#HTE

Crowdfunding Smash: Automatic Eyeglasses Lens Cleaner Lands $250K-plus

Those of us who wear eyeglasses know how to get them clean, and have the means; it’s just tedious. Most of the time I walk around with smudgy eyeglasses.

I guess I’m not alone in my sloth, because a Kickstarter campaign for the LensHD, a $79 automatic eyeglass lens cleaner, was seeking just $1,000–but had clocked $252,515 in pledges at press time. With 29 days left to pledge.

I’m a bit skeptical that the thing works as advertised; I’m writing about it because I’m amazed at the demand. So, design entrepreneurs among you: If this thing turns out not to work, and you can think of a compelling design that does work, note that you’ve got an apparently voracious market waiting for you.