Start Hearing

What Start Hearing does

Start Hearing is a U.S.-based hearing healthcare discount program and provider-network aggregator, operating as a wholly-owned division of Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Founded in 2007 and previously known as American Hearing Benefits, the company connects individuals with hearing loss to discounted prescription and over-the-counter hearing aids through a nationwide network of more than 3,000 licensed hearing care providers spanning all 50 states. The product portfolio spans six hearing aid styles (Receiver-in-Canal, Behind-the-Ear, Invisible-in-Canal, Completely-in-Canal, In-the-Canal, In-the-Ear) and five technology tiers (Essential, Basic, Select, Advanced, Premium), sourced from leading manufacturers including Starkey, Phonak, Oticon, ReSound, Signia, Unitron, Widex, Bernafon, and Rexton. Supporting infrastructure includes a free online hearing screening tool, a Bluetooth-paired mobile app for hearing aid control, and a proprietary provider portal for credentialing, order processing, and claims management.

The business model is B2B2C, with customer acquisition driven through enterprise channel partnerships rather than direct consumer marketing. Named enterprise customers include Cigna Healthcare, Independent Health Medicare Advantage, Union Plus, and federal employee benefit programs (with coverage allowances up to $2,500). Revenue is generated on a unit-pricing basis per hearing aid pair, with prices ranging from $1,398 (Essential/Basic) to $3,898 (Premium) for federal employees — representing up to 48% off retail — and OTC devices sold without prescription for mild-to-moderate hearing loss. After-sale economics are reinforced by 60-day risk-free trials, up to 3-year warranty coverage with loss/damage protection, up to 6 free follow-up office visits in year one, CareCredit financing, and ongoing Hearing Care Advisor support.

Start Hearing is positioned as a distribution and service aggregator rather than a manufacturer. Its competitive positioning rests on the scale of its provider network, the breadth of its insurance and employer-channel partnerships, multi-manufacturer sourcing, and value-added aftercare services. The company has no disclosed funding rounds, operates with 1,001-5,000 employees, is headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota (at Starkey's headquarters), and has not disclosed revenue figures.

Name

Start Hearing

Legal name

Start Hearing, Inc.

Website

https://starthearing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Start Hearing is a U.S. hearing healthcare discount program and provider-network aggregator, operating as a division of Starkey Laboratories. It connects individuals with hearing loss to discounted hearing aids from leading manufacturers through 3,000+ licensed providers and partnerships with insurers, employers, unions, Medicare Advantage plans, and federal employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hearing Healthcare Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047)

akta.pro primary industry

Audiology & Hearing Services (ENT-Affiliated) (HLAKAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audiology & Hearing Diagnostic Centers (HLAFAKAH), Hearing Enhancement / Assistive Listening Audio Devices (CRACANAL)

Keywords

• Hearing aid discount program
• Hearing healthcare network
• Prescription hearing aids
• OTC hearing aids
• Hearing benefit management

Headquarters

HQ city

Eden Prairie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance/Benefit Plan Discount Program: Start Hearing generates revenue by offering hearing aid discounts to members of partnered insurance plans, employer benefit programs, union plans, and Medicare Advantage plans. The company acts as a network aggregator, negotiating discounted pricing with hearing aid manufacturers and facilitating access through a provider network.
2. Provider Network Management: Revenue derived from managing a network of 3,000+ hearing care providers who dispense hearing aids to benefit program members. Providers receive patient referrals and streamlined billing processes.
3. OTC Hearing Aid Sales: Direct consumer sales of over-the-counter hearing aids available without prescription from select hearing professionals.
4. Federal Employee Benefits Program: Special pricing program for federal employees with qualified health insurance plans, providing hearing aids at negotiated rates with coverage allowances up to $2,500.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Start Hearing operates a hearing healthcare discount program and nationwide provider network that connects individuals with hearing loss to discounted prescription hearing aids from multiple manufacturers (Starkey, Phonak, Oticon, ReSound, Signia, Unitron, Widex, Bernafon, Rexton) and over-the-counter hearing aids. Members access the program through insurance partnerships, employer benefits, union affiliations, Medicare Advantage plans, and federal employee benefits, completing their purchase through one of 3,000+ affiliated licensed hearing care providers.

Product overview

Start Hearing is a hearing healthcare discount program and provider network operated as a division of Starkey Laboratories, Inc. The company offers prescription hearing aids and OTC hearing aids through a nationwide network of over 3,000 affiliated providers. Its core product portfolio spans six hearing aid styles (Receiver-in-Canal, Behind-the-Ear, Invisible-in-Canal, Completely-in-Canal, In-the-Canal, and In-the-Ear), available across five technology tiers (Essential, Basic, Select, Advanced, and Premium). Supporting services include an Online Hearing Screening, a Bluetooth-connected mobile app for hearing aid control, insurance benefit verification, and provider appointment scheduling. The company also operates special programs for Cigna members, federal employees, Independent Health MA members, and Union Plus members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Start Hearing Hearing Aid Discount Program Discount program that connects individuals with hearing loss to discounted prescription hearing aids from multiple manufacturers (Starkey, Phonak, Oticon, ReSound, Signia, Unitron, Widex, Bernafon, Rexton) through a nationwide network of 3,000+ licensed hearing care providers across all 50 U.S. states.
• Online Hearing Screening Free online screening tool that evaluates hearing in minutes without requiring personal information; classifies results from no hearing loss to mild/moderate or severe/profound hearing loss and recommends next steps.
• Start Hearing Mobile App Companion mobile application that pairs with hearing aids via Bluetooth to provide advanced control, audio streaming from Bluetooth-enabled devices, hands-free phone call streaming, and access to hearing aid features from a mobile device.
• Over-the-Counter (OTC) Hearing Aids Over-the-counter hearing aids available without prescription from select hearing professionals, targeted at individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss and purchasable through a retailer locator on the Start Hearing website.
• Partner Benefit Programs (Insurance, Employer, Union, Medicare Advantage, Federal Employee) White-label hearing aid benefit programs delivered for partner organizations including Cigna Healthcare (Healthy Rewards), Independent Health Medicare Advantage, Union Plus, federal employee FEHB plans, and employer benefit programs. Members receive exclusive discounts, risk-free 60-day trial, 3-year warranty, complimentary batteries or rechargeable devices, and access to the 3,000+ provider network. Partnership programs offer exclusive discounts of up to 48% off all technology tiers and special pricing such as the federal employee $2,500 allowance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 48% savings on hearing aid technology compared to retail prices
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Starkey Laboratories, Inc.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerStart Hearing is a division of Starkey Laboratories, Inc., an award-winning global leader in the hearing care industry. Formerly known as American Hearing Benefits, Start Hearing leverages Starkey's manufacturing relationships and industry expertise to provide hearing solutions through a nationwide provider network. Start Hearing and the Start Hearing logo are registered trademarks of Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
• Cigna HealthcarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCigna Healthcare has partnered with Start Hearing to offer customers access to exclusive savings on high-quality hearing aids and accessories. Cigna Healthy Rewards program members receive access to the Start Hearing network with benefits including 60-day risk-free trial, 3-year warranty, and multiple brand options. Cigna providers use a dedicated registration portal and provider resources.
• Independent Health Medicare AdvantagemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent Health Medicare Advantage members have access to Start Hearing's hearing aid program with exclusive discounts and provider network access. Members can check their specific benefits and find in-network providers through the Start Hearing platform.
• Union PlusmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUnion Plus has partnered with Start Hearing to provide hearing aid benefits to union members. The partnership offers access to the Start Hearing provider network with discounted pricing on hearing aids and professional services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Audicus: Direct-to-consumer online hearing aid retailer offering affordable prescription hearing aids with remote programming. Competes with Start Hearing on price transparency and convenience, especially for self-pay customers.
• Yes Hearing: Online hearing aid marketplace that connects consumers with local audiologists and offers discounted pricing on multiple brands. Closely mirrors Start Hearing's aggregator model at smaller scale.
• Lexie Hearing: DTC and OTC hearing aid brand offering subscription-based and one-time purchase models with remote support. Represents the disintermediation threat to Start Hearing's prescription provider network for mild-to-moderate hearing loss.
• Nuheara: Hearables and OTC hearing enhancement company offering smart earbuds with hearing assistance features. Represents the consumer-electronics convergence threat to traditional hearing aid channels like Start Hearing.
• MDHearingAid: Direct-to-consumer hearing aid brand selling affordable prescription and OTC devices online. Targets a similar cost-sensitive demographic to Start Hearing's self-pay customers without the provider-network overhead.
• Jabra Enhance: OTC and prescription hearing aid brand from GN Audio (parent of ReSound), offering direct-to-consumer hearing aids with tele-audiology support. Represents both a competitor and a partial supply-chain relationship to Start Hearing.
• Eargo: DTC hearing aid company selling virtually invisible prescription devices direct to consumers. Competes with Start Hearing's IIC and CIC offerings through a fully remote fitting and support model.

Direct peers

• Hear.com: Online hearing care marketplace and provider network that sells prescription hearing aids from major manufacturers with tele-audiology and in-person fittings. Competes directly with Start Hearing for insurance-sponsored and self-pay hearing aid customers.
• ZipHearing: Online hearing aid discount retailer offering multi-brand prescription hearing aids at discounted prices through a provider network. Closest direct competitor to Start Hearing's discount-network model with similar manufacturer-agnostic positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Bose Hearphones (Bose Corporation): Consumer electronics incumbent that has entered the hearing enhancement category with sound amplification earbuds. Illustrates the broader competitive threat from large consumer audio brands encroaching on the hearing aid market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/starthearing
• Facebookfacebook.com/StartHearing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/start-hearing

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 Start Hearing