Hearing loss affects an estimated 50 million US adults, yet only about 20% of those diagnosed seek treatment. A new startup called Legato is emerging from stealth to attack that gap with AI-powered glasses.
The company debuted Wednesday with $12M in funding and a first look at Legato Frames, which integrate patented hearing-assistance technology into the arms of eyewear. The glasses are expected to launch later this fall.
Behind Legato stand two Bose alumni: Mehul Trivedi, who created Bose Frames and later led smart-glasses work at EssilorLuxottica, including on the Meta Ray-Bans, and Steve Romine, who ran Bose’s hearing-aid business and then served as COO at Audicus.
The founding team’s resume explains the pitch: hearing aids carry a stigma that keeps millions from treating their loss, but glasses are a mainstream accessory. If the technology works invisibly inside a frame, Legato argues, adoption could finally move past the 20% who currently seek care.
It is an early bet, and the fall launch will show whether the product matches the founders’ pedigree.
