Deepnight, a startup founded by former Google software engineers Lucas Young and Thomas Li, is tackling the challenge of digital night vision technology for the U.S. military. Traditional night vision goggles, which rely on analog technology using optical lenses and chemical processes, can cost between $13,000 to $30,000 per unit from defense contractors. The U.S. Army has been striving to digitize night vision for years, with initiatives like the multi-billion dollar Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) project.
Young, specializing in computational photography, and Li, with expertise in AI and computer vision, realized a software-based approach could revolutionize night vision. Inspired by a 2018 research paper on AI for low-light imaging, Young recognized that advancements in AI chips on System on Chips (SoCs) now made real-time, 90 frames per second AI-powered night vision feasible.
Leaving their positions at Google, Young and Li established Deepnight and joined the Y Combinator program. To demonstrate their concept’s viability to the U.S. Army, they developed a night vision smartphone application and showcased it using a VR headset. This initial demonstration and a white paper outlining their software-centric approach led to a $100,000 contract from the Army in February 2024, just a month into Y Combinator.
Following further successful demonstrations in Washington D.C., Deepnight secured additional contracts. Within a year of its launch, the startup has accumulated approximately $4.6 million in contracts from federal entities, including the U.S. Army and Air Force, as well as companies such as Sionyx and SRI International.
Deepnight’s innovative approach has also attracted significant investor interest. After completing Y Combinator, the company raised $5.5 million in a funding round led by Initialized Capital, with participation from angel investors including Vladlen Koltun, the scientist whose research paper inspired Deepnight’s technology.
Deepnight’s technology is software-based and designed to integrate with various hardware platforms, from goggles to helmets. By utilizing readily available and inexpensive smartphone camera technology, Deepnight aims to make advanced night vision accessible across diverse sectors including automotive, security, drones, and maritime applications.
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