Several years ago, Andrew Song, President and co-founder of Whisper, discussed hearing aids with his grandfather. Despite a significant financial investment in a device intended to enhance his hearing and overall well-being, his grandfather wasn’t utilizing them. Similar experiences among Song’s co-founders, combined with their backgrounds as engineers and entrepreneurs, motivated them to develop a more advanced and contemporary hearing aid solution.

The company has now publicly launched its innovative hearing aid, meticulously designed from the outset. This device leverages artificial intelligence to automatically learn and adapt to diverse listening environments, such as bustling restaurants or television viewing. Instead of a substantial upfront cost, users benefit from a three-year subscription model with a recurring monthly fee, accompanied by complimentary software updates.

Concurrently, the company announced a $35 million Series B funding round, spearheaded by Quiet Capital, with continued support from existing investors Sequoia Capital and First Round Capital. To date, the startup has secured a total of $53 million in funding to bring its hearing aid system to market.

These initial conversations with his grandfather prompted Song to investigate the reasons behind the lack of use, identifying the challenges and shortcomings of existing devices – ultimately leading to the creation of the company.

“This truly inspired us to create a new type of product,” Song stated, “one that continually improves and better addresses the evolving needs of hearing aid users. We aimed to develop a device that not only gets better over time but also utilizes artificial intelligence to enhance the clarity of sound for the individual.”

Although the founding team possessed strong technical and engineering skills, they recognized the need for specialized expertise in hearing science. Consequently, they enlisted Dr. Robert Sweetow from the UCSF audiology department to contribute his knowledge.

The technology comprises three core elements. First are the hearing aids themselves, designed for comfortable wear. These work in conjunction with a compact, portable unit called the Whisper Brain, which the company describes as utilizing a “proprietary AI-based Sound Separation Engine” to communicate wirelessly with the earpieces. Finally, a smartphone application facilitates software updates for the entire system.

Song emphasizes that this AI capability distinguishes their hearing aids from competitors. “Our sound separation engine, the AI model we’ve developed, is crucial in navigating complex listening situations. It provides the signal processing needed to deliver a truly unique experience,” he explained.

Furthermore, Song draws a parallel to self-driving cars, noting that the hearing aid learns and improves over time, benefiting from data collected not only from individual users but also from the broader Whisper user base.

The company is distributing these hearing aids through a network of qualified hearing aid professionals, rather than offering them directly to consumers. Song explained this decision was made because of the complexity of these devices and the importance of involving audiologists in the fitting process, providing ongoing support, and collaborating with Whisper customers throughout the product’s lifespan.

Whisper provides these hearing aids on a subscription basis for $179 per month with a three-year commitment. This includes all hardware, software updates, continuous support from a hearing care professional, a three-year loss and damage insurance policy, and a standard equipment warranty. A limited-time introductory offer of $139 per month is currently available.

Over the three-year subscription period at $179 per month, the total cost amounts to $6,444 for essentially renting the aids. Upon subscription completion, customers have the option to renew with updated hardware or return the existing devices. Ownership of the hearing aids is not included.

It is important to note that other hearing aid manufacturers, such as Widex and Starkey, also incorporate AI into their products, without requiring an external hub. While many companies offer various payment and subscription options, Whisper represents a distinct approach to the hearing aid market.