- Startup turns smartphones into AI-assisted long-range imaging devices
- Investors bet on growing demand from birdwatchers, stargazers and outdoor users
Imaging startup Vizta Lab (星识科技) has raised tens of millions of yuan across two consecutive tranches of angel financing, as investors wager that AI and smartphones can help turn telescopes from niche professional equipment into mass-market consumer gadgets.
The Ningbo-based company said the proceeds will be allocated for core imaging technology development, new product lines, manufacturing and supply-chain expansion, as well as upgrades to user experience.
The funding rounds were led by a venture fund started by Professor Ping Keung KO of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and and Lanchi Ventures, with participation by Green Pine Capital.
Existing backers including Ningbo TechX Institute, Qingshuiwan Phase II Fund and MiraclePlus also increased their stakes.
Vizta Lab develops AI-enhanced optical imaging products focused on long-range observation scenarios such as birdwatching, stargazing and outdoor photography.
Its flagship product combines a lightweight telescope with smartphone software that enables users to capture stable long-range images and run AI-based object recognition through a dedicated app.
Users attach a smartphone to the telescope and can control up to 240x zoom through the app, while built-in stabilization modules help maintain image clarity.
According to the company’s website, the device weighs 430 grams, making it portable enough to fit in a pocket.
The company says its AI features are designed to lower the technical barrier for beginners who want professional-style long-focus photography without carrying bulky camera equipment or learning complex editing workflows.
“Many of these users are not professionals,” founder and chief executive Xie Zhixin said. “They are ordinary consumers who simply want the experience of seeing farther.”
A graduate of the prestigious Zhejiang University, Xie, now in his mid-20s, added the products are being used not only for astronomy and wildlife photography, but also at concerts, sporting events and outdoor travel.
According to the company, the global market for long-range observation is expanding rapidly alongside outdoor recreation trends. In the US alone, about 96 million people engage in birdwatching annually.
Xie said the startup deliberately chose to commercialize a single product first rather than expanding aggressively and prematurely.
“We wanted to validate the business with real user feedback and generate cash flow to sustain ourselves,” he said. “Fundraising is meant to amplify what has already been proven.”
The sector is increasingly attracting startups seeking to challenge traditional optics brands through AI software, lightweight hardware and simplified user interfaces aimed at mainstream consumers rather than professional photographers and hobbyists.
