Next step: pickz ai receives EXIST funding for AI-supported eyewear consulting

pickz ai has reached the next milestone on its start-up journey: The Hamburg-based start-up has been awarded the EXIST start-up grant and will be funded by the program for one year from 1 November.

The young company has developed a solution for opticians and their customers that digitizes the entire consultation process for finding the right glasses. The AI-supported application provides support from the initial search for preferred models, through the needs analysis for the respective eyes and individual eyesight, to the purchase of glasses. It recognizes which model best suits the respective face and eye shape and integrates all the technical data for the lenses.

Pickz ai is supported on its journey – including the EXIST application – by the Startup Port @TUHH for advice. In addition, the AI.STARTUP.HUB supports the team in its further development.

The three founders, Yash Luthra, Founder & CEO, Stefano Markovic, Founder & CTO and Alexandra Stella Kluge, Founder & CMO/CFO, are also gaining valuable experience directly in the industry. This year, for example, they took part in Silmo 2025, the trade fair for optics and eyewear, in Paris for the first time, where they took on the challenge of iterating their application in pitches within minutes and presenting it immediately. At the trade fair, they were also able to make important contacts in the industry in order to expand their sales activities and find opticians for their solution.

More information about pickz ai: pickz.ai/index.html