Pankaj Raut (AjnaLens): 10 Key Things You Must Know

Overview

Pankaj Raut is an Indian technologist and entrepreneur best known as the co-founder and CEO of AjnaLens, a pioneering deep-tech company specializing in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) hardware and software. Under his leadership, AjnaLens has developed cutting-edge AI-powered smart glasses aimed at transforming industries such as defence, enterprise training, and education. Raut's journey is notable for his decision to leave a lucrative career in London to create impactful technology solutions in India, driving innovation in immersive technologies and shaping India's emerging metaverse infrastructure. This article explores key facets of Pankaj Raut's professional life, his role at AjnaLens, and the broader implications of his work.

1. Early Professional Background and Education

Pankaj Raut holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons.) degree in Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering from London South Bank University, completed in 2010. Before founding AjnaLens, he gained experience in various technology and business roles including hardware architecture, multimedia specialization, and business development. Early in his career, he also held a COO position at DreamMachine and contributed to 3D hardware technologies in Europe, notably developing one of Europe's leading 3D scanning systems. His international experience laid a foundation of technical expertise and strategic vision that he later leveraged to build AjnaLens.

2. Founding of AjnaLens and Company Vision

In 2014, Pankaj Raut co-founded AjnaLens (under the parent company Dimension NXG) alongside Abhishek Tomar and Abhijit Patil during a Google Startup Weekend event at IIT Bombay. The founders aimed to create next-generation wearable technology to augment human intelligence and capabilities. The name "AjnaLens" is derived from "Ajna," the Sanskrit term for the sixth chakra or third eye, symbolizing enhanced perception, combined with "Lens" representing wearable optics. The company’s mission is to develop affordable, high-quality AR/VR/MR headsets and software solutions that empower users across sectors by enhancing learning, training, and operational efficiency.

3. Pankaj Raut’s Leadership at AjnaLens

As CEO, Pankaj Raut oversees marketing, business development, and strategic direction at AjnaLens. He drives a grassroots-level vision focused on positive societal impact and self-sustainability through technology. Under his leadership, AjnaLens has expanded to over 150 employees and cultivated clients spanning the Indian defence sector, large industrial enterprises like Tata and Vedanta, and government agencies including DRDO. Raut is recognized as one of India’s most influential immersive technology thought leaders and has spoken internationally about the future of extended reality (XR).

4. AjnaLens’ Technological Innovations

AjnaLens has built India’s first indigenous AI-powered mixed reality glasses, positioning itself as a formidable player against global competitors like Microsoft’s HoloLens. Their flagship products include the AjnaXR Pro headset and AjnaBolt — a military-grade mixed reality glasses system offering situational awareness, enhanced navigation, and augmented training capabilities. The company melds advanced optics, AI, and computer vision to deliver immersive experiences, enabling use cases from defence applications to enterprise productivity and vocational training. Many of AjnaLens’ technologies are patented, signifying their innovation leadership.

5. Impact on Education and Skill Training

One of AjnaLens’s main focuses has been revolutionizing education and vocational training through immersive and gamified learning. The company’s AjnaVidya platform, paired with XR devices, provides hands-on training environments that enhance skill retention and reduce training time for disciplines such as welding, machinery operation, and technical assembly. AjnaLens products are deployed in over 500 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across India, benefiting tens of thousands of trainees annually. This approach aims to solve India’s skill gap by making experiential learning accessible, affordable, and scalable.

6. Contributions to Defence and Security

AjnaLens has achieved significant penetration into India’s defence sector, with its products trusted by the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and research organizations like DRDO. The AjnaBolt mixed reality glasses were launched at DefExpo 2020 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. These glasses enhance battlefield situational awareness by integrating real-time AI analytics and 360-degree vision capabilities. AjnaLens holds several defence-related contracts and is working on technology that enhances mission success rates and troop survivability.

7. Challenges and Overcoming Skepticism

Pankaj Raut and his co-founders encountered early challenges including skepticism about the feasibility and commercial viability of mixed reality technology in India. Securing funding was difficult given the nascent state of XR technologies and the exploratory nature of their work. However, visionary angel investors like Vijay Shekhar Sharma (Paytm founder) and key strategic partners offered essential financial backing and credibility. Another ongoing challenge has been developing secure, reliable wearable devices that meet defence-grade security standards while remaining ergonomic and affordable.

8. Partnership with Lenskart and Industry Collaborations

In July 2025, AjnaLens announced a strategic investment partnership with Lenskart, India’s leading eyewear retailer. This collaboration aims to co-develop AI-powered smart glasses combining AjnaLens' deep technology expertise with Lenskart’s design leadership and retail infrastructure. The partnership aspires to democratize smart eyewear, moving it from a niche product to mainstream adoption, and is considered a milestone in India’s deep-tech landscape. AjnaLens also partners with industrial giants like Tata Technologies, Vedanta, L&T, and Mahindra to apply XR solutions across manufacturing and enterprise sectors.

9. Recognition and Awards

Under Pankaj Raut’s leadership, AjnaLens has received multiple accolades recognizing its innovation and growth. These include the Frost & Sullivan Indian Augmented Reality Headsets Technology Innovation Leadership Award (2018), Qualcomm's QDIC Program selection, The Aeonian's Early Growth IoT Startup of the Year, and placement among the top 15 innovative startups globally by Outlook Business. AjnaLens’s solutions have also been highlighted in leading industry forums and publications such as The Guardian, Fortune Magazine, and Harvard reviews.

10. Future Prospects and Vision

Looking ahead, Pankaj Raut envisions AjnaLens playing a central role in India’s emergence as a global hub for XR and AI technologies. The company plans to expand its metaverse training ecosystem and introduce more consumer and enterprise-grade smart glasses. With ongoing R&D investments, AjnaLens aims to refine wearable computing to become more intuitive and seamlessly integrated into daily life, fundamentally redefining human-computer interaction. Raut advocates for India to become not just a service provider but a creator of globally recognized deep-tech brands, particularly in the XR space.

Conclusion

Pankaj Raut’s journey from a London-based engineer to a pioneering CEO in India's deep-tech ecosystem embodies the spirit of innovation, leadership, and impact-driven entrepreneurship. Through AjnaLens, he has spearheaded the development of indigenous AI-powered mixed reality technologies that are transforming sectors as diverse as defence, education, and enterprise training. His vision and determination have helped position India on the map of immersive technology innovation, overcoming multiple challenges along the way. As AjnaLens collaborates with major partners and advances its product portfolio, the future points to increasingly intelligent, accessible, and immersive ways of augmenting human potential — inviting us to rethink how we see and interact with the world.