-day battery life
- Perfect precision and synchronization between both lenses
The solution
Kickmaker rearchitected the entire product from the POC stage, defining electronic and firmware specifications aligned with a V-model development cycle adapted to the medical device context.
Regulatory Analysis:
A cornerstone of the project, an in-depth review of applicable medical device standards, with pragmatic interpretation to meet requirements without over-engineering the design. A comprehensive risk analysis was completed, along with the definition of associated mitigations.
Electronics Design:
Custom PCB design incorporating high-voltage management, BLE communication, sensors, and lens actuation, all within a footprint of just a few centimeters. Selection and integration of a microcontroller matched to the system’s power, size, and complexity constraints.
Firmware Development:
Development of the embedded software driving automatic focus adjustment. Implementation of intelligent features:
- Temperature and humidity sensing to adapt the correction algorithm
- Automatic power-off when the glasses are not being worn
- Mobile app connectivity
- Robust error handling
Verification & Validation:
Implementation of a structured verification process: verification plans, test protocols, and results reports.
Connected App Development:
Design of a companion mobile application featuring:
- A diagnostic tool (battery status and remaining charge)
- Manual focal distance control (for use by opticians)
- Reliable, low-energy BLE connectivity
Benefits
By fully rearchitecting the product and securing its technical foundations, Kickmaker enabled Laclarée to reach a decisive milestone: moving from a promising concept to a credible path to market.
In practice, this translates into:
- A more robust device design and operation: the architecture was completely rethought to ensure reliable, repeatable behavior at both the electronics and firmware levels.
- Significant reduction in product risk: technical decisions were clarified and validated, limiting uncertainty before the industrialization phases.
- Faster development cycles: by starting with a coherent architecture from day one, costly rework down the line is avoided.
- Better control of future costs: a well-designed product upfront reduces the need for major corrections during manufacturing.
- An accelerated path to production: the product now has a solid foundation to move toward regulatory certifications and mass manufacturing.
- A more refined user experience: the hardware/software integration and companion app deliver a cohesive product ready for real-world testing.
Expertise
Turning a deep tech innovation into a production-ready product is about more than engineering. It requires anticipating real-world constraints and aligning technology, end use, and industrialization from the very start.
On the Laclarée project, Kickmaker brought:
- End-to-end mastery of complex systems
Combining electronics, embedded software, and integration constraints to build a coherent, scalable architecture. - Adaptability
Rapidly identifying blockers and rebuilding solid foundations without losing momentum. - Miniaturization expertise
Integrating advanced technologies into a highly constrained form factor, with no compromise on performance or reliability. - Deep understanding of certification and safety requirements
Particularly for high-voltage systems embedded in everyday consumer products. - A product-first mindset, not just an engineering one
Every decision was made with manufacturing constraints, end-user experience, and go-to-market realities in mind.
Kickmaker acts as a direct extension of the client’s team, with a level of ownership and commitment that matches that of the client itself, ready to challenge assumptions, propose solutions, and make decisions, always in the best interest of the product.
”We're building a product that doesn't exist anywhere else in the world. We needed a partner who wouldn't back down from the unknown. Kickmaker laid out a clear roadmap, anticipated obstacles, and adapted to every unexpected challenge along the way. Their level of commitment goes far beyond what you'd expect from a service provider.
Bruno BergeCEO & Founder, Laclarée