InZiv is a company that develops ultra-high-resolution optical inspection and testing systems for next-generation display technologies (such as microLED and OLED). Pulse 2.0 interviewed InZiv CEO David Lewis to gain a deeper understanding of the company.
David Lewis’ Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Lewis said:
“My formal background is in physics and physical chemistry. Before founding InZiv, I was serving as the VP of Sales and Marketing at Nanonics Imaging, a nano-technology company that specializes in high-resolution microscopy and metrology. In that capacity, I was managing complex sales to world-leading companies and institutions. I have always been passionate about displays and the newest consumer electronics, so founding InZiv was in many ways a natural outgrowth of my own interests.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Lewis shared:
“I started InZiv when I realized that there is a real need for new solutions in metrology and inspection in the world of emerging display technologies. In particular, microLED shows remarkable potential, but the yields in microLED production are lagging behind other display technologies. Proper testing and inspection is a key component of why microLED displays are still quite expensive and have yet to enter the mass market. InZiv has revolutionized microLED inspection for display manufacturers by offering the necessary technological solutions for these challenges. I am proud to share that InZiv has become known as the go-to for expertise in all matters regarding microLED testing and inspection.”
Details About microLED
Can you tell us a bit about microLED? Why is this an important display technology? Lewis explained:
“MicroLED technology is essential in order to accelerate the development of next-generation automotive displays, augmented reality smart glasses, advanced smartwatches, premium TVs, and flexible and transparent screens. MicroLED displays offer unparalleled performance and are the only display technology capable of maintaining flawless visibility even in bright outdoor sunlight. In addition to exceptional brightness and contrast, microLED also maximizes energy efficiency, delivers the highest resolution available, and achieves true black color.”
“One of the major bottlenecks in microLED production is the lack of advanced testing and inspection solutions that are needed to bring microLED to mass production. The primary mode for testing microLED is electroluminescence (EL), but traditional EL testers are too slow and can even cause damage to the device under test. To address these challenges, InZiv has developed a high-throughput EL testing technology capable of safely testing millions of microLED chips per hour – a dramatic and game-changing leap forward from the industry standard.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Lewis reflected:
“As the company continues to grow since its founding, there have been so many great moments. But if I had to choose one, I would say it was the first time I saw, without a doubt, just how valuable our solution is to one of the major leaders in the display world. As an entrepreneur, it’s one thing to think you have a great solution. It’s another thing altogether to have that intuition validated by a real player in the field- and especially an industry leading tier-1 titan.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Lewis pointed out:
“As I mentioned earlier, InZiv developed the R-EL GlideTM, our flagship product, that unlocks the promise of microLED by delivering high-speed electroluminescence (EL) testing and inspection for display manufacturers. The system reaches unprecedented speeds, featuring true EL contact that causes no damage to the chips. The R-EL Glide provides optical, spectral, and electrical data, is highly reliable and accurate, and features a long probe card lifespan. Proprietary AI algorithms help identify defects and provide actionable insights.”
“Additionally, InZiv offers the OmniPix 3.0, a versatile and advanced system for microLED characterization and validation. As progress in display technology continues, the OmniPix 3.0 delivers high-resolution testing and comprehensive defect analysis for both microLED and OLED-on-silicon (OLEDoS) wafers and chips. It empowers both production and R&D teams to accelerate innovation and ensure quality throughout the production process.”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector of work recently? Lewis acknowledged:
“In 2024, Apple pulled out of their microLED project that, according to numerous reports, focused on the next generation of the smartwatch that was expected to be released in 2026. Initially, this decision triggered quite a bit of concern in the industry. Some people wondered: would large companies lose confidence in microLED technology and its potential for commercial success? At InZiv, we overcame the potential challenge facing the entire industry by staying the course and providing customers and potential customers with the best results they could get – and blocking out the noise. This approach proved to be successful, as our technology has only become more advanced in the interim, and we have achieved incredible results. Our patience and focus paid off; despite Apple’s announcement, we can say with confidence that in 2025, the industry as a whole has clearly shown that it will continue to move forward in advancing microLED technology and commercialization, and InZiv is well-positioned as the leader in the space. We are excited to see what is still yet to come.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Lewis noted:
“As I mentioned earlier, the first technology that we developed at InZiv was the OmniPix, which is more of an in-depth characterization tool.”
“As the industry matured, we saw a growing need for high-throughput electroluminescence (EL) testing, which is why we developed the R-EL GlideTM. We expanded our expertise and capabilities beyond the in-depth R&D analysis of chip behavior, and developed the industrial technology which enables key players in the microLED ecosystem to obtain huge amounts of data in an unprecedented, ultra-fast time frame.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Lewis cited:
“Some key milestones that the company has achieved since its founding include:
- The first sale of an OmniPix to a tier 1 display manufacturer and tech titan.
- We secured a series A round of funding in 2022 during COVID-19, when other companies were struggling to get funding.
- Since its founding, the InZiv team has grown by >10X, and has moved to a much larger facility (>2X in size).
- We hired Dr. Tali Hurvitz as VP of R&D, who previously served as Head of the Physics, Materials, and Innovation group at KLA, a global industry leader in inspection.
- R-EL Glide entered the market for the first time”
Customer Success Stories
Can you share any specific customer success stories? Lewis highlighted:
“The field is a highly confidential one, so in general we are not at liberty to disclose any names of specific customers. I can share, however, that we co-authored a paper with another global leader in testing and inspection, in which we demonstrated how the OmniPix was able to provide nano-EL measurements of a microLED chip that was only 2 micron in size. For some sense of perspective – a human hair is 75 micron in width! These high resolution results showed the correlation of the structural topography of the chip and the corresponding emission of light from the side walls of the chip. Such information is critical in refining chip design in order to increase efficiency and save on costs. This is just one example of many use cases of our high-resolution characterization solutions.”
Funding/Revenue
Are you able to discuss funding and/or revenue metrics? Lewis revealed:
“In 2022, InZiv raised $10M in a Series A1 round led by BlueRed Partners, a Singapore based venture capital fund and OurCrowd. InZiv had also previously raised $2.5M in a series A round, which was led by Maverick Ventures Israel. We hope to share more news soon!”
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? Lewis assessed:
“With the continued growth of the microLED market, as per industry analyst projections, we see the TAM for microLED inspection equipment within a few years exceeding well over $1.5 billion.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Lewis affirmed:
“There is no other company that can conduct high-speed electroluminescence (EL) testing that features true EL contact at high speeds, with no damage to the chips. Other technologies are notorious for damaging chips in the testing process. And of course – our team. We have an exceptional team of dedicated microLED experts with decades of field experience.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Lewis emphasized:
“We have plans to develop other types of testing and inspection equipment, and we are excited to grow as the microLED market itself continues to evolve. We are also currently focused on further building out our global presence and expanding our team in the Asian markets.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Lewis concluded:
“There are two particularly promising applications for microLED that we should all be keeping an eye on: automotive displays and augmented reality. Both of these realms have shown significant maturation over the last six months. Major display manufacturers like AUO, LGD, and BOE are openly discussing their progress in automotive displays. Meanwhile, we need look no further than the Meta/Ray-Ban collaboration to see that smart glasses continue to advance, and are no longer simply science fiction. As smart glasses gain traction, especially with the rise of AI, augmented reality and built-in microLED displays are the next logical step. We are excited to watch the microLED industry evolve and proud to support the commercialization of this groundbreaking display technology.”
