When was Glasses Direct founded?

Glasses Direct was founded in 2004 and raised its 1st funding round 5 years after it was founded.

Where is Glasses Direct located?

Glasses Direct is headquartered in Swindon, United Kingdom.

Who is the current CEO of Glasses Direct?

Kevin Cornils of Glasses Direct.

How many employees does Glasses Direct have?

As of Aug 31, 2026, the latest employee count at Glasses Direct is 47.

Is Glasses Direct a funded company?

Glasses Direct is a funded company, having raised a total of $***** in its 1st and only funding round, a Series B round on Apr 21, 2009.

When was the latest funding round of Glasses Direct?

Glasses Direct's latest funding was a $***** Series B round on Apr 21, 2009, with participation from 3 investors.

What is the annual revenue of Glasses Direct?

Annual revenue of Glasses Direct is between £10M and £50M as on Dec 31, 2022

Where does Glasses Direct rank among its competitors?

Glasses Direct ranks 3rd amongst 36 active competitors, of which 5 are funded. It stands 1st in terms of total funding among its competitors. The most recent competitor to raise funding was Waterhaul, which secured $266K in Jul, 2025.

Who are the top competitors of Glasses Direct?

Glasses Direct's top competitors include Bloobloom, SunGod and Waterhaul. Among them, Waterhaul secured the most recent funding round in July, 2025.

Glasses Direct - 2026 Company Profile, Team, Funding, Competitors & Financials

Glasses Direct is a series B company based in Swindon (United Kingdom), founded in 2004 by James Murray Wells. It operates as a Frames and Glasses Store. Glasses Direct has raised $13M in funding from Acton Capital. The company has 36 active competitors, including 5 funded and 2 that have exited. Its top competitors include companies like Bloobloom, SunGod and Waterhaul.

Company Details

Glasses Direct is one of Europe’s leading online prescription glasses retailer. It offers glasses for men and women. In addition to prescription glasses, it also offers prescription sunglasses - all of their glasses online can be made into prescription sunglasses. The company is part of the Prescription Eyewear group which also owns myOptique.com, SunglassesShop.com and LensOn.com.

Website: www.glassesdirect.co.uk/
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Key Metrics

Founded Year

2004

Location

Swindon, United Kingdom

Stage

Series B

Total Funding

$13M in 1 round

Latest Funding Round

Series B, Apr 21, 2009, $*****

Investors

Acton Capital & 3 more

Ranked

3^rd among 36 active competitors

Annual Revenue

£10M - £50M as on Dec 31, 2022

Employee Count

47 as on Aug 31, 2026

Investment & Acquisitions

LensOn

Similar Companies

Lenskart & 450 more

View Glasses Direct's full profile

Glasses Direct is associated with 1 legal entity given below:

Legal Entity Name	Date of Incorporation	Revenue	Latest Employee Count	Documents
MYOPTIQUE GROUP LTD CIN: 5139004 , Germany, Active	May 26, 2004	£10M - £50M (As on Dec 31, 2022)	61 (As on Dec 31, 2023)

Glasses Direct has raised a total funding of $13M over 1 round. Its latest funding round was a Series B round on Apr 21, 2009 for $*****. 3 investors participated in its latest round. Glasses Direct has 4 institutional investors.

Here is the list of recent funding rounds of Glasses Direct:

Date of Funding	Funding Amount	Round Name	Post-Money Valuation	Revenue Multiple	Lead Investors	Other Investors
Apr 21, 2009	5872398	Series B	7420383	9331767	1681984	9748289

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View details of Glasses Direct's funding rounds and investors

The founders of Glasses Direct is James Murray Wells.

Here are the details of Glasses Direct's key team members:

James Murray Wells: Founder of Glasses Direct.
Kevin Cornils: CEO of Glasses Direct. They serve on the board of 1 company.

Glasses Direct's Board of Directors

Glasses Direct's board has 6 active members. Barnaby James Streeting and Thomas Sylvain Claude Brochier are part of team and Bernhard Nuesser, Alessandro Cobelli, Eric Pierre Antoine Martinet and Michal Fusi are independent board members.

Here is the list of Glasses Direct's board of directors:

Name	Type	Representing	Status	Duration
x{oqiyw	Team	-	Current	1y 7m
lsinvnk	Team	-	Current	5y 1m
txoaqps	Team	-	Past	3y 1m
ot{lmvv	Team	-	Past	4y 4m
hympp{y	Team	-	Past	1y 6m
Bernhard Nuesser	Independent board member	-	Current	8y 9m
ptsgynw	Independent board member	-	Current	1y 1m
fhrrihc	Independent board member	-	Current	5y 6m
tjbeevs	Independent board member	-	Current	1y 6m
masqzpq	Independent board member	-	Past	9y 9m
yicljlt	Independent board member	-	Past	4y 2m
pcnvcoc	Independent board member	-	Past	8y 8m
iqenktf	Independent board member	-	Past	3y 7m
efstuon	Independent board member	-	Past	6y 7m
uchlzym	Independent board member	-	Past	1y 4m
aphxirm	Independent board member	-	Past	4y 2m
vigajke	Independent board member	-	Past	8y 8m
pcxdrdw	Independent board member	-	Past	7y 8m
omrab{b	Independent board member	-	Past	8y 9m
feclwnt	Independent board member	-	Past	7y 9m
dxbzoza	Independent board member	-	Past	8y 1m
l{{ztwk	Independent board member	-	Past	6y 3m
lqlmhhr	Independent board member	-	Past	9y 7m
sz{mcfr	Independent board member	-	Past	2y 4m
iawtgfy	Independent board member	-	Past	2y 4m

View details of Glasses Direct's Founder profiles and Board Members

Glasses Direct's employee count trend

Glasses Direct has 47 employees as of Aug 26. Here is Glasses Direct's employee count trend over the years:

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Top competitors of Glasses Direct include Bloobloom, SunGod and Waterhaul. Here is the list of Top 10 competitors of Glasses Direct, ranked by Tracxn score:

Rank	Company Details	Short Description	Total Funding	Investors	Tracxn Score
1st	Bloobloom 2017, London (United Kingdom), Series B	Online internet first brand offering handcrafted eyewear	$8.02M	Pembroke VCT, Social Impact Enterprises & 3 others	52/100
2nd	SunGod 2013, London (United Kingdom), Series A	Online retailer of performance eyewear, goggles, and related accessories	$8.93M	Love Capital, Wavelength Ventures	39/100
3rd	Glasses Direct 2004, Swindon (United Kingdom), Series B	Frames and Glasses Store	$13M	Kreos Capital, Index Ventures & 2 others	37/100
4th	Waterhaul 2018, Newquay (United Kingdom), Seed	Internet first brand offering sustainable products	$1.94M	CIOSIF, Crowdcube & 6 others	35/100
5th	Eyejusters 2010, Oxford (United Kingdom), Seed	Private label brand of adjustable focus reading glasses	$3.59M	ClearlySo, Participatiemaatschappij Madioen ... & 5 others	31/100
6th	Jeepers Peepers London (United Kingdom), Unfunded	Retailer of fashion sunglasses with various frame and lens options	-	-	28/100
7th	Atlas Sunglasses 2018, London (United Kingdom), Unfunded	Brand of sunglasses	-	-	28/100
8th	Coral Eyewear 2019, Norwich (United Kingdom), Unfunded	Internet first brand for recycled eyewear	-	-	28/100
9th	Flame Lily 2007, Aylesbury (United Kingdom), Unfunded	Internet first brand offering eyewear	-	-	25/100
10th	Tens 2014, Edinburgh (United Kingdom), Acquired	Online retailer of sunglasses and apparel with various lens options	-	-	25/100