What Bernafon AG does

Bernafon AG is a Swiss-heritage medical device company that designs, manufactures, and markets digital hearing aids and related accessories, founded in Bern, Switzerland in 1946 as a telephone-company spin-off into sound amplification. It operates today as a wholly-owned brand subsidiary of Demant, the Denmark-based publicly listed hearing healthcare conglomerate that acquired it in 1994, with the majority of operational functions consolidated at Demant's Copenhagen-area headquarters since 2022 while the Swiss entity (Bernafon AG / Demant Schweiz AG) continues to manage the Swiss market. Its product portfolio spans four hearing-aid families — Encanta (the 2024 flagship with Smart Sensor, Auracast, and LE Audio), Alpha XT, Alpha (Hybrid Technology), and Leox (severe-to-profound amplification) — plus accessories (TV-A adapter, SoundClip-A, RC-A, chargers) and the Bernafon mobile app, all anchored on proprietary signal-processing IP including Smart Sensor, DECS, Hybrid Technology, and Live Musik Plus.

Bernafon sells exclusively through a global network of certified hearing care professionals (Hörakustiker), supported by the Oasisnxt fitting software, clinical evidence libraries, and a dedicated partner portal. It generates revenue primarily through hardware sales of hearing systems and accessories, complemented by software/fitting tools supplied to professionals and a free companion app for end users; pricing is not publicly disclosed and is set per fitting by partner audiologists. End users are reached through a consumer website featuring a free online hearing test, hearing-loss simulator, educational content, testimonials, and an audiologist locator, while professionals are reached through clinical evidence, training resources, and download centers across 23+ country-specific market sites spanning Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and Africa.

The company's business model is a B2B2C channel-partner motion in which Bernafon captures brand and technology economics at the manufacturer level while audiologist partners own the patient relationship, fitting, and aftercare. Its competitive positioning rests on proprietary audio-processing technology, clinical evidence across all technology tiers (not only premium), Swiss brand heritage, and the scaled R&D and distribution platform of its Demant parent.

Name

Bernafon AG

Legal name

Bernafon AG

Website

https://bernafon.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Bernafon AG is a Swiss-heritage hearing aid manufacturer and Demant brand subsidiary, designing digital hearing systems (Encanta, Alpha XT, Alpha, Leox) and accessories sold exclusively through a global network of certified audiologists across 23+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hearing Aids

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)

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

Assistive Hearing & Communication Access (Captioning, Hearing Support, Transcription) (EDAFAKAC), Audiology & Hearing Services (ENT-Affiliated) (HLAKAMAI)

Keywords

• Hearing aids
• Hearing systems
• Audiology technology
• Digital hearing devices
• Hearing healthcare

Headquarters

HQ city

Berne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hearing Systems Sales: Sale of hearing aid devices across multiple product families (Encanta, Alpha XT, Alpha, Leox) with various technology levels and form factors (BTE, IIC, CIC, miniRITE, etc.)
2. Accessories: Sale of hearing system accessories including TV-A adapter, SoundClip-A, RC-A remote control, chargers, batteries, ear pieces, and wax filters.
3. Mobile Application: Bernafon App for iOS and Android providing hearing aid control, remote fitting capabilities, and compatibility management.
4. Professional Fitting Software: Oasisnxt fitting software for audiologists to customize and calibrate hearing systems for individual patients.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bernafon AG designs, develops, and manufactures digital hearing aid systems across four product families (Encanta, Alpha XT, Alpha, Leox) for individuals with mild-to-profound hearing loss. The company sells its hearing devices and accessories (TV-A, SoundClip-A, RC-A, chargers) exclusively through a global network of certified hearing care professionals (audiologists) who provide fitting, customization, and aftercare services. Bernafon also provides professional fitting software (Oasisnxt), a companion mobile app, and clinical evidence resources to support audiologist practices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Encanta: Latest hearing system family offering excellent sound quality with four technology levels (100, 200, 300, 400) for various hearing needs and budgets.
• Alpha XT
• Alpha
• Leox

Products and services

• Encanta hearing aid family Latest Bernafon hearing aid family with four technology tiers providing excellent sound quality, Smart Sensor movement-based automatic adjustment, Bluetooth streaming, and rechargeable batteries. Designed for adults with mild-to-severe hearing loss and customized by certified audiologists to match hearing needs, lifestyle, and budget.
• Alpha XT hearing aids Advanced hearing systems offering excellent sound quality and listening comfort across everyday listening situations, powered by extended Hybrid Technology that combines speech understanding with hearing comfort. Fitted by certified hearing care professionals for adults seeking clarity and comfort.
• Alpha hearing aids Premium hearing aids featuring Hybrid Technology to improve speech understanding and hearing comfort. Designed for adults with hearing loss and fitted through certified audiologists for everyday listening situations.
• Leox hearing aids Bernafon's most powerful hearing aids offering precise, high-output amplification for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss. Features DECS (Dynamic Environment Configuration System) technology for natural sound processing across listening environments. Fitted by certified audiologists.
• Bernafon App Companion mobile application for iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play) providing hearing aid control, settings adjustment, remote fitting support, and device compatibility management for end users of Bernafon hearing systems.
• Oasisnxt fitting software Professional fitting software used by certified audiologists to customize and calibrate Bernafon hearing systems for individual patients; supports clinical evidence-based fitting workflows with counseling tools and product documentation.
• Hearing system accessories Accessories supporting Bernafon hearing aids including TV-A wireless TV adapter (2.4 GHz audio streaming), SoundClip-A (hands-free calling, external microphone, Bluetooth connection), RC-A remote control, chargers, batteries, ear pieces, and wax filters. Sold through partner audiologists.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11 dB SPL better speech intelligibility (Encanta 100 in quiet)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability6 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• DemantcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Bernafon is a brand under Demant, one of the world's largest hearing technology companies. The partnership provides Bernafon with access to one of the strongest R&D clusters in hearing health globally. Demant's acquisition of Bernafon in 1994 enabled technology sharing and global market reach. A major portion of Bernafon operations moved to Demant's headquarters near Copenhagen, Denmark by 2022.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oticon: Fellow Demant-owned hearing-aid brand and the group's flagship. Shares R&D, manufacturing and the parent brand portfolio with Bernafon; competes most directly inside the same Demant house for audiologist mindshare and tier positioning.
• GN Hearing: Danish hearing-aid manufacturer behind ReSound, Beltone and Jabra Enhance. Direct competitor across smart hearing aids with strong Bluetooth and Auracast capability, similar target customer base and audiologist go-to-market.
• Sonova: Swiss-listed hearing-care group whose flagship brand Phonak (and Unitron) competes head-on with Bernafon across premium and mid-tier hearing aids and fitting software (e.g., Target). Most direct large competitor by product family and audiologist-channel focus.
• WS Audiology: Owner of Signia, Widex and Rexton hearing-aid brands. Competes with Bernafon across BTE/RIC form factors, rechargeable platforms, and the audiologist channel, especially in Europe where Bernafon is strongest.
• Starkey Hearing Technologies: US-based hearing-aid manufacturer competing across all tiers with proprietary AI-driven sound processing and health-sensor features. Direct competitor in premium and mid-tier segments via the audiologist channel.
• Beltone: GN-owned hearing-aid brand with a large, vertically-influenced retail network in North America. Comparable hearing-aid products and audiologist-channel model, especially relevant in Bernafon's US presence.
• Widex: Premium hearing-aid brand now part of WS Audiology. Historically benchmarked on sound quality and music listening — overlapping directly with Bernafon's Live Musik Plus positioning.

Emerging players

• Eargo: US direct-to-consumer hearing-aid challenger selling rechargeable, virtually invisible devices online. Partial overlap at the mild-to-moderate entry tier where Bernafon competes via Encanta 100/200 in the audiologist channel.
• Lexie Hearing: OTC hearing-aid brand selling Bose-powered devices direct-to-consumer via telehealth-supported fittings. Competes for first-time, mild-hearing-loss buyers who might otherwise have been referred to a Bernafon-fitting audiologist.
• Cochlear Limited: Global leader in cochlear implants. Encroaches on Bernafon's Leox severe-to-profound hearing-aid segment as implant candidacy criteria widen, making it a direct substitute for high-amplification products.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BernafonDeutschland
• Facebookfacebook.com/BernafonDeutschland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bernafon-ag
• Xx.com/Bernafon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Bernafon AG