Starkey
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1967
- HeadquartersBudapest, Hungary
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Starkey firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Starkey
- Legal name
- Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
- Website
- https://starkey.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1967
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Starkey industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Prescription Hearing Aids
- NAICS
- Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112)
- SIC
- Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hearing Enhancement / Assistive Listening Audio Devices (CRACANAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- On-Device Speech & Audio AI (wake word, ASR, enhancement) (HDAAAJAF), Assistive Hearing & Communication Access (Captioning, Hearing Support, Transcription) (EDAFAKAC), Eye, Ear & Nasal Care (HLAIADAF)
Keywords
Where Starkey is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Budapest
- HQ country
- Hungary
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Starkey business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hearing Aid Hardware Sales: Sale of prescription hearing aids including Omega AI, Edge AI, G Series AI, Genesis AI, Signature Series, and custom hearing solutions
- Hearing Aid Accessories: Wireless accessories including TV streamers, remote microphones, table microphones, remote controls, and StarLink Edge LE Adapter
- Mobile Applications: My Starkey, Thrive, Hear Share, SoundCheck Live, and Relax apps for hearing aid control and tinnitus relief (free with device)
- Professional Fitting Services: Revenue generated through licensed hearing healthcare professionals who prescribe, fit, and provide ongoing care for Starkey hearing aids
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Professional consultation, fitting, and ongoing care through licensed hearing healthcare providers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Starkey product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Starkey designs, manufactures, and distributes AI-powered prescription hearing aids (Omega AI, Edge AI, G Series AI, Signature Series) along with companion mobile apps, wireless accessories, and hearing protection products. Hearing aids are sold through licensed hearing healthcare professionals who prescribe, fit, and provide ongoing care; sales are not made through internet retailers without face-to-face consultation. The portfolio integrates Bluetooth LE Audio, Auracast broadcast audio, health monitoring (fall detection, activity, engagement), generative AI assistants, and IP68+ waterproof durability.
Product overview
Starkey offers a comprehensive hearing technology portfolio centered on AI-powered hearing aids with multiple product tiers (Omega AI as flagship, Edge AI, G Series AI, and Signature Series custom aids). The ecosystem includes four companion smartphone apps (My Starkey for primary control with generative AI features, Thrive for hearing control, Hear Share for caregiver connectivity, and SoundCheck Live for noise monitoring) plus hearing protection products under the SoundGear brand. Wireless accessories include TV streamers, remote microphones, table microphones, and remote controls. The DualSync partnership with MED-EL enables bimodal hearing solutions combining Starkey hearing aids with MED-EL cochlear implants. All hearing aids feature Bluetooth connectivity with LE Audio and Auracast broadcast support for assistive listening in public venues.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SoundGear: Hearing protection product line including Phantom, custom-fit earplugs, and electronic hearing protection devices
- Thrive
- StarLink
- Pro Fit
Products and services
- Omega AI hearing aids Flagship AI-powered prescription hearing aid with waterproof design up to 1 meter depth, healthable tools including fall detection and activity tracking, and next-generation Bluetooth LE Audio connectivity with Auracast readiness; for adults with mild-to-profound hearing loss dispensed through licensed hearing healthcare professionals.
- Edge AI hearing aids AI-powered prescription hearing aid offering transparent sound, seamless Bluetooth LE Audio connectivity, and AI features; first Starkey product with built-in Auracast broadcast audio compatibility for assistive listening in public venues.
- G Series AI hearing aids Entry-level AI prescription hearing aid featuring reliable Bluetooth connectivity with easy, immediate, and effective technology designed to improve hearing and overall living for adults with hearing loss.
- Signature Series custom hearing aids Custom-fit prescription hearing aid line featuring the world's smallest custom rechargeable hearing aid, which is also waterproof; technology custom fit to hide discreetly in the ear.
- My Starkey App Primary smartphone app providing hearing aid control, health monitoring (steps, engagement, balance), Smart Assistant with generative AI, fall alerts, audio streaming, language translation, and TeleHear remote support; Apple Watch compatible.
- Thrive Hearing Control App Hearing aid control app offering volume adjustment, memory switching, activity and engagement tracking, fall alerts, reminders, language translation across 27 languages, transcribe, and TeleHear remote programming features.
- Hear Share App Caregiver connectivity app enabling hearing aid wearers to share health information including physical activity, hearing aid usage, and social engagement with pre-selected family members or care providers.
- SoundCheck Live App Sound level meter app using the smartphone microphone to measure environmental noise levels and determine if they are safe or potentially harmful to hearing.
- Relax App Tinnitus relief app offering 12 unique soundscapes to help relieve tinnitus symptoms along with tinnitus information and treatment options.
- SoundGear hearing protection products Hearing protection product line including the SoundGear Phantom (world's first custom Bluetooth-compatible rechargeable hearing aid and hearing protection device) and custom/instant-fit hearing protection using digital technology to enhance surrounding sounds while automatically suppressing dangerous loud noises; for musicians, hunters, industrial workers, pilots, newscasters, and shooting sports enthusiasts.
- StarLink wireless accessories Family of wireless accessories including the StarLink Edge TV Streamer (Bluetooth LE Audio TV streamer), StarLink Edge Remote Microphone and Table Microphone (for noisy and group settings), StarLink Edge LE Adapter (USB-C adapter for hands-free streaming from phones, tablets, and computers), StarLink TV Streamer, StarLink Remote Microphone Plus, StarLink Mini Remote Microphone, StarLink Table Microphone, and StarLink Remote Control 2.0.
- DualSync bimodal streaming Partnership-enabled technology with MED-EL enabling Apple devices to stream audio simultaneously to compatible Starkey hearing aids and MED-EL cochlear implants, enabling bimodal hearing solutions for users with one cochlear implant and one hearing aid.
Quantifiable outcome
- Top 25% HearingTracker Score of 4.2 and 'A' SoundGrade rating
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Starkey
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Starkey technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability9 records
Feature9 records
Starkey partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- MetacoreMeta partnered with Starkey hearing aid manufacturer and startup accelerator 2gether-International to explore accessibility applications for SAM Audio technology. SAM Audio is a unified multimodal model for audio separation using text, visual, and span inputs to isolate specific sounds from complex audio mixtures, operating faster than real-time (RTF ≈ 0.7).
- UNICEF Children with Disabilities FundflagshipStarkey became the inaugural corporate partner of the UNICEF Children with Disabilities Fund in 2025, supporting early screening, increasing access to support services, and assistive technology for children with disabilities globally. Partnership focuses on countries like India, Peru, and Uganda, aiming to create sustainable change and promote disability rights and inclusion.
- MED-ELcoreStarkey and MED-EL launched DualSync, a bimodal streaming partnership enabling Apple devices to stream audio to compatible Starkey hearing aids and MED-EL cochlear implants. Technology available July 1, 2025 for select models including Starkey Edge AI, Genesis AI and MED-EL Sonnet 3, Sonnet 2, Sonnet, and Rondo 3 audio processors.
- Special OlympicsflagshipSince 2022, Starkey has worked with Special Olympics to increase access to hearing care for individuals with intellectual disabilities worldwide. As Official Partner and Exclusive Hearing Aid Sponsor of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, Starkey supports athletes through the Healthy Athletes® Healthy Hearing program.
- Clinton Global InitiativeminorStarkey supports the Clinton Global Initiative as part of its global efforts to expand access, inclusion, and care for communities around the world.
- Elton John AIDS FoundationminorStarkey proudly supports the Elton John AIDS Foundation as part of its select global organizations whose missions align with company values around access, inclusion, and care.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Starkey competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sonova: Swiss parent company of Phonak, Unitron, Hansaton and Advanced Bionics. Direct global peer to Starkey across prescription hearing aids, cochlear implants, and professional fitting channels.
- Demant: Danish hearing healthcare group whose brands include Oticon, Bernafon, Sonic and Philips Hearing Solutions. Competes head-to-head with Starkey in the prescription channel across the same audiologist networks.
- GN Group (GN Hearing): Danish parent of ReSound, Beltone, Jabra and Interton. Direct competitor in AI-enabled prescription hearing aids and adjacent hearables, including the newer Jabra Enhance OTC line competing with new entrants.
- WS Audiology: Singapore/European holding company for Signia (formerly Siemens) and Widex. Competes with Starkey across premium prescription hearing aids and audiology dispensing channels worldwide.
- MED-EL: Austrian cochlear implant manufacturer partnered with Starkey through the DualSync bimodal streaming technology; also a competitor in the surgical hearing-loss segment.
Emerging players
- Eargo: U.S. direct-to-consumer hearing aid company focused on virtually invisible, self-fitting devices sold online. Represents the DTC/OTC threat to Starkey's professional-channel-only model.
- Lexie Hearing: U.S. OTC hearing aid brand sold direct-to-consumer with online support and subscription models. Partial overlap with Starkey's hearing care value proposition but serves a lower price point.
- Sony: Consumer-electronics giant that entered the U.S. OTC hearing aid market with CRE-C10 and over-ear models; adjacent competitor leveraging brand reach and retail distribution.
- Apple: Through AirPods Pro 2 hearing-test and hearing-aid features, Apple is an emerging non-traditional hearing assistive competitor; Starkey participates in Apple-compatible hearing-aid streaming via DualSync.
Broad incumbents
- Cochlear Limited: Australian global leader in cochlear implant systems; adjacent to Starkey's hearing aid business and a potential competitor and partner for bimodal solutions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Starkey social profiles
Digital presenceStarkey financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Starkey leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Starkey funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Starkey M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Starkey
What does Starkey do?
Starkey designs, manufactures, and distributes AI-powered prescription hearing aids (Omega AI, Edge AI, G Series AI, Signature Series) along with companion mobile apps, wireless accessories, and hearing protection products. Hearing aids are sold through licensed hearing healthcare professionals who prescribe, fit, and provide ongoing care; sales are not made through internet retailers without face-to-face consultation. The portfolio integrates Bluetooth LE Audio, Auracast broadcast audio, health monitoring (fall detection, activity, engagement), generative AI assistants, and IP68+ waterproof durability.
Is Starkey a public or private company?
Starkey is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Starkey founded?
Starkey was founded in 1967. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Starkey based?
Starkey is headquartered in Budapest, Hungary, in the Europe region.
How does Starkey make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Hearing Aid Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are hearing Aid Accessories, mobile Applications and professional Fitting Services.
Who are Starkey's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sonova, Demant, GN Group (GN Hearing), WS Audiology and MED-EL. Emerging players are Eargo, Lexie Hearing, Sony and Apple. Cochlear Limited is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Starkey have an API?
No public API is recorded for Starkey.
What industry is Starkey in?
Starkey's product category is Prescription Hearing Aids. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACANAL, Hearing Enhancement / Assistive Listening Audio Devices, with a secondary code of HDAAAJAF, On-Device Speech & Audio AI (wake word, ASR, enhancement). Its NAICS code is 334510 and its SIC code is 3845.