GrepBeat last wrote about BrightView Technologies in the summer of 2022. BrightView Technologies is a Durham-based startup originally founded in 2002 and acquired in 2010, when CEO Jennifer Aspell came aboard. Today, the company is a leader in engineered optics, creating unique solutions for lighting and display applications in robotics, consumer electronics, and more.
For this piece, we caught up with Aspell to learn a bit more about her, how the startup has evolved since our last feature, and what might be next for BrightView Technologies.
GrepBeat: Before we get started, for readers who may not be familiar, what’s the elevator pitch for BrightView Technologies?
Jennifer Aspell: BrightView Technologies is a leader in computational optics—delivering advanced Micro Lens Array (MLA) solutions that enable performance breakthroughs across display, AR/VR, mobility, sensing and lighting markets.
BrightView’s proprietary optical films are engineered to shape and manage both visible and non-visible light, enhancing brightness, angular control and visual uniformity, all while improving energy efficiency and manufacturability. With best-in-class design tools, rapid product development and scalable manufacturing, BrightView provides the optical building blocks that power transformative technologies—from AI-enabled interfaces to high-acuity displays and 3D image sensing.
GrepBeat: When we got in touch, we asked you to look back on your last feature in GrepBeat. Reading about where you were then, what stands out as the biggest change?
Jennifer Aspell: The most striking change is how much we’ve scaled—technologically, operationally, and commercially. We now supply advanced Micro Lens Array (MLA) solutions to global leaders in display, AR/VR, mobility, 3D sensing, and LED lighting. We’ve significantly expanded our manufacturing capacity, broadened our product offerings, and deepened our customer relationships. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see our strategy translate into meaningful market momentum.
GB: How has your team evolved since we last spoke?
Aspell: Our team has grown in both reach and expertise. We’ve brought on exceptional talent across engineering, sales, and operations—here in the U.S. and internationally, particularly in Europe and China. Despite the growth, we’ve maintained a culture centered on agility and collaboration, which allows us to innovate and deliver quickly in response to evolving customer needs.
GB: What milestones or accomplishments are you most proud of?
Aspell: I’m proud of how our team’s work is enabling the next generation of products for the world’s leading tech companies. Our components are foundational to innovations across work, healthcare, mobility, entertainment, and security. Knowing our technology is quietly powering solutions that touch everyday life is incredibly fulfilling.
GB: Has your funding situation changed?
Aspell: Yes—we closed a $7 million Series B round last year, led by Forvia Hella and Technology Venture Partners. That funding has fueled our market expansion, accelerated R&D, and enabled significant increases in production capacity.
5. You’ve been on the scene for a little while now. People may know you as a founder, but perhaps less so as a human being. Tell us something we don’t know about you that has nothing to do with your life as a founder.
Aspell: Outside of work, I love spending time at our beach house, especially kayaking in the coastal marshes. We often spot ospreys, egrets, and white-tailed deer—it’s a peaceful reset. I’ve also fully embraced the pickleball craze. There’s something oddly therapeutic about the thwack of the ball after a long day.
GB: What partners or organizations (service providers, advisors, investors, if any) have been most helpful to you?
Aspell: We’re fortunate to have investors who are true partners—not just financially, but strategically. Their deep experience in optics, along with a broad network that spans legal, marketing, and recruiting, has been instrumental as we’ve grown.
We’ve also appreciated the support of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina and the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which have been a helpful resource as we’ve expanded operations in the state.
GB: What is your next, biggest challenge?
Aspell: Our next challenge is scaling with intention—growing our team and operations while preserving the innovation and execution speed that define us. It’s about building for the long term without losing what’s made us successful so far.
GB: If you could go back in time to speak to yourself on the day you founded your startup, what advice would you give your younger self?
Aspell: Be lean, be agile, and be ready—because the unexpected will happen. The ability to pivot and execute quickly is critical. And above all, surround yourself with the right people—team matters more than anything.
GB: You finish a long, grueling day of starting up. You’re hungry and/or thirsty. Where in the Triangle are you headed?
Aspell: If it’s not a pickleball court, I’m headed to The Boot Room in Durham to relax with friends, colleagues, or my grown kids who live nearby. We’re regulars on trivia night—and we consider it a win as long as we don’t come in last!
Visit BrightView Technologies here.
