Kanishka Patel, a student of robotics, electronics, and communication engineering, stumbled upon a news article on bone conduction technology. It highlighted its use in military helmets to enhance communication among soldiers.

Kanishka wondered: Could this technology help people with hearing loss?

Kanishka delved deeper, considering whether bone conduction could provide a non-surgical solution for hearing impairments. His research led him to focus on people with microtia, a condition involving underdeveloped ears.

Intrigued by the technology, he envisioned a cost-effective, life-changing device for millions worldwide.

In 2017, Kanishka developed a prototype of a hearing aid using bone conduction technology. He collaborated with Raj Shah, who had left his job to join Kanishka on this ambitious journey.

They were incubated at the Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship Council (GUSEC), where they received funding and research support.

Testing the technology The duo tested their prototype at Bahera Munga Shala, a school for hearing-impaired children.

Kanishka recalls a powerful moment: “We played music, and a child heard sound for the first time in his life. I can’t forget the way his face lit up.” It bypasses the outer and middle ear, transmitting sound directly through the bone to the inner ear.

How HearNU works The device sits behind the ear on the temporal bone and sends vibrations directly to the cochlea. A Bluetooth-enabled band processes and tunes audio before sending it to the hearing aid, making it compatible with smartphones, TVs, and laptops.

What sets HearNU apart is its non-surgical design. Unlike costly BAHA (Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid) implants requiring surgery (priced at Rs 8 lakh), HearNU is available for just Rs 80,000.

Since its launch, WeHear has sold over 11,500 devices and earned Rs 5.5 crore in revenue for FY 2023-24. In 2023, they secured a Rs 2.5 crore investment on Shark Tank India from Peyush Bansal, valuing the company at Rs 250 crore.

WeHear has partnered with state governments and corporations to distribute hearing aids through initiatives like the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. They have also begun exporting HearNU to African countries, with plans for global expansion.

After the success of HearNU, they also launched WeHear OX, a pair of bone-conduction earphones designed for comfort and safety. These earphones bypass the outer ear and come with a built-in 72-language translator for added convenience.

“We want to create an ecosystem in hearing aids that are completely made from scratch in India, for the world,” says Kanishka.

The growing demand for hearing solutions With the WHO predicting that one in 10 people will suffer disabling hearing loss by 2050, solutions like HearNU are more essential than ever.

WeHear is already developing HearNU BTE — a hearing aid for people with other forms of hearing loss — and has three more products in the pipeline.

“Our solutions will be affordable for all, ensuring that everyone with hearing loss can find a non-surgical alternative,” says Kanishka.