Key facts
- Legato, a new hearing tech company, has launched with $12 million in funding.
- The startup's first product is AI-powered hearing glasses called Legato Frames.
- Legato Frames integrate hearing assistance technology into eyewear frames.
- The glasses use AI to differentiate background noise from voices and amplify speech.
- Legato Frames are designed to look and feel like regular glasses and will launch this fall.
- The company was founded by former Bose executives Mehul Trivedi and Steve Romine.
Legato, a new hearing technology startup, has officially launched, announcing $12 million in seed funding and unveiling its initial product: AI-powered hearing glasses called Legato Frames. The company aims to address the significant gap in treatment for hearing loss, which affects an estimated 50 million adults in the United States, with only about 20% seeking care.
Founded by Mehul Trivedi and Steve Romine, who bring extensive experience from Bose's wearable and hearing aid divisions, Legato Frames integrate patented hearing-assistance technology into the arms of eyewear. The glasses are designed to look and feel like regular eyeglasses and are slated for a fall launch. They utilize an AI system to distinguish between background noise and voices, amplifying only the latter to improve conversation clarity without the cognitive drain associated with some traditional hearing aids.
The company's approach focuses on making hearing care more accessible by tackling the cost, comfort, and stigma of conventional hearing aids. Legato's proprietary acoustic system and signal-processing stack are engineered for a discreet, open-ear design that minimizes sound leakage, reducing it by 99% just inches from the ear. The funding, provided by Neotribe Ventures, Listen, and Village Global, will support product development and marketing efforts.
Trivedi expressed a vision to make hearing as ubiquitous as vision, aiming for a product that is effortless to use and integrated seamlessly into daily life. He highlighted the broader health benefits of better hearing, including reduced risk of dementia and depression, emphasizing that the glasses are designed to be worn for extended periods, fostering connection to the world.