When you passionately sketch out a new blueprint for entrepreneurship, only to turn around and realize that your longtime business partners have quietly stepped into the background—leaving a meeting room filled with younger faces—that’s the reality John Fan faces today at the age of 81.
The industry titans who built their companies around the same time—Lenovo’s Liu Chuanzhi, Microsoft’s Bill Gates, and Qualcomm’s Irwin Jacobs—have long since retired. Among the few still actively creating, Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki stands out as one of Fan’s rare remaining peers.
By the World Health Organization’s standards, Fan is well within the elderly category. But he refuses to let age define him—and he’s never been one to back down.
For the past 40 years, Fan has been deeply immersed in the development of microdisplay technology. In 1985, he left his research position at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and embarked on his first entrepreneurial venture, founding the microdisplay supplier Kopin Corporation.
At the time, US universities placed a strong emphasis on scientific research, and it was rare for a Chinese-born scholar like Fan to choose the entrepreneurial path. The broader US society still harbored biases against Chinese individuals. Yet, despite the skepticism, Kopin Corporation went public on the Nasdaq seven years later, at one point reaching a market value comparable to Qualcomm.
Today, nearly every mobile phone incorporates technology pioneered by Fan.
He holds over 100 patents, leaving a profound impact on modern technology. His innovations include the heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT), which enabled smaller mobile phones free from external antennas, and the application of semiconductor technology to image displays—laying the foundation for micro LED and micro OLED advancements.
In 2020, Fan was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest honors an engineer can receive in the US. He joined an esteemed cohort that includes researcher Li Fei-Fei and semiconductor expert Deng Zhonghan, a testament to his profound impact on electronic materials and display technology.
Despite decades of success in microdisplays, Fan’s attention has shifted to artificial intelligence in recent years. Though AI research dates back more than three decades, technological limitations repeatedly halted its progress. But in 2017, when AlphaGo defeated human players in a series of high-profile matches, Fan recognized that AI may have reached a turning point—igniting his own entrepreneurial spark once again.
In 2019, while still serving at Kopin, Fan launched a new venture in Hong Kong Science Park: Solos, a company focused on smart glasses.
Fan’s decision to focus on smart glasses stemmed from a simple belief: humanity has already fully adapted to wearing glasses, and AI-enhanced eyewear could integrate into daily life to provide greater convenience. More importantly, Fan’s extensive patent portfolio—spanning over 100 patents—could be leveraged directly for Solos’ products.
Unlike most smart glasses on the market, Fan envisioned a product that looked and felt like ordinary eyewear rather than a high-tech gadget. Inside Solos’ Hong Kong office, display shelves are lined with dozens of smart glasses in various shapes and colors, resembling a fashion eyewear store rather than an electronics showroom.
Wearing a pair of Solos smart glasses might surprise you. Unlike typical smart glasses, Solos uses traditional optical lenses—without any display overlaying images or text. While the frames do feature built-in cameras, all smart components are discreetly embedded within the temples of the glasses. Audio, fitness tracking data, and other information are relayed through tiny speakers in the frame’s arms.
Fan said he deliberately avoided excessive features, believing that technology should assist rather than distract. His design philosophy prioritizes usability and human-centered experiences.
This approach echoes his earlier innovations in display technology. In the past, bulky cathode-ray tube (CRT) displays dominated the market, relying on electron beams inside vacuum tubes to generate images. These displays were bulky and power-hungry, making them highly impractical. By applying semiconductor technology to imaging, Fan managed to make screens smaller and more energy-efficient.
Fan’s human-centered philosophy also shaped Kopin’s first-generation augmented reality (AR) glasses, launched on Kickstarter in 2016. Designed for cycling enthusiasts, the aviator-style AR glasses provided real-time tracking of speed and heart rate, raising over USD 120,000 in crowdfunding.
Yet, beyond the patents and industry accolades, Fan lives a simple life. One colleague recalls encountering him outside the company building, dressed casually, canvas bag slung over his shoulder, waiting for the bus. When asked where he was headed, Fan simply smiled and said he was on his way to run some errands.
The following transcript has been edited and consolidated for brevity and clarity.
36Kr: You founded your first company in 1985, and it’s still operating today. Can you share your experience from that first venture?
John Fan (JF): My first entrepreneurial experience dates back to 1985. At the time, I was at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, focusing on semiconductor materials—particularly how to combine different semiconductor materials for new applications. Technology was still quite limited back then, and traditional methods of material integration had significant constraints. But through an innovative approach, we managed to successfully bond different semiconductors together, making our research a global leader at the time.
As our work progressed, investors suggested that we establish a company to explore broader applications of these materials. That’s how Kopin Corporation was born. Over time, we also founded several semiconductor companies to support Kopin’s technological development. Today, Kopin holds over 100 global patents, and our semiconductor technologies are embedded in nearly every mobile phone and display.
36Kr: Why did you choose to enter the smart glasses market for your second entrepreneurial venture?
JF: We believe that the next revolutionary product—one as ubiquitous as smartphones—will be wearable devices, and smart glasses are the ideal medium for this shift. People are already accustomed to wearing glasses in their daily lives, and AI-powered eyewear can seamlessly integrate with modern information ecosystems.
Although AI has developed rapidly in recent years, MIT actually began researching AI as early as 30 years ago. There was an initial wave of AI enthusiasm back then, but due to technological limitations, it never reached mass adoption the way it has today.
36Kr: Why did you decide on this particular design direction for your smart glasses?
JF: In 2012, Kopin participated in the development of Google Glass’s second generation. The technology was advanced—it could play music, take pictures—but it only sold around 200,000 units, far below Google’s expectations.
The reason for its failure was simple: it was too heavy, uncomfortable to wear, and delivered a poor user experience.
From that experience, I learned that for smart glasses to succeed, they must weigh under 50 grams. Any heavier, and users will struggle to wear them comfortably. Ultimately, the key factor in adoption is whether people actually want to wear the product as part of their daily routine.
36Kr: What are some of your unique design principles for smart glasses?
JF: We follow five principles for smart glasses:
- They must look like ordinary glasses. The design should be seamless and natural, so users don’t feel self-conscious wearing them.
- They must clearly distinguish between virtual and real-world experiences. Solos smart glasses use traditional lenses without projections or overlays, ensuring users aren’t visually distracted.
- Information flow must be well-balanced. Our glasses connect to a mobile app and deliver information via speakers embedded in the temples. They can play music, provide voice assistant support, and more—but all in a way that doesn’t overwhelm the user.
- Refining voice functionality is essential. Humans are already used to multitasking while on a call or listening to music. Our voice notifications should be discreet and highly accurate.
- The product must deliver real, tangible benefits. We don’t want smart glasses to be just another tech gadget—we want them to provide meaningful, practical value to users.
36Kr: Solos smart glasses don’t include a video recording function, which differs from other brands. Why did you make that choice?
JF: We believe that AI is the true core of smart glasses. While Solos does have a built-in camera, it isn’t for video recording—it’s used for object recognition and providing useful, real-time assistance. Our focus is on refining key functionalities rather than simply following market trends.
36Kr: Video recording might not be essential for users, but navigation features are often considered a major benefit of smart glasses. Why has Solos taken a more minimal approach in this area?
JF: Many companies fall into the trap of thinking that adding more screens and visual inputs will somehow make the brain “smarter.” In reality, excessive visual information overwhelms the brain and reduces cognitive efficiency.
For example, when driving, having too many displays doesn’t make you a better driver—it simply increases distractions and potential risks. True AI should lighten the brain’s cognitive load, not burden it with unnecessary information.
36Kr: Aside from these features, what else sets Solos apart?
JF: We recognize that every person’s facial structure is different—eye distance, head shape, and other factors all vary. That’s why we’ve developed multiple frame sizes and styles to accommodate different users.
The core technology behind our glasses is critical, as it enables smooth connectivity with other electronic devices. While the front frame consists of traditional eyewear materials and lenses, the temples house the electronic components, battery, and processing chips.
36Kr: What do you think Solos still needs to improve?
JF: Over the past six years, we’ve been working on reducing the weight of our smart glasses. Right now, Solos glasses weigh 34 grams, but we hope to bring that down to the low 20s.
We’re also looking into reducing speaker volume for a more discreet user experience. That said, the product is already ready for both domestic and international markets.
36Kr: Can you name a feature that best demonstrates the practicality of Solos smart glasses?
JF: One example is AI-powered environmental awareness.
In our audio lab, we’ve been conducting extensive research on sound frequencies, including ranges that extend beyond human hearing. For instance, if a dog is running toward you, you might not hear its lower-frequency sounds. But with Solos glasses, AI can pick up on those sounds and alert you—saying something like, “A dog is approaching from behind” or “A car is getting closer.” This ensures that users remain aware of their surroundings, even when certain auditory signals would otherwise be missed.
As people age or experience hearing loss, they often lose sensitivity to certain high and low frequencies. With AI-enhanced hearing assistance, Solos glasses can compensate for these deficiencies—eliminating the need for a separate hearing aid.
36Kr: Does that mean hearing aids could eventually be replaced by smart glasses?
JF: That might happen within the next three to five years.
36Kr: In your time at Kopin, the company primarily operated as a supplier to other businesses. Now that you’re developing consumer-facing smart glasses, how do you plan to market and promote Solos?
JF: We’ve always been a technology-driven company, focusing on product innovation above all else. Because of that, we prefer to rely on global partners for product promotion and sales. We handle the R&D, while our partners take care of distribution and marketing.
36Kr: Has Solos already begun discussions with potential partners?
JF: Yes, we’ve established partnerships in the US, Hong Kong, and Japan. This year, we plan to expand into the Chinese market and have already initiated talks with several optical retail chains, AI companies, and distributors.
36Kr: What will these partnerships look like?
JF: During the development process, we collaborate closely with eyewear manufacturers, prioritizing their role in our strategy. This ensures that our products align with market demands and allows us to integrate sales channels well before the official launch.
36Kr: How will Solos be priced in China?
JF: In the US and Hong Kong, Solos smart glasses are priced about 20–30% higher than regular glasses. We expect to adopt a similar pricing strategy in China.
36Kr: China’s smart glasses market has become increasingly competitive, with numerous brands entering the space. As a newcomer, how will Solos differentiate itself?
JF: Right now, many companies are entering the smart glasses industry, giving the impression that the barrier to entry is low. Some brands simply purchase off-the-shelf hardware, reverse-engineer it, and start manufacturing their own versions.
China’s hardware manufacturing capabilities are indeed strong, but true technological depth takes time to build. Many of these companies don’t have the foundational expertise to achieve large-scale, high-quality production in the long run.
While some brands quickly bring products to market by copying existing designs, they often lack meaningful innovation. In some cases, a handful of engineers work for just a few months, spending a few million RMB to launch a product. For Solos, these copycat products aren’t a major concern—they don’t have the same level of technical refinement or long-term vision.
In high-tech industries, deep expertise is what truly matters. Take audio technology, for example—it’s crucial for a device like smart glasses. If the sound quality isn’t good, the entire user experience suffers.
One of Solos’ key innovations is a proprietary audio technology called Whisper. It ensures that users hear crystal-clear voice output without interference from background noise. This technology is one of our biggest advantages, enabling superior voice recognition and audio performance in all kinds of environments.
36Kr: The tech industry evolves rapidly. From your experience, what are some constants that remain unchanged?
JF: Ultimately, technology exists to serve human needs. If you look back 20 or 30 years, no one could have predicted the level of advancement we have today. Back then, most devices were bulky, consumed a lot of power, and generated significant heat. The technology of that era simply couldn’t meet modern expectations.
For example, I recognized early on that people needed more efficient, power-saving electronics, which led to the development of HBT. Without HBT, mobile phones might still require external antennas to function—we wouldn’t have the compact, sleek devices we use today.
So while specific technologies will always change, one thing remains the same: true innovation is about aligning technology with real-world human needs. That’s the driving force behind every major technological breakthrough.
36Kr: It’s surprising to hear an engineer from the US National Academy of Engineering emphasize the importance of human-centered design.
JF: Solos is built on that very philosophy. Last year, I met with a vice president from a major Japanese camera company. I showed him our Solos smart glasses, and his response was: “These glasses have soul.”
Technology shouldn’t just be about cold, mechanical components—it should have creativity, artistry, and purpose. Think about the painting studios in Shenzhen—anyone can create a painting, but what truly matters is whether the artwork has soul, whether it moves people.
The same applies to technology. A product isn’t just a tool. It should be designed with thoughtfulness and a sense of artistry. That’s what makes it valuable and meaningful.
36Kr: As a veteran entrepreneur with decades of experience, what advice do you have for young founders?
JF: The most important thing is to have a clear dream. That dream is what will keep you going, no matter how difficult the journey gets. If you stay committed to your vision, the funding and resources you need will follow.
At its core, true entrepreneurship is about persistence—it’s about sticking to your dream through every challenge and breakthrough.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This article was written by Tian Zhe for 36Kr.