American startup Legato has officially unveiled its first product after a period of stealth development, announcing the raising of $12 million in venture funding. The company specializes in creating wearable devices for hearing enhancement and has announced the launch of Legato Frames — smart glasses that integrate hearing aid technology directly into the frame temples. The commercial launch of the product is scheduled for the fall season of this year.
Legato was founded by Mehul Trivedi and Steve Romin, who bring extensive experience in the wearables and audio technology industries. Trivedi previously led the development of Bose Frames at Bose, before moving to EssilorLuxottica where he worked on Meta Ray-Ban. Romin headed the hearing aid division at Bose and subsequently served as Chief Operating Officer at Audicus. After years of working at major corporations, Trivedi took a break to explore the possibilities of combining hearing correction technology with the smart glasses form factor, which led to the founding of Legato in late 2024.
The product is aimed at people with mild to moderate hearing loss, which represents the most common category of hearing impairment. According to statistical estimates, approximately 50 million adults in the United States experience hearing problems, yet only one in five seeks professional help. Legato aims to overcome the barriers of cost, comfort, and social stigma associated with traditional hearing aids by offering a solution in a familiar and discreet form factor.
The technological hallmark of Legato Frames lies in the use of artificial intelligence algorithms for acoustic sound processing. Unlike conventional hearing aids, which use directional microphones to focus on sounds from a specific direction, the Legato system analyzes the audio stream in real time, isolating human speech from background noise. This approach ensures clarity in conversations in challenging acoustic environments without placing additional cognitive load on the user. Despite the open frame design, a dual-speaker system directs sound directly toward the user's ears, suppressing sound leakage outward by 99% within a radius of a few centimeters.
The investment round was led by Neotribe Ventures, Listen, and Village Global, with the funds raised directed primarily toward completing product development and preparing a marketing campaign. Legato Frames will be distributed through a network of optometry clinics across the country at a price significantly below that of traditional hearing aids. When purchased through optometric centers, the device may be covered by vision insurance, further reducing financial barriers for consumers. The company's founders view the product not only as a tool for improving hearing, but also for maintaining social connections and the overall quality of life of its users.