Mannheim start-up Vibrosonic receives backing by ZEISS Ventures to drive development and commercialization of its break-through Hearing Contact Lens^® technology

The ZEISS Ventures portfolio is further growing with the investment in Vibrosonic, a high-tech start-up based in Mannheim, Germany, that develops innovative hearing solutions based on its patented Hearing Contact Lens^® technology.

Vibrosonic, founded in 2016, is specialized in developing hearing solutions that offer superior sound quality and enable people with hearing loss to participate in their daily life without limitations. This is made possible by the world’s first MEMS-based loudspeaker that is placed directly on the eardrum - without surgery - transmitting sound straight and uninterrupted to the middle and inner ear. The Hearing Contact Lens^® offers a broader spectrum of sound enabling easier and clearer voice recognition and better music perception without the need to occlude the ear canal.

Vibrosonic alpha is the first hearing solution based on the Hearing Contact Lens, which received regulatory approval in 2021 and is currently being tested in clinical studies. Associated measurement results and user feedback indicate that Vibrosonic^® alpha is on a good path to bringing the audiological benefits of the Hearing Contact Lens^® to life in a complete and certified hearing system.

“While there have been significant developments in hearing aid technology, we believe that Vibrosonic’s approach is truly unique. It will not only enable much better audio quality for hearing impaired patients but also offers the potential to noticeably improve ease-of-use and long-term wearing comfort, which is another frequently overlooked issue for the often elderly affected.”, says Gerrit Schulte Head of ZEISS Ventures.

“Our technology has made significant progress in recent years and meanwhile has received regulatory approval for commercialization of our first-generation product: Vibrosonic alpha. Further developments and technical optimization as well as miniaturization will elevate our hearing systems to the next level in the upcoming years. We are pleased that ZEISS Ventures is supporting us in this mission, not only by providing funding, but more importantly with its deep medical and industrial knowledge,” explains Dr. Dominik Kaltenbacher Founder and CEO of Vibrosonic.

Vibrosonic GmbH is a pioneer in the field of medical technology. Our vision is to connect people with the sound of life. Vibrosonic’s core technology, a Hearing Contact Lens^®, is the world’s first piezoelectric hearing aid speaker that is worn directly on the eardrum. This results in a direct and mechanical sound transmission to the auditory organs of people with hearing impairment and a particularly wide sound spectrum. The first hearing system Vibrosonic^® alpha has been approved in 2021.
The Hearing Contact Lens^® is the result of a research project between the University Hospital Tübingen, the Fraunhofer IPA, and other partners. Today, Vibrosonic GmbH combines research and development, as well as manufacturing and administration, in its location at the Mannheim Technology Park.
Vibrosonic GmbH currently employs 30 people.

For more information on Vibrosonic GmbH, please visit www.vibrosonic.com.