Ace & Tate

Ace & Tate

Direct-to-consumer eyewear design and sales

Overview

Ace & Tate designs and sells stylish, high-quality eyewear through a direct-to-consumer model in Europe and North America. Customers can buy prescription or non-prescription glasses and sunglasses online or in select stores, with in-house design and production helping keep prices accessible starting at €125, including prescription lenses. The product works through a streamlined supply chain: eyewear options like blue light glasses, progressive lenses, ultra-thin lenses, and polarized sunglasses, plus services such as eye tests, online prescription checks, and same-day glasses adjustments. The company differentiates itself with a strong sustainability focus (bio and recycled glasses) and exclusive VIP access for early releases, aiming to reduce environmental impact while building a loyal customer community. Ace & Tate’s goal is to offer fashionable eyewear at affordable prices without sacrificing quality or responsibility, serving a diverse customer base across Europe and North America.

About Ace & Tate

Simplify's Rating
Why Ace & Tate is rated
C+
Rated C on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Design

Consumer Goods

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

Early VC

Total Funding

$15.7M

Headquarters

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Founded

2013

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Acquired Project Lobster, adding seven Spanish stores and €2.5M revenue.
  • RELEX partnership optimizes forecasting for 10 new stores in 2026.
  • GANNI collaboration expands reach via Copenhagen-Amsterdam campaigns.

What critics are saying

  • Warby Parker erodes North American share with faster shipping.
  • Zenni Optical undercuts €125 prices with sub-€50 glasses.
  • Shein commoditizes stylish frames at €20, capturing Gen Z.

What makes Ace & Tate unique

  • Ace & Tate designs in-house frames, cutting middlemen for €125 pricing.
  • Certified B-corp uses bio, recycled materials and demo lens recycling.
  • Offers virtual eye tests, eye exams, and same-day adjustments.

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Funding

Total Funding

$15.7M

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

1 Rounds

Early VC funding comparison data is currently unavailable. We're working to provide this information soon!
Early VC Funding Comparison
Coming Soon

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

-81%

2 year growth

-2%
Women's Wear Daily
Feb 11th, 2026
Ace & Tate acquires Spanish eyewear brand Project Lobster to expand European footprint

Dutch eyewear brand Ace & Tate has acquired Spanish competitor Project Lobster as part of its European expansion strategy. Financial terms were not disclosed. The deal strengthens Ace & Tate's presence in Spain, a key growth market. Project Lobster, founded in 2018 in Barcelona, operates seven stores across Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia, offering eyewear priced between $190 and $310. CEO Lex van de Vliet said the acquisition brings deep local expertise and cultural relevance to support expansion plans. Project Lobster cofounder Oscar Valledor Perez noted Ace & Tate was an early reference point for his company's direct-to-consumer model. Ace & Tate now operates over 80 stores across Europe, concentrated in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. The company plans to open around 10 new stores globally in 2026.

FashionNetwork.com
Feb 11th, 2026
Ace & Tate acquires Spain's PJ Lobster

​Dutch eyewear specialist Ace & Tate has made a major move in Spain, acquiring local label Project Lobster — or PJ Lobster as it’s now known.

Modaes
Feb 11th, 2026
Dutch eyewear group Ace&Tate rescues Barcelona's PJ Lobster from liquidation

Dutch eyewear company Ace&Tate has acquired Barcelona-based PJ Lobster, rescuing the Spanish brand from liquidation after it filed for insolvency in November. The deal amount was not disclosed, marking Ace&Tate's first acquisition since entering Spain in 2019. PJ Lobster operated seven stores across Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia. Two have been transferred, whilst the remaining five now belong to Ace&Tate. The brand will continue operating normally, maintaining its teams and shops, according to the company. Founded in 2013, Ace&Tate operates 83 stores across nine countries and is initiating an expansion phase in southern Europe. PJ Lobster, launched in 2018, generated €2.5 million in revenue in 2023, with 80% coming from international markets.

Reach plc
Oct 4th, 2025
Stylish Dutch eyewear brand Ace & Tate to open second Irish store in Cork

The Dutch owned eyewear brand Ace & Tate is to open a new store at the site of the former Benetton shop on Oliver Plunkett Street, which closed earlier this year.

Hypebeast
May 17th, 2024
The Coolest Sunglasses Brands to Shop This Summer

Previously, Ace & Tate has teamed up with GANNI, Polly Nor and Ahluwalia.

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