Legato, a new hearing tech startup, has emerged from stealth with $12 million in funding and plans to launch its AI hearing glasses, Legato Frames, later this fall. The glasses integrate the company’s patented hearing-assistance technology into eyewear frames, targeting the roughly 50 million U.S. adults with hearing loss, most of whom don’t seek treatment.
Founded in late 2024 by Mehul Trivedi and Steve Romine, both veterans of Bose’s wearables and hearing aid divisions, Legato aims to make hearing correction as routine as wearing glasses for vision. Trivedi previously led smart eyewear efforts at EssilorLuxottica, including work on Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses, while Romine served as COO of hearing care company Audicus.
Unlike traditional hearing aids that rely on directional microphones, Legato Frames use an AI-powered system to distinguish background noise from voices, amplifying speech while reducing listening fatigue. The frames feature a dual-speaker design that directs sound to the wearer while minimizing sound leakage by 99% just inches away, preserving privacy in shared spaces.
The funding round included Neotribe Ventures, Listen, and Village Global, with capital directed primarily toward product development and marketing. Legato says the glasses will be sold through select eye-care providers, priced below traditional hearing aids, and potentially eligible for vision insurance coverage.
Featured image: Credit: Legato
