Recon Instruments Secures $10 Million Investment from Vanedge Capital and Kopin Inc
Recon Instruments sophomore release, MOD Live named CES 2012 Innovation Award Honoree
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – January 17, 2012 – Recon Instruments, award winning innovator of Micro Optics Display (MOD) technology for action sport athletes, is excited to announce it has received a combined $10M investment from Vanedege Capital and Kopin Inc. The investors were impressed by Recon’s recent success with the launch of the Android-powered MOD Live near eye device that provide skiers and riders with a variety of data including speed, Navigation, jump analytics, buddy tracking, text messages, and even viewfinder functionality for point of view cameras.
“Recon Instruments has done an excellent job finding a unique way to enhance and extend the alpine experience with interactive digital media,” said Paul Lee, Managing Partner of Vancouver based Vanedge Capital. “The MOD Live is really only the tip of the iceberg for how this innovative technology can be applied and why Recon Instruments fits so well with our portfolio of interactive entertainment investments.”
“Recon has quickly capitalized on the advancements in micro display technology and is pushing the envelope in real time performance measurement during activities that would have been impossible just 2 years ago,” said Kopin President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. John C. C. Fan. “Action sports are a natural fit for ultra-small liquid crystal displays given the need to accurately measure and convey performance statistics while maintaining compact form factor for the surrounding eyewear”
“We are honored to be partnering with two of the most successful firms in their respective fields and excited by the opportunity to tap into the resources and expertise they can provide,” said Dan Eisenhardt, Chief Executive Officer, Recon Instruments. “This investment allows us to continue the development of our near eye technologies for athletes, and foreshadows several exciting product launches in coming months and years.”
For additional information about Recon Instruments please visit www.reconinstruments.com or follow us at @Reconinstrument and facebook.com/reconinstruments .
*Golden-i is a trademark of Kopin Corporation
About Recon Instruments
Recon Instruments strives to innovate and lead direct-to-eye communications in any fast-paced environment, such as action sports. A multi-patent and patent-pending technology platform integrates Micro Optics Display systems with state-of-the-art sensor and GPS technology, providing easy access to navigation, communication, and performance-based information. With offices in Vancouver and London, and boundless testing grounds on Whistler and beyond, Recon Instruments is dedicated to advancing the performance, participation and ethos of sport. Trust your instruments. www.reconinstruments.com
About Vanedge Capital
Vanedge Capital is a new Vancouver BC based venture capital fund focused on investments in interactive entertainment and digital media businesses. The fund managers have extensive experience and relationships in this sector, and have built and led world class companies in video games, computer animation, and enterprise software, among others. For more information, visit www.vanedgecapital.com , or contact [email]voilet@vanedgecapital.com[/email].
About Kopin
Kopin Corporation’s voice-activated, wireless, hands-free Golden-i mobile computing headsets, ruggedized military imaging systems, ultra-small liquid crystal displays and heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) are revolutionizing the way people around the world see, hear and communicate. Kopin has shipped more than 30 million displays for a range of consumer and military applications including digital cameras, personal video eyewear, camcorders, thermal weapon sights and night vision systems. The Company’s unique HBTs, which help to enhance battery life, talk time and signal clarity, have been integrated into billions of wireless handsets as well as into WiFi, VoIP and high-speed Internet data transmission systems. Kopin’s proprietary display and HBT technologies are protected by more than 200 global patents and patents pending. For more information, please visit Kopin’s website at www.kopin.com .