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Global Startup Heat Map: 5 Top Hearables Solutions
The 5 sound technology solutions you will explore below are chosen based on our data-driven startup scouting approach, taking into account factors such as location, founding year, and relevance of technology, among others. This analysis is based on the Big Data & Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering over 1.3 million startups & scaleups globally.
The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights the 5 startups & scaleups developing hearables solutions our Innovation Researchers curated for this report. Moreover, you get insights into regions that observe a high startup activity and the global geographic distribution of the 140 companies we analyzed for this specific topic.
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Nessa provides Personalized Hearing Aids
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost half a billion people are affected by hearing disability. Startups are developing various customized and user-specific technology solutions to aid people with hearing disabilities use both video-based and audio-based hearable solutions.
Singapore based startup Nessa provides a range of hearing aids to treat hearing impairment that features a variety of smart functions. Nessa’s network of audiologists across the Asia-Pacific region provides users with access to experts. Nessa utilizes rapid-processing and clinically-proven algorithms to deliver better than normal hearing. This provides a convenient solution for users to find the most suitable hearing aid to match their needs. Moreover, the hearing aid design offers a discrete solution to appear nearly invisible, without closer inspection.
Nuheara manufactures Earbuds for Tinnitus Relief
The human ear is one of the more sensitive parts of the human body. The incurred risk of permanent damage from sounds in correlation to the rise of decibel levels is a growing concern. One type of hearing impairment that affects a considerably large population is tinnitus. Tinnitus creates a constant ringing sound for people and, at higher levels, causes negative psychological effects. To this end, startups are developing hearables solutions to prevent the harmful long term effects of tinnitus.
Australian startup Nuheara manufactures earbuds that offer relief from the symptoms of tinnitus. The startup utilizes proprietary and multi-functional intelligent hearing technology to create earbuds. The earbuds come equipped with acoustic therapy concepts by creating a quiet background noise to mask the internal ringing effects of tinnitus. Their IQbuds2 MAX provides additional features such as active noise cancellation and wireless charging, which cater to younger customers who are more prone to developing tinnitus.
Klang offers In-Ear Sound Mixing Solutions
The sound mixing and audio equipment industries require a high quality of sound to carry out their work. Manufacturers develop various types of products from entry-level to high-end professional sound equipment. Currently, sound engineers do not prefer in-ear audio mixing due to their low quality of sound when compared to wedge-type headphones. Sound technology startups are exploring different ways to improve the quality of sound for professional applications.
German scaleup Klang manufactures immersive in-ear audio mixing hardware and software. The scaleup’s design for mixing equipment supports up to 16 connections for 3D in-ear mixing for musicians and sound engineers. Klang’s technology allows sound engineers to work on mixes in real-time and with intuitive control features.
IDUN audio develops Spatial Audio Software for Headphones
Audio technology is constantly evolving from 2D to 3D content and surround sound. Further, with advancements in augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR), the location of a user within a given environment adds another dimension to audio. Sound software developers constantly work to improve the hardware and tracking associated with AR and VR applications but often neglect the audio that the user experiences, creating opportunities for sound technology startups.
Danish startup IDUN audio develops an audio software specifically geared towards AR/VR applications where the listeners’ location plays an important role. Workspaces that require personnel to wear noise-canceling headsets or ear protection, such as foundries or airports, to mitigate significant safety hazards. IDUN’s spatial auditory solution provides listeners with an extra dimension of safety and information with the sounds they hear to gauge direction or distance. Further, the solution requires low signal processing power, making it possible to run the software inside wireless headphones. IDUN audio aims to restore natural listening with headphones.
Ambie produces Open-Ear Headphones
Many people consider the use of earphones to be a safety hazard as it dulls the user’s senses to the outside world. This may later cause unintended harm to users or others around them. To remove the challenge of dulling external sounds, startups create auditory solutions that do not fully block the user from the external world. For example, the use of open-ear headphones is better to notice an impending emergency or for users immersed in AR or VR applications.
Japanese startup Ambie manufactures open-ear headphones, called earcuffs, that allow users to listen to audio from a device without blocking their ear canal to other external sounds. The Ambie earcuffs incorporate a proprietary design to create a balance between the device’s position to the person’s ear. The solution optimally spaces the earcuffs close enough to listen to the audio while ensuring there is no disturbance to the ear canal.
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