What AUDNET Hearing Group does

AUDNET Hearing Group (AHG) is a member-owned group purchasing organization (GPO) serving independent audiology and hearing care practices across the United States. Formed in 2019 through the merger of AuDNet, Inc. (founded 2002 by David Smriga) and Marcon Hearing Group (led by President Dale Thorstad since 2002), the Hopkins, Minnesota–based company aggregates the collective buying power of independent practices to negotiate volume-based pricing, favorable warranty terms, and single-source billing arrangements with hearing aid manufacturers. Its stated mission is to counter the unequal cost-of-goods burden that independent practices face relative to large retail chains, big-box retailers, and consumer-electronics OTC entrants.

AHG delivers its value through three service pillars: (1) competitive cost-of-goods management via consolidated procurement; (2) discounted access to business support tools — including office management software (30% off), staff training, marketing support, and billing/coding consulting — delivered through vendor partnerships; and (3) strategic consumer messaging through a corporately driven national social media presence and member conferences that promote the value of professional hearing care against OTC alternatives. Members also receive ownership opportunities in AHG and a voice in the group's direction and investments.

AHG generates revenue through recurring membership fees on a subscription model, with pricing that is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. GTM is primarily enterprise field sales combined with channel-partner relationships, targeting mid-market independent practices via direct outreach and a Wufoo-based enrollment process. Leadership comprises clinical and industry veterans (CEO Gregory Frazer, Au.D., Ph.D.; President Dale Thorstad; VP Corporate Communications David Smriga; Vice Chair Adam DiPuccio; COO Grant Smith). The company does not operate any disclosed technology products or software platforms, and currently employs 1–10 people.

Name

AUDNET Hearing Group

Legal name

Audnet Hearing Group

Website

https://audnethg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AUDNET Hearing Group is a member-owned group purchasing organization serving independent U.S. audiology practices, formed by the 2019 merger of AuDNet, Inc. and Marcon Hearing Group to negotiate volume pricing, provide discounted business support tools, and promote professional hearing care nationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hearing Healthcare Group Purchasing Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Audiology & Hearing Diagnostic Centers (HLAFAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hospital Shared Services, GPOs & System Support Organizations (HLAFAAAO)

Keywords

• Group purchasing organization
• Hearing care services
• Audiology practice support
• Hearing aid procurement
• Practice business tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Hopkins

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Group Purchasing Membership Fees: AUDNET Hearing Group generates revenue by representing independent hearing care practices as a unified purchasing entity to secure favorable product costs from manufacturers. The organization negotiates volume-based pricing and discount programs that benefit member practices, with revenue derived from the collective buying power and membership structure.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AUDNET Hearing Group operates as a group purchasing organization (GPO) for the hearing healthcare industry, formed by the merger of AuDNet, Inc. and Marcon Hearing Group. It combines the buying power of multiple national GPO entities to negotiate competitive product costs, warranties, and volume-based pricing with hearing aid manufacturers on behalf of independent audiology practice members. Beyond procurement, it offers members discounted access to business support tools (office management software, staff training, marketing, billing consulting) and coordinates nationwide consumer messaging to promote professional hearing care.

Product overview

AUDNET Hearing Group is a group purchasing organization (not a software product company) formed by the merger of AuDNet, Inc. and Marcon Hearing Group. The organization provides a membership-based platform offering three core service areas: (1) Competitive Cost of Goods Management — access to discounted hearing aids and related products from manufacturers through collective buying power; (2) Unique Business Support Tools — discounted access to office management software, staff training, marketing support, and billing/coding consulting services; and (3) Strategic Consumer Messaging — nationally coordinated social media presence and patient care metrics tools to promote professional hearing care value. No distinct branded software products or modules were identified.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Group Purchasing Membership (Competitive Cost of Goods)
• Business Support Tools Suite
• Strategic Consumer Messaging Program
• Member Conferences and Webinars

Quantifiable outcome

• Office Management software at 30% off for members
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Business Support Vendor PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnique to AUDNET Hearing Group is the ability to offer members discount access to a variety of business support resources and tools through partnerships with top companies that are experts in key support areas. These partnerships provide office management software, training certification, marketing support, and billing consulting without markup on products to pay for services.
• Better Hearing InstituteminorOthersPresident Dale Thorstad has served on the board of the Better Hearing Institute for nine years, contributing to industry advocacy and research initiatives.
• National Board Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS)minorOthersPresident Dale Thorstad has served on the board of NBC-HIS and presently serves as chair of the NBC-HIS exam and writing committee, contributing to professional standards in the hearing instrument industry.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Audigy Group: Audigy Group is a practice management and growth services company serving independent audiology and hearing care practices across the U.S. It is directly comparable to AUDNET because both target the same buyer (independent practice owners) with bundled services spanning vendor access, business tools, and marketing support.
• Amplify Hearing Network: Amplify Hearing Network is an audiology-focused buying and services network for independent practices, providing aggregated purchasing power and shared practice resources. It competes directly with AUDNET for the same independent audiologist member base.

Broad incumbents

• HealthTrust: HealthTrust is a large-scale healthcare GPO serving hospitals, health systems, and ambulatory providers with contract portfolio management and supply chain services. It is broadly comparable as a healthcare GPO model, though it operates at vastly larger scale and outside the audiology niche.
• Premier Inc. Premier is one of the largest U.S. healthcare GPOs and performance improvement companies, aggregating purchasing volume across hospitals and non-acute facilities. It represents the broad-incumbent reference point for the GPO business model AUDNET operates at audiology-specialist scale.
• Vizient: Vizient is a major healthcare performance and GPO company serving academic medical centers, hospitals, and ambulatory providers. It is comparable to AUDNET in core GPO mechanics (volume contracting, advisory services) but operates at much larger scale across broader provider categories.

Emerging players

• Connect Hearing (Sonova): Connect Hearing is the retail clinic network of Sonova, the manufacturer of Phonak hearing aids. While vertically integrated and not a GPO, it competes for the same patient flow and purchasing decisions as AUDNET's member practices, making it a relevant counter-positioning reference.

Others

• AudiologyPlus: AudiologyPlus is the digital platform identified on AUDNET's website footer as powering its online presence and member engagement. As a technology vendor serving audiology practices, it is an adjacent enabling partner rather than a direct competitor.
• Audioscan: Audioscan is a premier manufacturer of real-ear measurement and electroacoustic analysis systems for hearing aid fitting. AUDNET's VP David Smriga serves as Senior Audiology Consultant to Audioscan, making it a strategic vendor ecosystem partner rather than a competing GPO.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/audnethg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/audnet-hearing-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AUDNET Hearing Group