03/22/2024
iHEAR Innovations Center- Silicon Valley
The Center for Medical Device Innovations (CMDI) is pleased to announce the launch of iHEAR Innovations Center, dedicated to the development of advanced hearing solutions, targeting Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) and OTC hearing markets. Our focus will be mainly on driving innovations that enable rapid market expansion and new business models, leveraging our team’s extensive track record and experience in hearing enhancement and medical devices. One of our main goals is to prepare for the upcoming OTC 2.0 era with novel products that remove persistent barriers to hearing aid use.
We proceed with a new mindset, departing from traditional thinking about who the consumers are and what they want. Let’s face it, conventional hearing aids are designed to deal with hearing impairment, conveying perceptions of aging and disability. Research has shown most people will not wear a conventional hearing aid even if it offered for free. Today’s consumers demand modern products that convey a sense of empowerment, productivity for an active and healthy lifestyle.
We will be focusing on R&D, Intellectual Property (IP), and new Business Model development for new types of hearing devices. For manufacturing and distribution, we will rely on partnerships with global manufacturers, major retailers and big-brand owners capable of reaching mass markets- not limited to the hearing-impaired segment which represents only 10% of the population. Our target consumer is basically anyone who wants to hear better in everyday situations. We recognize that these are not new ideas in the hearing industry, but the devil is always in the details: How do these new products look? How do they perform? What is the marketing message? And who are the right partners who have the brand and the ability to expand the market?
For our endeavor, areas of interest include advanced speech processing, hearing in noise, biosensing, applications of AI/ML and APPs in hearing enhancement, and wireless connectivity.
We welcome inquiries for partnerships and collaboration.
