THE ISRAELI STARTUP THAT HELPS PEOPLE HEAR BETTER

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1.5 billion people worldwide currently live with some form of hearing reduction or hearing loss (hypoacusis), and this number is estimated to rise to 2.5 billion by 2050—around one in four people.

Hearing Loss - (IMAGE COURTESY OF FREEPIK)

In Italy, hearing loss affects around 8 million adults, with consequences that include social isolation, communication difficulties, and an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia if not treated early. Many traditional hearing devices, however, are not effective when patients find themselves in noisy environments, compromising speech understanding in crowded places such as restaurants or theatres. As a result, users become mentally fatigued and miss out on important social and cultural moments.

“Accessibility has always been important to me because my wife, Dana, is visually impaired and is also a speech therapist,” Itamar Gabbay, CEO and co-founder of Bettear, told ISRAEL21c. “During this time, we came across many places that were not accessible to people with hearing difficulties, even when they should have been. We looked into it and realised that existing assistive technology was very outdated, difficult to use, and simply incompatible with the digital world.”

The startup Bettear, based in Tel Aviv, is rapidly establishing itself as an international benchmark in assisted listening and audio streaming solutions. Thanks to an AI-powered technological platform, the company enables people with hearing difficulties to access audio content broadcast in real time in public, cultural, educational and entertainment spaces, using their own hearing aids, cochlear implants or simple earphones.

Founded just five years ago, Bettear has distinguished itself through the quality and innovation of its offering, to the point that its system is now operating in 60 countries. In Israel alone, more than 4,000 venues—including museums, universities, theatres, residential care homes for the elderly and cultural centres—use this technology on a daily basis. Visitors can enjoy concerts or exhibitions without audio barriers.

A striking example of Bettear’s ability to break down barriers was the Maroon 5 concert in Tel Aviv in May 2022. Thanks to the installation of Bettear’s technology, the event—which drew an audience of 60,000 people—was fully accessible to spectators with hearing impairments. This initiative was recognised as one of the first large-scale applications worldwide in the field of assisted listening.

One of Bettear’s distinguishing features is its constant commitment to innovation. Recently, the company was among the first in the world to introduce solutions based on the Auracast protocol, the new Bluetooth standard for audio broadcasting, making access to sound content in public spaces even easier.

Bettear is built on the “Bring Your Own Device” principle: users can access audio content through a dedicated app on their own smartphone, enjoying an intuitive, comfortable and consistent experience in any location.

APP BETTEAR - (Image courtesy of Bettear website)

Art, and the Habima Theatre—along with various international distributors and partners, have chosen to collaborate with the startup. The scientific research supporting the company is led by Dr Nir Fink, an acoustics expert and university lecturer, who has conducted extensive studies on hearing and hearing protection, including in the military field.

These studies, combined with expertise in artificial intelligence, have made it possible to develop advanced audio processing techniques (Deep Audio Processing) capable of delivering personalised and adjustable listening quality in any setting.

Bettear’s impact is already tangible. Accessibility managers at many Israeli cultural institutions have reported greater inclusion and visitor satisfaction thanks to the simplicity and effectiveness of the service. The company currently employs 20 people in Israel, in addition to collaborators in Korea and Japan, and continues to expand its international presence.

Bettear demonstrates how technological innovation can make environments more inclusive and enable everyone to participate fully in social and cultural life. Through technology, Bettear helps overcome barriers related to hearing loss, promoting more equitable and accessible participation for all. Bettear is concrete proof that technology can become a powerful tool for inclusion, allowing every citizen to feel like an active part of the community.

Luciano Bassani