Deepnight, a startup founded by childhood friends Lucas Young and Thomas Li, is poised to disrupt the night vision technology industry with its innovative AI-powered software. The company's solution uses off-the-shelf smartphone cameras and AI accelerators to provide high-quality digital night vision, a capability that has long been elusive to the U.S. military.

Traditional night vision technology relies on optical lenses and a chemical process to convert limited light into images, resulting in bulky and expensive goggles that can cost between $13,000 to $30,000 apiece. In contrast, Deepnight's software-based approach can be integrated into existing devices, making it a game-changer for various industries, including the military, automotive, security, and more.

The idea for Deepnight was sparked when Young, a software engineer with a background in computational photography, read a 2018 scientific paper on using AI for low-light imaging. However, at the time, AI chips weren't fast enough to support the required 90 frames per second for real-time viewing. By 2024, advancements in AI accelerators running on System on Chips (SoCs) made it possible to achieve the necessary speed, prompting Young to convince his friend Li to quit their jobs at Google and co-found Deepnight.

The startup's breakthrough came when they developed a smartphone app that demonstrated their night vision technology. Young presented the app at an industry event, catching the attention of an army colonel who put them in touch with the U.S. Army's night vision laboratory. This led to a $100,000 contract in February 2024, just a month into their Y Combinator program.

Deepnight's success didn't stop there. They went on to secure an additional $4.6 million in contracts from the federal government, including the U.S. Army and Air Force, as well as with companies like Sionyx and SRI International. The startup also attracted investors, raising a $5.5 million round led by Initialized Capital, with notable angels like Kulveer Taggar, Brian Shin, and Matthew Bellamy, lead singer of the band Muse.

One of the most significant endorsements came from Vladlen Koltun, the scientist who wrote the paper that inspired Deepnight. Koltun became an angel investor in the company, further validating their technology. Deepnight's software can be integrated into various devices, from goggles to helmets, and even automotive systems, making it a versatile solution with far-reaching applications.

The implications of Deepnight's technology are profound. By making night vision more accessible and affordable, the startup is poised to revolutionize industries that rely on low-light imaging. With its innovative approach, Deepnight is set to disrupt the status quo and bring about a new era of digital night vision.