# Fortell raises $163 million for AI hearing-aid development

_Published Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 2:07 PM EDT · AI, Capital · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![Fortell raises $163 million for AI hearing-aid development — Primary](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Fortell_251028_CaseInteraction_0482_Fullres-GRAINS.jpg?resize=1200,900)

Fortell, an AI hearing-aid startup, recently raised $163 million from investors including Founders Fund, Thrive Capital and Antonio Gracias, according to its founder. The company aims to build hearing aids that distinguish important sounds from background noise in real time, using an AI architecture and a custom chip. It is entering a market where five companies produce 97% of hearing aids, the source said.

## Sources

- [Startups | TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/podcast/why-thrive-founders-fund-and-antonio-gracias-are-betting-on-hearing-aids/)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/0DTpYBhJylQmxMRQ1lC3-N
Published: 2026-09-16T18:07:18.032Z
Story chronology: 2026-09-16T15:30:43.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-09-16T19:54:55.582Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)