Matthew de Jonge is on a mission to democratize hearing aids. After years of frustration with his grandparents’ reliance on manual hearing aid adjustments, he founded Fortell, an AI-driven startup that aims to create smarter, more adaptive hearing devices. The company has raised a staggering $163 million, attracting investors like Founders Fund and Thrive Capital. Fortell’s innovative approach lies in its ability to process ambient sounds in real time, prioritizing clarity over volume, a stark contrast to the current market where devices often amplify everything equally, leading to the infamous ‘everything-at-once’ effect. This disruption could potentially challenge the dominance of the industry, where just five companies command 97% of the market share. But with such a fragmented market, how will Fortell navigate insurance and regulatory hurdles to make its technology accessible to the masses?

Join Rebecca Bellan as she delves into the complexities of disrupting an industry with a deep-rooted monopoly. The future of hearing aids could be as simple – and as clear – as putting on a pair of glasses.