Minisom

What Minisom does

Minisom is a Portuguese hearing aid retailer and audiology services provider that operates more than 100 hearing centers across Portugal as a consumer-facing brand of the Amplifon Group, the global hearing solutions company whose roots date to 1950. The company was rebranded from Gaes to Minisom in 2021 as part of Amplifon's brand consolidation, and is legally operated through Amplifon Portugal, S.A., headquartered in Paço de Arcos. Minisom's core business is the distribution, fitting, and ongoing servicing of hearing aids, complemented by bone conduction implants (BAHA), ear protection products, and assistive listening accessories such as amplified phones, alarm clocks, and headphones.

The product portfolio centers on multiple hearing aid lines (ampli-mini for discreet form factors, ampli-power for severe hearing loss, ampli-connect for Bluetooth-streaming RIC and BTE devices, ampli-easy for entry-level BTE, and ampli-energy rechargeable devices), all of which are registered as regulated medical devices with Infarmed. Technology features include wireless Bluetooth streaming, miniaturized form factors (including the 2024 Amplifon Micro), rechargeable lithium-ion systems, and AI-driven sound environment adaptation that automatically adjusts amplification for conversations, TV, and outdoor settings. A companion smartphone app (Amplifon App) allows remote configuration and personalization of hearing aids.

Minisom makes money primarily through hardware sales of hearing aids bundled with a comprehensive service package—free audiology consultations, adaptation fittings, regular check-ups, cleaning and maintenance kits, and up to 4 years of warranty. Pricing follows a freemium funnel: free hearing tests and 30-day trials feed conversion to paid purchases, with financing options and health insurance / national health system protocol pricing broadening affordability. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through owned retail centers, supplemented by hospital partnerships (Hospital CUF, Hospital da Luz, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Instituto CUF Porto), healthcare provider referrals, SEO/content marketing, and social media. The primary customer base is adults with age-related hearing loss (presbycusis), with secondary segments in pediatric audiology, tinnitus management, and ear protection.

Name

Minisom

Legal name

Amplifon Portugal, S.A.

Website

https://minisom.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Minisom is a Portuguese hearing aid retailer and audiology services provider operating 100+ centers nationwide as a brand of the Amplifon Group. It sells hearing aids, bone conduction implants, and assistive accessories bundled with lifetime fitting and aftercare, primarily serving elderly consumers with hearing loss.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hearing Care Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Audiology & Hearing Diagnostic Centers (HLAFAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audiology & Hearing Services (ENT-Affiliated) (HLAKAMAI), Hearing Enhancement / Assistive Listening Audio Devices (CRACANAL), Pediatric Otolaryngology (HLAKAMAB)

Keywords

• Hearing aids retail
• Audiology services
• Hearing care centers
• Hearing protection products
• Assistive listening devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Paço De Arcos

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hearing Aid Sales: Sale of hearing aids and assistive listening devices. Products include various models such as Ampli-Mini, Ampli-Power, Ampli-Connect, Ampli-Easy, and Ampli-Energy with different technology levels and price points. Revenue is generated from one-time device purchases with bundled services including fitting, consultation, and ongoing support.
2. Bundled Service Package: Hearing solutions that include not just devices but also free adaptation consultations, cleaning and maintenance kits, regular check-ups, and up to 4 years of warranty. Services are provided by certified audiologists at no additional cost to customers.
3. Accessories and Technology: Sales of accessories including amplified phones, headphones, amplified clocks and alarms, and other assistive technology products.
4. Ear Protection Products: Sales of earplugs for swimming, noise protection, and sleeping.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Minisom is a Portuguese hearing care retailer and service provider operating more than 100 hearing centers across Portugal. The company sells prescription hearing aids (Ampli-mini, Ampli-power, Ampli-connect, Ampli-Easy, Ampli-energy lines, plus BAHA bone conduction implants), assistive accessories (amplified phones, alarm clocks, headphones, earplugs), and provides bundled audiology services including free hearing tests, fitting, calibration, lifetime maintenance, and up to four years of warranty delivered by certified audiologists.

Product overview

Minisom is a Portuguese hearing care retailer and service provider (a brand of the Amplifon Group) offering a comprehensive portfolio of hearing solutions centered on two main hearing aid lines: the discreet ampli-mini line (including invisible and AI-powered variants) and the high-power ampli-power line. These are complemented by specialized product lines including wireless/Bluetooth-connected devices (Ampli-Connect), essential entry-level models (Ampli-Easy), and rechargeable options (ampli-energy). The portfolio also extends to bone conduction implants (BAHA), a companion smartphone app (App Amplifon), hearing protection accessories (waterproof, noise-blocking, sleep, and musician earplugs), assistive communication devices (amplified phones, watches, alarm clocks), and headphones. Together, these products form a complete hearing care ecosystem spanning diagnosis, device provision, fitting, and ongoing after-sales support across more than 100 centers in Portugal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ampli-Mini hearing aids Discreet, nearly invisible hearing aid line for users seeking minimal visibility; includes invisible-in-canal (IIC) variants and AI-powered models that automatically adapt to different acoustic environments.
• Ampli-Power hearing aids High-power hearing aid line designed for users with severe hearing loss, delivering elevated amplification and performance while maintaining comfort.
• Ampli-Connect hearing aids Wireless RIC (Receiver-in-Canal) and BTE (Behind-the-Ear) Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids that stream audio directly from TVs, smartphones, and other devices.
• Ampli-Easy hearing aids Entry-level Behind-the-Ear hearing aid offering core amplification functionality at an accessible price point for users with basic hearing needs.
• Ampli-Energy rechargeable hearing aids Rechargeable hearing aids with lithium-ion charging that eliminate the need for disposable batteries; available in compact form factors.
• Amplifon Micro hearing aid Ultra-miniature hearing aid representing the smallest form factor in the Amplifon portfolio, designed for maximum discretion.
• BAHA bone conduction hearing implants Bone conduction hearing implants for patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss or single-sided deafness, bypassing the outer and middle ear.
• App Amplifon Smartphone companion application for hearing aid users, allowing remote control, personalization, and configuration of hearing devices with hearing test and sound environment management features.
• Hearing protection earplugs Specialized earplugs including waterproof variants for swimming, noise-blocking models for loud environments, sleep earplugs, and musician/concert earplugs that preserve sound quality.
• Amplified phones for elderly and hearing impaired Amplified phones and mobile phones with enhanced volume, clear sound, and easy-to-use interfaces designed for elderly users and those with hearing loss.
• Amplified watches and alarm clocks Amplified watches and alarm clocks with enhanced visual and auditory alerts for users with hearing loss to ensure timely notifications.
• Headphones (Auriculares) Headphones designed for or compatible with hearing aid users, providing audio amplification for various listening needs.
• Audiology consultation and hearing assessment Free in-center audiology consultation and hearing test, plus a free 30-day trial of hearing aids, performed by certified audiologists across the Minisom network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free hearing consultation, 30-day trial period, and up to 4 years warranty included with every hearing aid purchase
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hospital CUF CoimbracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinisom provides audiology services including hearing examinations and rehabilitation at Hospital CUF Coimbra facilities.
• Hospital da Luz (Multiple Locations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinisom provides audiology services at multiple Hospital da Luz facilities including Amarante, Clínica da Covilhã, Vila Real, Póvoa de Varzim, and Vila Nova da Cerveira.
• Hospital Garcia de OrtacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinisom provides audiology services and hearing rehabilitation at Hospital Garcia de Orta.
• Instituto CUF PortocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinisom provides audiology services at Instituto CUF Porto.
• Centro de Pesquisa Científica da AmplifoncoreTechnology or IntegrationScientific research center that develops exclusive audiology equipment and evaluation tools in collaboration with Minisom network specialists.
• Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia da Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de LisboaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution that evaluated and approved Minisom's safety and hygiene protocol for hearing centers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Sociedade Portuguesa de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia da Cabeça e PescoçominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific society providing scientific sponsorship and collaboration for audiology publications and events.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• GN Hearing: GN Hearing is the hearing care division of GN Group (Denmark), with ReSound and Beltone hearing aid brands plus Jabra Enhance consumer hearing products. Overlaps with Minisom's product line as a hearing aid manufacturer and increasingly competes in the consumer/DTC tier (Jabra Enhance) that threatens traditional retail audiology economics.
• Sonova: Sonova is a Swiss-listed hearing healthcare company and parent of Phonak, Unitron, and Sennheiser hearing brands, manufacturing hearing aids and cochlear implants globally. Relevant as both a supplier of hearing technology to Minisom via Amplifon and a vertically integrated competitor in some markets; broader incumbent with overlapping product category but different go-to-market (manufacturer vs. retail audiology).
• WS Audiology: WS Audiology is a hearing aid manufacturer formed from the Sivantos/Widex merger, owning brands including Signia, Widex, and Rexton. Comparable to Minisom on hearing aid product portfolio but operates as a manufacturer without Minisom's retail audiology distribution. Supplies Amplifon with selected product tiers as a competitor to in-house Amplifon-aligned brands.
• Demant: Demant is a Danish-listed hearing healthcare group whose Oticon, Bernafon, and Sonic brands manufacture hearing aids and hearing implants; it also operates wholesale and retail audiology networks. Comparable to Minisom in product category (hearing aids/implant solutions) and overlaps indirectly via Amplifon relationships, though primarily a manufacturer/wholesaler with a different core business model.
• Starkey Hearing Technologies: Starkey is a US-based hearing aid manufacturer producing custom and AI-enabled devices; one of the world's largest hearing aid companies. Comparable in hearing aid product category but operating as a manufacturer with global wholesale distribution rather than a clinic-led retail audiology model.

Emerging players

• Lexie Hearing: Lexie Hearing is a DTC/online hearing aid retailer in the US offering subscription-based and OTC hearing aids with remote audiology support. Represents the emerging DTC/OTC channel that is reshaping hearing aid distribution by bypassing traditional brick-and-mortar audiology chains like Minisom; a structural threat worth monitoring as a leading indicator of channel disruption.

Direct peers

• Hidden Hearing: Hidden Hearing is a UK/Ireland-based retail audiology chain with hundreds of clinics offering free hearing tests, hearing aid fitting, and aftercare. Closely comparable to Minisom on business model (clinic-based, audiologist-staffed, multi-brand hearing aid sales with bundled service) and target customer (hearing-loss adults), though in a different geography.
• Boots Hearingcare: Boots Hearingcare is a UK-based retail hearing care chain operating within the Boots pharmacy network, selling hearing aids and providing audiology consultations. Directly comparable to Minisom's pharmacy-and-retail-anchored audiology service model with similar mid-market pricing and NHS protocol engagements.
• Specsavers Hearcare: Specsavers Hearcare is a multi-country retail audiology chain operating in-store hearing centers within optical retail locations, selling hearing aids and providing audiology services. It is highly comparable to Minisom's retail audiology model — broad center network, audiologist-led service, multi-brand and own-brand hearing aid portfolio — but operates at much larger geographic scale.

Regional players

• Audika: Audika (formerly part of William Demant/Demant) operates retail hearing clinics in France, Switzerland, and a few other markets; comparable clinic-led audiology retail model but not present in Portugal. Adjacent retail audiology peer useful for benchmarking clinic-level unit economics and DTC strategy outside Minisom's core geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCR8-S8Jf1aRmbr1ZjI8L5XA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Minisom
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amplifon
• Instagraminstagram.com/minisom_amplifon

Compliance1 record

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 Minisom