Hearing tech startup Legato emerges from stealth with $12M and a peek at its AI hearing glasses
techcrunch ·
Hearing tech startup Legato emerged from stealth with $12 million in funding and unveiled its AI-powered hearing glasses, called Legato Frames. The glasses integrate hearing-assistance technology into eyewear frames and are expected to launch later this fall. Legato was founded by Mehul Trivedi and Steve Romine, who previously worked at Bose, EssilorLuxottica, and Audicus. The company targets people with mild to moderate hearing loss, aiming to reduce the cost, comfort issues, and stigma linked to traditional hearing aids. Its AI system distinguishes background noise from voices and amplifies only speech to make conversations clearer. The frames feature an open-ear design with a dual-speaker system that directs sound to the wearer while cutting escaping sound by 99%. Legato plans to sell the glasses through select eye-care providers nationwide at a fraction of the cost of traditional hearing aids, and they may be eligible for vision insurance. Funding came from Neotribe Ventures, Listen, and Village Global.
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