From: mk_thisisit
Inuru has developed a groundbreaking process for producing Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) through printing, a method that significantly reduces production costs and expands the potential applications of light technology [00:03:35]. This innovation aims to integrate light and interactive elements into everyday objects, transforming consumption and interaction with digital content [00:01:01].
The Innovative Process
Traditional OLEDs are expensive to produce, relying on classic silicon processes similar to microprocessors [00:03:21]. Inuru’s unique approach allows OLEDs to be printed, drastically lowering the price and making the technology accessible for a wider range of applications [00:03:40]. This printing process uses approximately 99% less surface energy materials compared to classic methods [00:04:41].
The process involves printing the plastic material under a printer, layer by layer, drying each layer until the OLED is complete. The resulting screen is incredibly thin, about 500 nanometers [00:05:06]. While capable of transparency, Inuru’s current designs are not, as they use a special layer to reflect light from one side only [00:05:13]. This unique method makes Inuru the only company in the world currently offering this specific technology [00:04:07].
Applications and Vision
Inuru’s printed light technology allows for the integration of light into virtually any surface, from clothing and cards to board games and packaging [00:03:15]. This enables the creation of interactive elements where light provides additional value beyond aesthetics [00:06:20].
Current and envisioned applications include:
- Board Games The first product featuring Inuru’s light, a board game with a printed, interactive screen, launched in the American market through Walmart [00:02:16], [00:07:17]. Touching an element on the game board makes it light up for a given time [00:02:37].
- Luxury Products Initially, the company focused on applications like champagne labels to gain sufficient customer margin and educate the market on the technology’s value in a high-paying segment [00:07:52].
- Medical Packaging A key future application involves medicine labels with small timers that can indicate when medicine expires by lighting up [00:06:30]. This transforms packaging into a smart, interactive tool that helps patients manage their health [00:08:52].
- Clothing and Textiles The technology allows clothing to change color or pattern by simply downloading a new design license, promoting durable products and reducing waste [00:10:20]. This aligns with sustainable consumption.
- Reusable Packaging Inuru envisions smart packaging that can be reused multiple times for different products (e.g., apple juice today, milk tomorrow) by changing the displayed content, contributing to a “closed-loop packaging” system [00:11:00].
- Animated Posters Luminous posters using Inuru’s technology are already available online through displate.com [00:33:30].
- Future Human Integration Marcin Ratajczak believes in a future of transhumanism where screens are integrated under the skin, potentially as glowing, animated tattoos or interfaces displaying physiological data [00:30:01].
Inuru’s ultimate company goal is to create a world with less waste and to be the leading technology company globally [00:01:01]. They believe the future of images will be moving images present everywhere – on clothes, walls, sidewalks, and even road signs [00:09:48].
Production Scale and Market Expansion
After 11 years of development [00:19:01], Inuru is launching a new production line capable of producing 8 million OLEDs annually [00:00:52]. This expanded capacity, combined with lower pricing, opens the door to broader commercialization, particularly for medical applications that require affordability [00:23:42].
The company’s strategy for market expansion involves initially targeting luxury and gaming sectors to secure necessary margins and then moving into high-volume markets like medicine [00:07:52]. The launch in the US market via Walmart signifies a significant step towards reaching 300 million American consumers [00:07:32].
Origins and Challenges
The idea for Inuru’s technology stemmed from co-founder Marcin Ratajczak’s childhood dream of replacing paper catalogs with interactive screens to reduce environmental impact [00:15:55]. He met his partner, Patryk, in university, and together they realized the potential of flexible OLEDs to achieve this vision [00:16:29].
Developing such a “deeptech” new technology has presented numerous challenges, as is common with startups and entrepreneurship in technology. These include:
- Market Underestimation and Skepticism The company faced constant laughter and dismissal from the market, with people questioning the need for light on packaging or champagne labels [00:00:35], [00:12:55].
- Technical Difficulties Integrating OLEDs with transistors and microprocessors required finding simple, market-ready solutions [00:17:21]. Printed OLEDs are fragile and require protection from air and water [00:18:04].
- Bureaucratic Barriers Inuru’s founders faced significant hurdles in obtaining access to necessary infrastructure like laboratories and chemical facilities from academic centers [00:21:59]. This highlights common challenges of entrepreneurship and innovation in Europe [00:22:16].
- Self-Doubt Marcin Ratajczak identifies the hardest moments as those where one starts to doubt themselves due to external negativity [00:19:13].
Despite these hurdles, Inuru identifies as an innovative company, focused on taking inventions through the complex process of commercialization, involving thousands of iterations and adapting to different manufacturing environments [00:20:12].
Company Identity and Future Aspirations
Inuru considers itself a European company, with its technology development starting in Germany and a growing branch in Poland [00:15:11]. Marcin Ratajczak notes an improved perception of Poles in Germany, reflecting a changing image of Poland as a developing country [00:25:22]. This cross-cultural collaboration is an example of international collaborations and company growth strategies and demonstrates technological innovations in Poland.
Inuru aims to become a “dragon” rather than just a “unicorn,” signifying a company valued at over a billion dollars that can “eat a unicorn” [00:01:11], [00:24:22]. The company’s long-term goal is to list on the stock exchange, inviting people to support their mission of creating a smarter, more interactive, and less wasteful world [00:31:37]. Polish consumers can expect to see products incorporating Inuru’s technology on shelves within the next year [00:33:20].