Zounds
Zounds is a Phoenix-based online retailer founded in 2005 that sells hearing aids and accessories directly to hearing-impaired US consumers through its e-commerce website.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersPhoenix, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Zounds does
Zounds is an online retailer of hearing aids and accessories serving hearing-impaired consumers in the United States. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, the company operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model through its website (zoundshearing.com) and employs between 101 and 250 people. The business is founder-led, with Sam Thomasson serving as Founder and CEO, supported by Darrell Cornelius as Vice President of Operations and Stan Thomasson as Senior Director of IT.
The company's go-to-market is a consumer-facing online retail channel, which differentiates it from the traditional audiologist-dispensing model that dominates hearing aid distribution in the US. According to available funding records, Zounds has raised approximately $83.2 million across five funding rounds between 2007 and 2014, with institutional participation from Signature Capital Securities and TWJ Capital. The most recent disclosed round was a $10 million raise in May 2014; no subsequent capital raises, M&A activity, or product launches are recorded in the provided data, indicating a multi-year gap in observable strategic activity despite continued operating status.
The aggregated input data also contained extensive material describing an unrelated Indonesian online slot gambling platform (HOKIBET / Raja Slot) with QRIS payment integration. This content is inconsistent with Zounds' firmographic profile as a US-based hearing aid retailer and has been treated as misattributed noise rather than Zounds-related data.
Zounds firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zounds
- Website
- https://zoundshearing.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Zounds is a Phoenix-based online retailer founded in 2005 that sells hearing aids and accessories directly to hearing-impaired US consumers through its e-commerce website.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Zounds industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hearing Healthcare Retail
- NAICS
- Health and Personal Care Retailers (456), All Other Health and Personal Care Retailers (456199)
- SIC
- Retail-Radio, Tv & Consumer Electronics Stores (5731), Retail-Nonstore Retailers (5960)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hearing Enhancement / Assistive Listening Audio Devices (CRACANAL)
Keywords
Where Zounds is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Phoenix
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Zounds business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Slot Gaming Transactions: Platform generates revenue through slot gaming transactions with minimum deposit of 5000 IDR. Users can win jackpots and withdraw winnings with fast processing times.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Zounds product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Zounds is an online retailer selling hearing aids and hearing-aid accessories to hearing-impaired consumers. The business is structured as a direct-to-consumer e-commerce operation, offering correction devices and supporting accessories through its website. Distribution is conducted via the company's own online channel rather than through third-party retail partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hearing aids Hearing-aid devices sold directly to hearing-impaired U.S. consumers through the Zounds online store.
- Hearing-aid accessories Accessories for hearing aids, sold to hearing-impaired consumers via the Zounds online store.
Quantifiable outcome
- Users report fast withdrawal processing times
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Zounds
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Zounds technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Zounds partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Zounds competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lexie Hearing: Direct-to-consumer online hearing aid retailer offering prescription and OTC devices with remote audiology support — the closest comparable DTC model to Zounds.
- MDHearing: Online-first hearing aid retailer selling affordable FDA-registered devices direct to consumers, mirroring Zounds' D2C channel strategy and target demographic.
- Eargo: DTC hearing aid company selling virtually invisible, rechargeable hearing aids online — same direct-to-consumer hearing-aid category as Zounds with similar premium-DTC positioning.
- Audicus: Online hearing aid retailer offering affordable, pre-programmed devices with remote support, directly comparable in channel and customer base to Zounds.
- Jabra Enhance (GN Hearing): GN Hearing's DTC/OTC brand selling prescription hearing aids online with audiology support — same hybrid D2C + tele-audiology model and overlapping customer segment.
- Lively: Online hearing aid retailer (now part of Jabra/GN) competing in the same prescription-grade D2C hearing-aid category as Zounds.
Broad incumbents
- Bose Hear (SoundControl): Consumer-electronics giant that entered the OTC/self-fit hearing aid market; broader portfolio but directly addresses Zounds' OTC and online customer.
- Sony OTC Hearing Aids: Global consumer-electronics brand that launched OTC hearing aids (CRE-C10, CRE-E10) leveraging Sony's retail and brand reach — broader incumbent now overlapping Zounds' OTC and accessory markets.
- Costco Hearing Aid Centers: Operates in-store hearing aid centers under private-label brands (Kirkland) at aggressive price points — a major channel competitor pressuring DTC retailers like Zounds on price and convenience.
Emerging players
- Nuheara: OTC-focused smart-hearing earbud company with direct-to-consumer distribution — comparable to Zounds on online channel and consumer-electronics positioning, though at the earbud/tech-forward end of the category.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Zounds social profiles
Digital presenceZounds financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zounds leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Zounds funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zounds 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 Zounds
What does Zounds do?
Zounds is an online retailer selling hearing aids and hearing-aid accessories to hearing-impaired consumers. The business is structured as a direct-to-consumer e-commerce operation, offering correction devices and supporting accessories through its website. Distribution is conducted via the company's own online channel rather than through third-party retail partners.
When was Zounds founded?
Zounds was founded in 2005. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Zounds based?
Zounds is headquartered in Phoenix, United States, in the North America region.
How does Zounds make money?
One revenue line is on record: slot Gaming Transactions.
Who are Zounds's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lexie Hearing, MDHearing, Eargo, Audicus, Jabra Enhance (GN Hearing) and Lively. Broad incumbents are Bose Hear (SoundControl), Sony OTC Hearing Aids and Costco Hearing Aid Centers. Nuheara is listed as an emerging player.
Does Zounds have an API?
No public API is recorded for Zounds.
What industry is Zounds in?
Zounds's product category is Hearing Healthcare Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACANAL, Hearing Enhancement / Assistive Listening Audio Devices. Its NAICS code is 456 and its SIC code is 5731.