Photon Matrix Lab, a Chinese startup from Changzhou, has raised $2.7 million on Indiegogo for its AI-powered laser mosquito zapper, far exceeding its initial $20,000 target. The portable device uses an AI vision module and lidar to detect and eliminate mosquitoes mid-flight. The company has attracted over 4,000 backers from more than 50 countries, each paying around $630 for the device. Chief technology officer Li Ran credits China's mature local supply chains for enabling the startup to repurpose industrial technology like low-cost lidar for consumer use. However, mass production has been delayed until August as the company navigates complex sensor calibrations and Western safety regulations. The startup initially planned deliveries for early summer.

Korean AI startup CoX Space has raised $854,000 from 8,200 backers across 60 countries for VANZY, a $49 ring-shaped controller that enables mid-air gesture controls as an alternative to touchscreens. The company positions the device as an interface solution for the augmented reality glasses market, projected to reach $450 billion by 2030. Version 3.0 is now shipping to backers following nine successful crowdfunding campaigns on platforms including Kickstarter, Indiegogo, Makuake and Wadiz. The gesture-based interface is currently used daily by 7,600 people worldwide. CoX Space aims to establish its technology ahead of the anticipated wave of AR glasses adoption in the coming years.