Data Points

• New CEO takes over November 2017
• Asserts change in business strategy
• Target "Tier 1s" (big companies) that can drive significant volume
• MVIS to become "solutions provider" via offering Tier 1s customization services and modules/layouts specific to customer requirements
• Solutions provider focus for Tier 1 customers stands in contrast to previous strategy described by PM as "If we build it, they will come"
• Establishes MVIS "AI at the Edge" strategy with machine learning capability at the sensor
• Establishes 5 vertical markets for MVIS
• Augmented/Mixed Reality (eyewear displays)
• Interactive Projection (smart speakers)
• Consumer LIDAR (home security)
• Automotive LIDAR (autonomous cars)
• Display Only (mobile phones et al)
• April 2018: 1440p MEMS scanner samples shipped to customers
• May 2018: LIDAR samples and Time-of-Flight ASICs delivered to customer(s)
• Time of Flight ASIC to be used in Interactive Projection and LIDAR products
• May 2018: MVIS Licenses Display Only vertical 
• $10M license fee
• $3-4M NRE
• ~$20M per year minimum component purchases to maintain exclusivity
• Display Only Licensee later described by Holt: 
• A major company that you would know
• Ability to produce at high volume to bring costs down 
• Significant company with significant revenue and manufacturing expertise
• Technical capabilities that are needed to be successful
• May 2018: "Project Kinect for Azure" sensor module presented by MSFT CEO Satya Nadella. 
• May 2018: Verticals slide presented at Ladenburg Thalman tech expo, suggests Interactive Projection for smart speakers ($$$$) contributes more than Display Only ($$$) to 2019 revenues (directionally)
• June 2018: Foxconn-Sharp announces new, brighter green lasers, smart speakers described as target application
• Samples available in August
• Mass production ready in October (500k/month target)
• July 2018 Q2 Conference Call:
• Everything is on track for multiple product launches in 2019
• Video ASIC for Interactive Display to "tape out this summer", understood to be last piece of MVIS componentry required for new Interactive Projection product platform for smart speakers
• $24M customer "advised design win" for product launching in 2019
• Will consume MVIS components in 2019 against $10M pre-pay
• Guide Q3 revenues to over $15M from Display Only license ($10M), Display Only NRE ($3M) and $24M customer NRE recognition ($2.5M)
• Sep 2018: Mulligan Presentation
• "From the people who are developing [AR/MR] solutions, they tell me that MEMS-based laser beam scanning engine is the only technology that meets the form factor, power and weight requirements to support augmented and mixed reality"
• Sep 2018: New video of Interactive Projection smart speaker application posted to MVIS website
• Sep 2018: HC Wainwright Analyst Note
• "We had understood that some large household name brands were surveying MicroVision’s technology [for smart speakers], but we think that the relationships may have taken an important step toward deeper collaboration at this juncture.”
• [Updated 9/19] Sep 2018: MVIS Northland Capital AI Call
• MVIS has successfully passed AI platform companies' scrutiny of MVIS Operations, which was has been key to enabling their described current advanced "levels of conversations." 
• These conversations involve seven-figure (1M+) and eight-figure (10M+) unit volumes, because that's how these world leading AI companies define success.
• Unlike several years ago with green lasers, there are no problems with components in the supply chain that would gate MVIS from providing modules at the volumes being discussed (1-10M+ units). PM: "We are primed and ready to go"

And to add just a little bit of context, here's the Google Trends chart for "Microvision" searches in the United States going back to 2004 (coincidentally, when I started this blog). 

• MVIS has very low interest or awareness compared to several years ago as measured in Google search history in US
• MVIS appears to be on track to be inside of multiple products from "household name brands" in 2019
• 2019 begins in 106 days