Audeara Secures Exclusive Australian Deal with ShokzHear for Assistive Listening Solution

Exclusive Rights to ShokzHear’s Customised Listening Device

Audeara Limited (ASX:AUA) has secured exclusive Australian distribution rights from Shokz Health Global’s healthcare division, ShokzHear, for a specially customised version of their OpenLearn Small assistive listening solution. This device, designed specifically for Australian educational settings, leverages Shokz’s global leadership in bone conduction audio technology and Audeara’s expertise in listening solutions.

The OpenLearn Small by ShokzHear aims to address a significant and often overlooked problem: functional listening difficulties affecting up to 600,000 Australian school-aged children. These challenges, frequently linked to fluctuating hearing loss such as middle ear conditions, can severely impact speech clarity in noisy classrooms, undermining learning and participation, especially in regional and remote communities.

Tailored Product for Educational Impact

The product customisation reflects feedback from Audeara to optimise size, functionality, and audio tuning for Australian classrooms. ShokzHear will manufacture the device to these specifications, with initial orders expected later this year. This solution is designed not only to improve speech access but also to maintain comfort and situational awareness, critical for children’s everyday use.

Audeara CEO Dr James Fielding emphasised the human impact behind the technology: "When speech isn’t clear, engagement drops, confidence is impacted, and opportunities can be lost." The company sees this agreement as a way to deliver meaningful support at scale through fully funded government programs, creating a sustainable commercial model.

Scalable Deployment Through Government Channels

The agreement sets a clear commercial pathway by aligning with fully funded state and national government initiatives as well as charitable channels. This approach enables capital-efficient scaling and low customer acquisition costs, translating real-world impact into sustainable growth. It also fits neatly with Audeara’s recent financial momentum, following its second consecutive quarter of positive operating cash flow and record wholesale sales in Australia, which have bolstered its cash position to $1.05 million.

By partnering with a globally recognised hardware leader like Shokz, Audeara is positioning itself to expand its hearing health platform internationally while maintaining a lean operating model. This strategy mirrors prior efforts to grow its Auracast™ technology through partnerships and new product launches.

Agreement Details and Future Prospects

The initial term of the agreement is two years, with provisions for termination for cause by either party. While financial terms and volume commitments remain undisclosed, the deal underscores Audeara’s ambition to become a key player in assistive listening solutions within education and beyond.

The success of this initiative will depend on government program uptake and the product’s acceptance in schools, particularly in underserved communities with high rates of hearing loss. As Audeara continues to build on its recent positive cash flow trajectory, this deal could mark a pivotal step in scaling its impact and commercial footprint.