With K|Lens, Matthias Schmitz founded his first own start-up in 2016. Based on research by his co-founder Ivo Ihrke at the Max Planck Institute for Computer Science and Saarland University, K|Lens is developing a revolutionary special photographic technology. The first product, the K|Lens One, consists of a special lens and the corresponding software. Similar to a kaleidoscope, the K|Lens One makes use of a complex mirror system that simultaneously records several slightly different perspectives on the camera sensor. This allows any full-frame camera to be converted into a 3D camera that allows depth information to be recorded as well as colour information. This fundamentally changes the two-dimensional world of photography: in post-processing, K|Lens technology can be used to change areas of sharpness and blur as well as perspectives. In addition, image planes and objects can be easily separated from each other. It enables photographers to set different design focal points in one and the same image and give free rein to their creativity.

Since the beginning of July 2020, K|Lens has received funding from the European Commission’s EIC Accelerator (formerly SME Instrument Phase 2). K|Lens is thus the second company from the Saarland to prevail in the competitive bidding for this highly endowed EU business funding. The EIC Accelerator is aimed exclusively at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have an idea with high market potential, a high degree of innovation and boast European and global ambitions. Over a period of two years, the team around Schmitz and Ihrke will receive around €1.56 million in funding and aims to establish itself as the European market leader for the use of 3D photonics technologies. To this end, the company plans to further develop its innovative and patented light field sensor technology into a handy, cost-effective and fully video-capable 3D sensor.