EAR Micro

What EAR Micro does

EAR Micro is a privately held B2B technology company founded in 2019 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. It designs, engineers, and licenses a miniaturized ear-computing platform — quad-core ARM processors running a customized Bragi OS with on-board AI co-processors and DSPs — to consumer electronics, audio, fashion, and healthcare brands seeking to enter the hearables market. The platform delivers approximately one-third the volume of competing earbuds (T10 Bespoke at 2.5 cu cm / 3.2 g) and supports 96 kHz/24-bit hi-res audio, AI-enhanced selective hearing, and a stack of patented user interfaces including multi-gesture cap-sense touch, head gestures, and non-verbal mouth-based controls. Proprietary components include the EVERGREEN modular chassis (patent pending) and an exclusive 47-56 mAh laser-welded stainless-case battery with fast-charge chemistry.

The company monetizes through three streams: IP licensing of its patent portfolio (including patents licensed in from Bragi), non-recurring engineering (NRE) services for partner-led product development, and selective hardware sales through co-developed products. Named commercial relationships include Klipsch (T10 Bespoke), Loewe/Jacob and Co (Leo over-ear headphones), Breggz (3D-printed custom in-ear computers), Piearcings (techno-jewelry, the originating entity), and Bragi (OS and AI software). Customer segments span hi-fi audio, luxury/fashion, consumer electronics, wireless telecoms, sports/fitness, streaming media, health/med-tech, musical instruments, military and public safety, and workplace productivity. The team of 11-50 employees is led by co-founders Patsy (COO) and Troy (CTO), with Chief Innovation Instigator Bear — who has personally authored 35+ patents and designed the first smart headphones for Denon in 2011 — as the technical founder. EAR Micro was spun out of Piearcings, which had launched the first techno-jewelry product in 2017 before the 2019 carve-out.

Name

EAR Micro

Legal name

EAR Micro LLC

Website

https://earmicro.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EAR Micro is a B2B technology company that designs and licenses a miniaturized ear-computing platform (hardware, Bragi OS, and IP) to consumer electronics, audio, fashion, and healthcare brands entering the hearables market through licensing and NRE services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hearables Technology

NAICS

Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431), Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (334310)

SIC

Household Audio & Video Equipment (3651), Radio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment (3663)

akta.pro primary industry

Hearables (True Wireless Earbuds & Smart Headphones) (CRACAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audio Accessories (Ear Tips, Cables, Stands, Cases, Transmitters) (CRACANAM), Wired Headphones & Earphones (CRACANAC), Pro Audio Equipment (Mics, Interfaces, Mixers, Studio Monitors) (MPAIAJAB), Audio & Voice Mixed-Signal ICs (Codecs/Amplifiers) (HDAHAIAG), Microphones, Headsets & Audio Input Devices (HDACAFAH)

Keywords

• Hearables technology licensing
• Micro ear computers
• Wireless audio engineering
• Audio IP licensing
• Techno jewelry wearables

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. IP Licensing: Licensing of extensive patent portfolio to brands seeking to enter the hearables space. Partners receive limited exclusive license to EAR Micro's full IP portfolio plus Bragi's IP portfolio.
2. NRE Services: Non-recurring engineering services providing design, engineering, and production oversight for hearables development.
3. Hardware Products: Sale of branded hearable products such as T10 Bespoke (with Klipsch) and custom in-ear computers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

EAR Micro is a B2B technology transfer and licensing company that designs, engineers, and produces the world's smallest ear computers (hearables). It licenses its extensive IP portfolio (15+ patents) and provides non-recurring engineering (NRE) services to consumer electronics, audio, fashion, jewelry, and healthcare brands seeking to enter the hearables market. The company also co-develops branded products such as the T10 Bespoke with Klipsch, Breggz Custom IEC, and Loewe Leo headphones.

Product overview

EAR Micro is a B2B technology company that designs, engineers, and produces impossibly small ear computers (hearables) in partnership with world-class brands. The core platform consists of Bragi OS running on miniaturized quad-core ARM processors with integrated AI co-processors and DSPs. The product portfolio includes the flagship T10 Bespoke (with Klipsch) and upcoming T20 ear computers, the Breggz 3D-printed custom in-ear computers, Piearcings techno-jewelry, and Loewe Leo premium headphones. Key differentiators include 1/3 the size of competitors (2.5 cu. cm), EVERGREEN modular chassis design enabling upgrades, proprietary battery technology, and extensive IP portfolio covering form factors, user interfaces, and AI capabilities. The company licenses its technology and provides NRE (non-recurring engineering) services to brands entering the hearables space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• T10 Bespoke: Premium hearables product line developed in partnership with Klipsch, featuring the world's smallest form factor at 2.5 cubic centimeters with EVERGREEN chassis design for sustainability and upgradability.
• Breggz

Products and services

• T10 Bespoke Flagship ear computer hearable co-developed with Klipsch. At only 2.5 cubic centimeters and 3.2 grams, it features an ARM quad-core processor running Bragi OS, dual microphones with ANC, Klipsch balanced armatures, and the EVERGREEN modular chassis design for sustainability and upgradability. Designed for premium audio consumers seeking the smallest, lightest, and most powerful hearables.
• T20 by EAR Micro Upcoming flagship high-definition audio in-ear monitors (IEMs) featuring hybrid ANC, 6 microphones for beam-forming, micro SD external memory support, on-board and OTA/side-loaded media storage/playback at 24/192 resolution, and double EAR Micro cell battery enabling up to 16 hours playback.
• Breggz Custom IEC Revolutionary 3D-printed custom in-ear computers (IECs) that take the exact shape of the owner's ear for perfect fit. Contains modularized 'pebble' computing unit with voice, touch, head-motion, and silent mouth-based controls. Integrates with MIDI, Dante, and IFTTT. Designed for custom in-ear monitor consumers seeking bespoke fit.
• Piearcings World's first techno-jewelry - powerful hearables concealed within earrings and bracelets. Original product that led to EAR Micro's formation, utilizing patented stowage and concealment of wireless earphone inside body-worn apparatus with the world's smallest electronics at 0.628 cubic centimeters. Designed for fashion-forward consumers seeking technology-integrated jewelry.
• Loewe Leo Headphones Premium over-ear headphones developed in partnership with Loewe and Jacob and Co. Features 192/24 ultra-high-res music playback over USB, Cadence Tensilica Hi-Fi DSP, 50mm Biocellulose transducers, selectable Class G amplification (60+ hours battery) or Class AB performance mode, Bragi OS, real-time translation, and integrated ChatGPT.
• Bragi OS (EAR Micro customized) Proprietary ear computing operating system licensed from Bragi and customized for EAR Micro hardware. Enables native apps, AI integration, gesture processing, situational awareness, MIDI/Dante connectivity, and supports a 3rd party hearables apps ecosystem for partner brands.
• EAR Micro SDK Software development kit allowing outside developers to write hearables apps and/or integrate hearables support into existing apps. Supports the growing 3rd party hearables apps ecosystem on Bragi OS. Designed for software developers and partner brands.
• IP Licensing and NRE Services EAR Micro's foundational B2B offering: licensing of its extensive patent portfolio to brands seeking to enter the hearables space, plus non-recurring engineering (NRE) services providing design, engineering, and production oversight for hearables development. Partners receive limited exclusive license to EAR Micro's full IP portfolio plus Bragi's IP portfolio. Targeted at consumer electronics, audio, fashion, jewelry, and healthcare brands.

Quantifiable outcome

• T10 Bespoke is only 2.5 cubic centimeters and 3.2 grams weight
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability7 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• KlipschcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEAR Micro and Klipsch partnered to create the T10 Bespoke - the world's smallest, lightest, and most powerful hearables. Features include 2.5 cubic centimeters, 3.2 grams weight, dual microphones, active noise cancellation, Klipsch signature balanced armatures, and ARM quad-core processor running Bragi O.S.
• BragicoreTechnology or IntegrationEAR Micro and Bragi partnered to bring the most advanced hearables OS and AI software to the micro-sized ear-computing hardware platform. Bragi OS is customized in partnership with EAR Micro, enabling 3rd party hearables apps and providing AI co-processor capabilities. Head gesture patents licensed from Bragi.
• PiearcingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture where Piearcings (parent organization) launched the world's first techno-jewelry - powerful hearables concealed within earrings. Piearcings recognized the value of its patents and launched EAR Micro in 2019 as a B2B technology transfer company to license the IP.
• LoeweflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEAR Micro worked with 102-year-old German brand Loewe for 24 months to build Leo Over-Ear Headphones featuring 192:24 ultra-high-res playback, 96:24 streaming over LC3-plus, Cadence Tensilica Hi-Fi DSP engines, 60+ hours battery life, Bragi OS, real-time translation, and ChatGPT integration. Co-branded with Jacob and Co.
• BreggzcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerEAR Micro designed and engineered all aspects of Breggz Custom In-Ear Computers (IECs) using 3D printing for custom fit. Features include modular pebble computer housing, voice control, touch control, head-motion control, and silent mouth-based controls linked via MIDI, Dante, and IFTTT.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Apple (AirPods): Apple AirPods defines the consumer hearables category against which EAR Micro benchmarks its 1/3-size claim. While Apple does not license ear-computer IP to third parties, the AirPods platform is the dominant competitive reference for miniaturization, gesture UX, and AI integration that EAR Micro must out-execute.
• Bose: Bose is a premium consumer audio incumbent and a potential licensing/NRE customer for EAR Micro (similar to Klipsch). Its broad portfolio of headphones, hearables, and hearing-augmentation products overlaps with EAR Micro's hi-fi audio and hearing enhancement segments, making it both a competitor and a likely target partner.
• Sony: Sony's WF-series true wireless earbuds and LDAC codec (licensed by EAR Micro for hi-res wireless playback) place Sony at the center of the audiophile hearables space. As a broad incumbent with deep audio engineering, Sony is both a comparable benchmark for audio quality and a potential component/codec licensing partner.
• Jabra (GN Group): Jabra is an established enterprise and consumer hearables vendor with strong hearing-aid crossover through parent GN Group. Its enterprise-focused hearing augmentation, situational awareness, and call-quality features overlap with EAR Micro's workplace productivity and health verticals, making it a comparable incumbent.
• Sennheiser (Sonova): Sennheiser's consumer audio division (now owned by Sonova) competes in the premium headphone/earbud space and overlaps with EAR Micro's hi-fi audio partnerships. Sonova's hearing-health expertise also makes the combined entity relevant to EAR Micro's hearing-augmentation and medical-grade biometric sensing capabilities.

Direct peers

• Bragi: Bragi is both EAR Micro's closest technology partner and its most direct peer — both develop ear-computing platforms, with Bragi supplying the OS/AI stack that EAR Micro's hardware runs on. Their product roadmaps (miniaturized ear computers, gesture interfaces, AI co-processors) overlap directly, making Bragi the most comparable counterparty in the market.
• Bang & Olufsen: Bang & Olufsen competes in the luxury/premium audio segment alongside EAR Micro's Klipsch and Loewe partners. It pursues design-led premium headphones with advanced DSP — the same positioning EAR Micro enables for partner brands — making it a directly comparable premium-audio peer.

Others

• Qualcomm (Audio SoCs): Qualcomm supplies the Snapdragon sound platforms and Bluetooth SoCs that power much of the hearables industry, and competes at the silicon level with the integrated ARM + DSP architecture that EAR Micro uses in its micro ear-computing platform. While not a product competitor, it is the most strategically comparable technology-architecture peer and a potential upstream partner or substitute.
• Knowles Corporation: Knowles is a leading supplier of MEMS microphones, balanced armatures, and audio components used inside TWS earbuds and hearing aids. It is an upstream supplier/adjacent enabler rather than a direct competitor, but its components sit inside EAR Micro-class devices and its silicon roadmap shapes the miniaturization frontier both companies operate at.

Emerging players

• Nothing: Nothing is a younger consumer-electronics company pushing design-differentiated wireless earbuds (Ear 1, Ear 2) at premium price points. While it does not license EAR Micro's IP, it occupies a comparable positioning tier — design-forward, mid-premium earbuds — and represents the kind of brand EAR Micro could plausibly court as a future licensee.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EarMicro
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ear-micro

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 EAR Micro