Audeara Locks in Exclusive Deal to Reach 600,000 Australian Kids With Hearing Tech
Audeara secures exclusive Australian distribution deal with global bone conduction leader
Audeara has secured exclusive Australian distribution rights from ShokzHear, the healthcare division of global bone conduction audio leader Shokz. The agreement enables deployment of the OpenLearn Small by ShokzHear, a customised assistive listening solution targeting an estimated 600,000 Australian school-aged children experiencing functional listening challenges. First product orders are expected later in calendar year 2026.
The agreement, which includes a two-year initial term, positions Audeara to access pre-funded government programs and charitable delivery channels, supporting scalable deployment without heavy customer acquisition expenditure. ShokzHear will manufacture the product to specifications developed by Audeara based on requirements for the Australian education market, including functionality, sizing and audio tuning parameters.
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What is bone conduction audio technology?
Bone conduction technology transmits sound through the cheekbones directly to the inner ear, bypassing the ear canal entirely. Unlike traditional headphones or hearing devices that rely on sound waves travelling through the outer and middle ear, bone conduction delivers audio vibrations through the skull bones.
This approach matters particularly for children with middle ear conditions or fluctuating hearing loss, where the outer or middle ear may not function reliably. The technology maintains an open-ear design, allowing users to remain aware of their surroundings while receiving audio input. This matters in classroom settings where environmental awareness supports both safety and social engagement.
Shokz has established category leadership globally in bone conduction audio, pioneering open-ear listening devices across consumer and now healthcare applications. The partnership provides Audeara access to this validated technology platform while maintaining capital efficiency through the customisation and manufacturing arrangement.
Targeting an underserved market through funded channels
The OpenLearn Small addresses a substantial unmet need across Australian education settings. With 600,000 school-aged children experiencing functional listening challenges, many linked to fluctuating hearing loss from middle ear conditions, the target market represents a significant opportunity where existing solutions often fail to provide consistent support.
Regional and remote communities face particularly acute challenges, with hearing loss rates among the highest globally in some areas. These conditions create profound implications for education outcomes, communication development and social connection during critical learning years.
The commercial pathway established under the agreement reduces execution risk through three distinct deployment channels:
- Fully funded government programs at state and national level
- Charitable delivery channels serving underserved communities
- Institutional procurement pathways through education systems
This model supports scalable distribution while maintaining low customer acquisition costs. By aligning with pre-funded programs and established delivery mechanisms, Audeara can translate real-world impact into commercially sustainable deployment without requiring significant marketing expenditure or direct-to-consumer channel development.
The focus on educational settings reflects environments where classroom listening presents particular challenges. Speech clarity in noisy environments directly impacts learning engagement and educational outcomes, creating both social impact and commercial sustainability through institutional purchasing pathways.
Management perspectives on the partnership
Both parties have emphasised the strategic alignment and complementary capabilities underpinning the agreement.
ShokzHear Director Fengyun Liao highlighted Audeara’s market positioning: “We are excited to collaborate with Audeara to provide customised audio solutions for the Australian market. Audeara’s local market insight and experience in assistive listening technologies makes them a valuable partner as we adapt our technology platform for new applications.”
Managing Director and CEO Dr James Fielding connected the commercial opportunity to measurable social impact:
Dr James Fielding, Managing Director and CEO
“At its core, this agreement is about helping people access sound in environments where it matters most. Across Australia, hundreds of thousands of children experience listening challenges during critical years of learning. When speech isn’t clear, engagement drops, confidence is impacted, and opportunities can be lost. This agreement allows us to deliver at scale through fully funded programs, with a solution shaped by Audeara’s listening expertise and validated in real-world environments. Importantly, it demonstrates that solving meaningful problems can also create a scalable and sustainable commercial pathway.”
Key agreement terms
The partnership structure establishes clear responsibilities while maintaining commercial flexibility.
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| Duration | Initial two-year term |
| Exclusivity | Australian market |
| Product | OpenLearn Small by ShokzHear |
| Customisation | ShokzHear manufactures to Audeara specifications |
| First Orders | Expected later CY2026 |
| Termination | Available for cause by either party |
ShokzHear retains manufacturing responsibility, producing the customised version based on specifications developed by Audeara for the Australian education market. This division of responsibilities enables Audeara to leverage its local market expertise and assistive listening experience while accessing global manufacturing capabilities and established bone conduction technology.
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Strategic fit and future outlook
The ShokzHear partnership aligns directly with Audeara’s stated strategy of advancing its global footprint through collaboration with leading hardware providers. Rather than developing manufacturing capabilities internally, the company has positioned itself to access category-leading technology through partnership structures that maintain capital efficiency.
The agreement provides several strategic advantages beyond the immediate Australian education market opportunity:
- Access to category-leading bone conduction technology without manufacturing capital expenditure
- Capital-efficient product development through partner customisation and manufacturing
- Scalable distribution via institutional procurement and pre-funded programs
- Foundation for potential future market and product expansion with established partner
By partnering with a globally recognised brand leader in bone conduction audio, Audeara gains market positioning benefits while maintaining its capital-efficient operating model. The arrangement demonstrates that the company’s platform strategy can attract established technology partners willing to customise solutions for specific market applications.
The institutional procurement pathway established through government programs and charitable channels creates a repeatable deployment model. This approach supports both broad market access and commercial sustainability without requiring the customer acquisition costs typically associated with direct-to-consumer hearing health solutions.
The focus on real-world validation in educational settings provides practical proof points that could support future expansion into adjacent markets or age groups experiencing similar listening challenges. The partnership structure allows for potential product or market expansion while the two-year initial term provides time to establish commercial traction and validate the deployment model.
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