Hearing tech startup Legato has emerged from stealth with $12 million in funding from Neotribe Ventures, Listen, and Village Global. Founded by Bose and Apple veterans Mehul Trivedi and Steve Romine, the company is launching Legato Frames in fall 2026. These AI-powered hearing glasses integrate sound-processing technology into eyewear frames to isolate voices from background noise. Priced at a fraction of traditional hearing aids, they aim to reduce the stigma and cost barriers for 50 million U.S. adults facing hearing loss.
Legato $12M funding round
- ▪Hearing technology startup Legato emerged from stealth on August 26, 2026, with $12 million in funding.
- ▪Legato used a significant portion of its $12 million funding to develop its product and prepare for its marketing launch.
- ▪Legato's $12 million funding round was backed by Neotribe Ventures, Listen, and Village Global.
AI hearing glasses design
- ▪Legato Frames feature an open-ear design with a dual-speaker system that directs sound to the wearer and reduces sound leakage by 99% just a few inches away.
- ▪Legato debuted Legato Frames, which are AI-powered hearing glasses that integrate patented hearing-assistance technology into the arms of eyewear frames.
- ▪Legato's hearing technology is protected by four granted patents and more than 20 pending applications.
Hearing loss adoption barriers
- ▪Hearing loss affects an estimated 50 million adults in the United States, but only about 20% of those diagnosed actually seek treatment.
- ▪Legato aims to overcome barriers of cost, discomfort, and social stigma that prevent people from using traditional hearing aids.
- ▪A 2024 report from the Lancet Standing Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care identified hearing loss as the top potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia.
Bose founder team background
- ▪Legato co-founder Steve Romine previously ran the hearing aid division at Bose and served as Chief Operating Officer at Audicus.
- ▪Legato co-founder Mehul Trivedi previously led the development of Bose Frames at Bose and worked on smart eyewear and Meta Ray-Bans at EssilorLuxottica.
- ▪Legato was co-founded in late 2024 by Mehul Trivedi, who serves as CEO, and Steve Romine.
Vision insurance pricing model
- ▪Legato Frames will be priced at a fraction of the cost of traditional hearing aids and may be eligible for vision insurance when purchased through an eye-care clinic.
- ▪Legato Frames are scheduled to launch in fall 2026 and will be sold online and through select eye-care providers in the United States.
Voice isolation AI technology
- ▪Legato developed a proprietary acoustic platform, sound-processing software, and mechanical design to make Legato Frames compact and lightweight.
- ▪Legato Frames use artificial intelligence to separate voices from background noise, amplifying only the voices to make conversations clearer in noisy environments.
Story comments
Loading comments…