What Fondation Pour l'Audition does

Fondation Pour l'Audition is a public-interest foundation recognized under French law since 2015, founded in 2010 in Paris by Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, Jean-Pierre Meyers and the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation. It operates a three-pillar mission: funding hearing science research, improving daily life for deaf, hard-of-hearing and tinnitus-affected people, and mobilizing public opinion through prevention and awareness. The foundation serves an addressable population of approximately 7 million people in France living with hearing loss, including 500,000 with severe or profound deafness, and operates primarily through donated funding rather than commercial revenue.

Its core digital product is Höra, a free mobile application that combines a scientifically validated hearing-in-noise test with an integrated sonometer and longitudinal result tracking, available on Google Play and Apple App Store; the app has powered more than 212,104 screening tests since 2020 and is endorsed by the French Ministry of Health and Assurance Maladie. The foundation also operates Surdités Info Service (a national free helpline and information platform), runs prevention programs targeting youth (D'Sybel), professionals ('Parlons santé auditive!'), and festival audiences (RelaxSon), and administers two annual awards programs (Prix Société and Prix Scientifiques). Research infrastructure is anchored by the reConnect Institute, a state-recognized University Medical Institute co-founded in 2024 with Institut Pasteur, AP-HP, Inserm and Paris Cité University, which integrates the Institut de l'Audition and Audiology Research Centres.

The business model is donation-driven and non-commercial: the foundation accepts individual donations, corporate patronage, in-kind contributions, life insurance policies, real estate, and legacies, with French tax deductions of 66% (IR), 75% (IFI) and 60% (IS). All services are free to end users. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The foundation maintains a partner ecosystem of more than 60 institutional, scientific, associative and corporate organizations, and is led by a small operational team of 14 employees headed by Director General Denis Le Squer, with Jean-Pierre Meyers as President and Françoise Bettencourt Meyers as Honorary President.

Name

Fondation Pour l'Audition

Legal name

Fondation Pour l'Audition

Website

https://fondationpourlaudition.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fondation Pour l'Audition is a French public-interest foundation that funds hearing science research, runs prevention campaigns, and operates the Höra mobile hearing-screening app and Surdités Info Service helpline for the 7 million people in France living with hearing loss.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public-Interest Hearing Health Foundation

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Assistive Hearing & Communication Access (Captioning, Hearing Support, Transcription) (EDAFAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hearing Enhancement / Assistive Listening Audio Devices (CRACANAL), Speech-Language & Communication Intervention Materials (EDAGAMAF)

Keywords

• Hearing health research
• Hearing screening app
• Deafness support services
• Hearing loss prevention
• Public-interest foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation operates exclusively through donations from individuals and organizations. Donors receive tax benefits: 66% deduction from Income Tax (IR) within 20% of taxable income, 75% deduction from Wealth Tax (IFI) within €50,000/year, and 60% deduction from Corporate Tax (IS) within 0.5% of annual turnover. The foundation also accepts in-kind donations, skills-based volunteering, real estate, life insurance policies, artworks, and copyright.
2. Donations and Legacies: The foundation is habilitated to receive all types of legacy and donation arrangements including property, financial assets, life insurance policies, and artworks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fondation Pour l'Audition is a French public-interest foundation that operates across three pillars: funding hearing science research and innovation, supporting people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and their families, and mobilizing prevention and awareness to protect hearing health. Its flagship digital product is Höra, a free mobile hearing screening app with a validated in-noise test and integrated sonometer, complemented by the Surdités Info Service national helpline, free prevention toolkits for workplaces and communities, an audio-preventive podcast, awareness campaigns, and annual Prix Société and Prix Scientifiques awards.

Product overview

The Fondation Pour l'Audition is a public-interest foundation (recognized since 2015) whose offering is centered on hearing health — spanning prevention, information, research support, and societal inclusion. The core digital product is Höra, a mobile hearing screening app that combines a validated hearing-in-noise test with an integrated sonometer and longitudinal result tracking. This is complemented by a suite of informational and educational resources including professional tutorials, dialogue toolkits for workplaces and local authorities, the audio-preventive podcast 'Prenons la mesure du son', and the multi-channel 'Écoute bien, et dépasse pas les 80' awareness campaign. The foundation also operates Surdités Info Service (a national information helpline) and administers two awards programs: Prix Société (recognizing societal and inclusion initiatives) and Prix Scientifiques (rewarding research excellence in hearing science). An upcoming initiative is the national mental well-being barometer for people with hearing disorders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Höra: Mobile application for hearing testing, screening, and monitoring. Features include a 'test des 3 chiffres' hearing test in noise, sound level meter, hearing evolution tracking, and hearing health tips. Launched December 2019, updated March 2021 with sonometer feature.
• Surdités Info Service
• Alliance Pour l'Audition
• Institut de l'Audition
• Prix Société
• Prix Scientifiques

Products and services

• Höra Mobile Hearing Screening App Free mobile application for hearing screening, monitoring, and preservation, featuring a scientifically validated hearing-in-noise test ('test des 3 chiffres'), an integrated sonometer for real-time environmental noise measurement, historical tracking, and configurable test reminders. Recommended by the French Ministry of Health and Assurance Maladie. Over 212,104 hearing tests have been conducted since 2020. Targets individuals concerned about their hearing health, with a professional tutorial available for healthcare providers.
• Surdités Info Service Free national information and support service providing guidance, listening, and referrals for people affected by deafness or hearing disorders, and their families. Operated by the Centre National d'Information sur les Surdités (CNIS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the foundation.
• Kit Dialogues en milieu professionnel Free, ready-to-use toolkit for employers, HR leaders, and managers to raise team awareness about hearing loss and hearing disorders in the workplace, with practical inclusion tools and resources.
• Kit Dialogues en collectivités Free practical toolkit for communes, departments, and regions to address hearing and deafness topics, providing resources tailored to each territory to promote inclusive living environments.
• Podcast 'Prenons la mesure du son' Audio-preventive podcast series featuring five episodes covering sound exposure in schools, concerts and stadiums, workplaces, public transport, and restaurants/commercial spaces, with expert commentary to help listeners understand and manage their auditory environment.
• Awareness Campaign 'Écoute bien, et dépasse pas les 80' Multi-channel awareness campaign establishing 80 decibels as the key reference threshold — beyond 8 hours of exposure at 80 dB, hearing is at risk. Freely available for organizations to disseminate.
• Prix Société Annual awards recognizing initiatives that promote hearing health prevention and inclusion of deaf, hard-of-hearing, or hearing-impaired people, with three categories: Innovation (€40,000), Impact, and Coup de Cœur du Jury (€10,000).
• Prix Scientifiques Annual scientific prizes rewarding major discoveries and emerging talents in hearing science, including the Prix Émergence Scientifique and the Prix de la meilleure publication en sciences humaines et sociales.
• Höra Professionnel Tutorial Professional tutorial co-produced with the Collège de Médecine Générale (CMG) and the Société Française ORL (SFORL) to guide healthcare professionals in using Höra as a hearing screening support tool with their patients.
• Baromètre bien-être mental Planned national barometer initiative to produce robust, comparable data on the mental well-being of people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or have hearing disorders. Open call for scientific experts runs until September 2026, with launch targeted for late 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• 212,104 hearing tests conducted via Höra since 2020, establishing a real-world hearing health dataset by age group
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• reConnect Institute (Institut University Médical reConnect)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Created by Fondation Pour l'Audition, Institut Pasteur, AP-HP (Paris hospital system), Inserm, and Paris Cité University, the reConnect Institute is a University Medical Institute recognized by the French state. It integrates the Institut de l'Audition and Audiology Research Centres under one umbrella, creating a comprehensive ecosystem for hearing research from fundamental science to clinical applications.
• Institut PasteurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitut Pasteur is the foundation's grand scientific partner. Together with the Fondation Pour l'Audition, Inserm, AP-HP, and Paris Cité University, they co-founded the reConnect Institute (Institut University Médical), recognized by the French state in 2024. The foundation supported the creation of the Institut de l'Audition at Institut Pasteur, the first interdisciplinary hearing science research center bringing together the world's best scientific and medical teams. Institut Pasteur was represented at the foundation's 10th anniversary celebration by its Director General, Pr. Yasmine Belkaid.
• Inserm (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInserm is a key scientific partner and co-founder of the reConnect Institute. The foundation draws on Inserm research data (e.g., Inserm 2022 study: one in four French adults has a hearing disorder) and collaborates on research programs. The foundation supports Inserm-affiliated research teams through its funding programs.
• AP-HP (Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAP-HP is a co-founder of the reConnect Institute. Through the foundation's support, AP-HP hosts Audiology Research Centres (CREA at Hôpital Necker and at Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière), clinical research platforms in audiology that facilitate the development of therapeutic and diagnostic solutions.
• Paris Cité UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParis Cité University is a co-founder of the reConnect Institute, contributing academic and research expertise to the interdisciplinary hearing science ecosystem established by the foundation.
• FIRAH (Fondation Internationale de Recherche Appliquée sur le Handicap)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation partnered with FIRAH to launch a call for applied research projects in Human and Social Sciences related to hearing disorders. The first edition was launched in January 2025, with a new edition launched in 2026. Projects must involve participatory research teams combining researchers with field actors and people affected by hearing disorders.
• Collège de la Médecine Générale (CMG)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMG contributed to the evaluation of the Höra app within a partnership framework. CMG collaborated with the foundation and SFORL to develop a professional tutorial for healthcare providers on how to use Höra in clinical practice.
• SFORL (Société Française ORL)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFORL collaborated with the foundation and CMG to create a professional tutorial for healthcare providers on using the Höra app. SFORL also issued clinical practice recommendations ('Parcours de soins du patient presbyacousique', March 2022) that cite Höra as a reference hearing test tool. SFORL and the foundation co-deliver the Prix SFORL-FPA Innovation Médicale Audition.
• SensorionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSensorion is a hearing biotech company listed as a corporate partner of the foundation. Sensorion is developing gene therapies (SENS-501, SENS-401) for hearing disorders and the foundation supports and highlights clinical trials in hearing restoration and protection on its website.
• LABAZ (Région Île-de-France)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHöra is listed on LABAZ, the mobile app of the Île-de-France Region targeting young Francilians aged 15-25, providing visibility for the hearing test app to a youth audience.
• Agi-Son and CidB (Centre d'information sur le bruit)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation collaborates with Agi-Son and CidB on the D'Sybel program, a free educational kit for schools and teachers to sensitize children aged 6-10 (CP to CM2) to hearing health and deafness.
• BruitParifminorOthersBruitParif, the Île-de-France noise observatory, partnered with the foundation and the Île-de-France Region to raise awareness about noise exposure risks for youth. This collaboration produced studies and prevention campaigns on hearing health among young people.
• World Congress of Audiology (WCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Congress of Audiology is listed as a scientific partner, representing an international platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration in hearing science at a global level.
• France Assos SantéminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe foundation worked alongside France Assos Santé to support SurdiFrance in exercising its right of alert to the Haute Autorité de Santé regarding inadequate hearing aid coverage for severe/profound deaf adults, children, and people with tinnitus under the 100% Santé audiologie reform.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Oticon Foundation: Denmark-based foundation supporting hearing loss research and people with hearing loss. Comparable as a hearing-focused foundation with research and societal programs, with broader Scandinavian and European scope.
• WHO Programme for Prevention of Deafness and Hearing Loss: World Health Organization's global hearing loss program providing guidelines, World Hearing Day, and policy frameworks. Comparable as a global hearing health agenda-setter that the foundation aligns with and cites, though it is a public intergovernmental body rather than a peer foundation.

Direct peers

• RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People): UK-based charity fighting for equality for deaf people and those with hearing loss. Operates a national information service, funds research, and runs prevention campaigns — directly comparable in mission, structure, and donor-funded model to Fondation Pour l'Audition.
• Hear the World Foundation (Sonova): Sonova-founded non-profit supporting hearing healthcare projects globally. Comparable as a hearing health foundation funding prevention, research, and access programs, though corporate-backed rather than family-backed.
• American Hearing Research Foundation: US-based non-profit funding hearing and balance disorder research. Comparable in funding research grants and operating a foundation model, though smaller scale and US-focused.
• Hearing Health Foundation: US-based non-profit funding hearing loss and tinnitus research since 1958. Directly comparable as a hearing-health-focused foundation funding research, prevention, and awareness — though smaller in scope than Fondation Pour l'Audition's research institute and public-interest status.
• Starkey Hearing Foundation: US-based non-profit distributing hearing aids and supporting hearing health in underserved communities. Directly comparable in mission and donor-funded model, with stronger global field operations and weaker research funding scope.
• Phonak Hearing Foundation: Phonak-backed foundation supporting hearing health initiatives globally. Comparable as a hearing industry-sponsored non-profit funding prevention and inclusion, with similar mission overlap.

Emerging players

• SurdiFrance: French association advocating for hearing-impaired persons and their families. Comparable as a French hearing-disability advocacy organization partnering with Fondation Pour l'Audition, with narrower scope focused on rights and inclusion.

Others

• Agir pour l'Audition (related association): Operating association linked to the foundation for donation management via HelloAsso. Functions as the foundation's operational fundraising arm rather than a competitor, but represents the broader French hearing charity ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PourlAudition
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnveXL-jNgGmAMG-rU8wZpSaR7E0YqtSc
• Facebookfacebook.com/FondationPourlAudition
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondationpourlaudition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fondation Pour l'Audition