Most startups pivot at some point. Paul Crusius never did.
The Miami-based, German-born CEO launched hear.com over a decade ago with a simple idea: hearing loss is common, solutions exist, but far too few people use them.
“The technology is there,” Crusius [pictured above] told Refresh Miami. “But only about 20% of people with hearing loss actually use hearing aids.” His insight? The real barrier wasn’t technical, it was stigma, cost, and inconvenience.
Crusius had been working as a consultant in the medical technology space when he was tasked with building a go-to-market strategy for a hearing aid manufacturer. “At first I thought hearing aids sounded boring,” he admitted. “But the more I dug in, the more I saw a massive problem that could be solved with better communication and a more modern approach.” That spark became the foundation for hear.com.
In its early days, Crusius and his co-founder, Dr. Marco Vietor, ran the whole business themselves: buying ads, taking calls, and manually connecting customers with audiologists. It worked. On the very first day, they had customers moving forward based on their advice.
“We validated the idea immediately,” he said. “From the start, our pitch was: let’s talk to you about how hearing aids have changed and connect you with a free consultation. That formula never changed.”
Today, hear.com has grown into a global company with over 1,100 employees and more than a million hearing aids sold. Its U.S. operation, run from Miami, is now its largest and fastest-growing market. The Miami office, with around 80 team members, is also the company’s top revenue producer globally.
But hear.com’s biggest differentiator is the product experience. Over the past 12 years, the company has developed a proprietary “clinic in a box” [pictured below] that lets customers complete the entire hearing care process from home. After a phone consultation, users receive a Microsoft Surface tablet loaded with diagnostic software and connected to clinical-grade testing equipment.
“You get all the benefits of a high-end audiology clinic,” Crusius explained. “But from your couch.”
The kit allows users to run a full 30-minute diagnostic, receive remote fitting and fine-tuning of their hearing aids, and even walk around their home while testing different environments like the kitchen or backyard. Audiologists licensed in the customer’s state conduct sessions over video. After two to four weeks and a few follow-up adjustments, the customer sends the equipment back, fully calibrated to their needs.
The approach removes friction and stigma.
“Our goal is to get someone who’s hesitant to act, to move forward quickly,” Crusius said. “If you wait too long, that window closes.”
“It’s the number one thing you can do to lower your risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia,” Crusius added. “It’s as important as going for a run is for your heart.”
He also wants to change how people view hearing care. “It shouldn’t be about feeling old or broken,” he said. “If you’re 65 and you’ve lived a full life – gone to concerts, traveled, been social – of course you have hearing loss. It’s a sign of a life well lived.”
The next frontier, according to Crusius, is making hearing devices cooler, not just more discreet. Already, hear.com is exploring glasses with built-in amplification and testing AI-powered prototypes that go beyond normal hearing.
“We’re moving toward a world where these devices give you super hearing,” he said. “Not just restoring, but enhancing – like being able to isolate one voice in a crowded restaurant.”
Crusius moved to Miami nearly 10 years ago and says it was one of the best decisions he made.
“We were looking for an East Coast time zone that is closer to Europe,” he said. “But more than that, we felt Miami had the right energy. People stay here. You can build a long-term culture, especially for a team focused on helping others live better lives.”
READ MORE IN REFRESH MIAMI:
- Thema’s pathway to brain health: Prevention, early detection and healthcare access
- Boca-based healthtech Dazos raises $25M Series A
- With $10M in tow, Kiwi takes on Latin America’s $60 billion healthcare gap
- Happy V: The Miami-based startup spearheading solutions for vaginal health
- Blockchain Rx! Solum Global’s cure for healthcare’s payment headaches
- Commas is building the operating system for making money online - August 10, 2026
- HealthSnap raises $25M to turn its AI promise into a growth engine - August 6, 2026
- XSponse wants to give first responders the seconds that save lives - August 6, 2026