The U.S. technology giant Apple launched a must-have item with its AirPods or wireless headphones. Fennex is now taking these to the next level by developing an app that can transform AirPods into hearing aids.
The app starts users off with a three-minute hearing test. From there, it personalizes, amplifies and equalizes the sound for each user.
The Fennex app is free of charge, providing hearing assistance to those who aren’t able or ready to purchase an expensive hearing aid. It is aimed at people with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Fennex launched the app in mid-May, and it has already been downloaded more than 30,000 times. According to CEO Alex Mari, the number of downloads are doubling month over month, and the company now generates 700 daily downloads, 75 per cent of which are from the U.S.
The app is listed in the top 150 apps in the Health & Fitness category of the App Store. According to Mari, the company plans to add new features to the app, including nose reduction for special listening situations.
Fennex, which is located in Stäfa along Lake Zurich, was founded by Mari, who had previously worked for the Stäfa-based hearing aid manufacturer Sonova. The startup closed two financing rounds for a total of 800,000 Swiss francs. The main investor is a Swiss corporation.
