AHead Simulations Receives SOFII Support to Transform the Future of Hearing Care

We’re excited to share that AHead Simulations, a cutting-edge Canadian med-tech company improving hearing outcomes worldwide, has received funding through the Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation (SOFII), administered by Community Futures Western Ontario.

Based in Kitchener, AHead Simulations is reshaping hearing healthcare through two breakthrough products:

CARL (Clinical Assistant for Realistic Learning), a first-of-its-kind training simulator for hearing care professionals, and ALEX (Audio Listening EXperience), a portable demo system that lets patients experience hearing technology the way it’s meant to sound realistically, clearly, and with full acoustic accuracy.

Built from the ground up in Ontario with a tightly controlled supply chain and deep partnerships, including strong roots with the world-renowned National Centre for Audiology AHead’s solutions give clinicians and educators the tools they need to train, engage, and care for patients at an exceptional level. With over 200 sites using CARL worldwide, and ALEX now officially launched with the first units shipping out in the coming weeks AHead is poised for even greater global impact.

“It has been an exciting journey from beginning the CARL project as a student to transforming the tool into a leading commercial product used around the world by the top Universities, companies, and educators of the hearing industry. This support from SOFII gives us additional capacity to continue our growth path with our new product, ALEX, to make hearing aids less intimidating and create simple and exceptional hearing experiences for patients, families, and consumers around the world.” – ROB KOCH, President & Founder

Advancing Hearing Healthcare in a Changing World

As the landscape of hearing care evolves from the rise of OTC hearing aids to growing patient expectations for personalized, tech-forward experiences AHead Simulations is uniquely positioned to lead the next era of innovation.

CARL remains the only simulator that mirrors the full clinical workflow using real clinical equipment, giving students and professionals hands-on learning with unparalleled realism. ALEX bridges the gap between complex hearing-aid technology and the patient experience, offering gold-standard sound quality and lifelike anatomy in a rugged, travel-ready system. Together, these products empower hearing care professionals to operate at the top of their training, properly use advanced hearing-aid features, and deliver better outcomes for patients.
With a nimble, product-first approach and full in-house assembly, AHead can innovate rapidly, maintain exceptional quality, and adapt to a global market that is shifting faster than ever before.

SOFII’s Impact: Fueling Innovation, Training, and Global Market Expansion

SOFII is proud to support AHead Simulations as the company prepares for a major product launch in fall 2025 a milestone that introduces two strong product lines and expands its reach across education, manufacturing, and clinical markets.

With SOFII’s support, AHead Simulations will:

Strengthen Its Commercial Launch
AHead will bring new commercial team members on board earlier than planned, ensuring strong momentum for the dual-product launch and accelerating adoption across global markets.

Increase Presence at Key Industry Events
The company will attend several major hearing-care and healthcare-simulation tradeshows, expanding visibility among clinicians, educators, device manufacturers, and distributors worldwide.

Continue Advancing R&D and Product Development
Rather than pausing innovation during the launch cycle, AHead will maintain active research and development for CARL, ALEX, and future solutions further validating its products through clinical partnerships and expanding into new use cases.

These strategic initiatives will help AHead Simulations deepen its global footprint, reach new customer segments, and stay ahead of rapid changes in hearing care delivery.

A Canadian Med-Tech Success Story, Built in Kitchener

Founded by Robert Koch as a graduate project at the National Centre for Audiology, AHead has grown from a student idea into a globally recognized leader in hearing-care training and patient engagement. With strong Ontario-based manufacturing, a robust supply chain, and deep clinical partnerships, the company is delivering innovation that improves lives locally and around the world.

Through SOFII’s support, AHead Simulations is equipped to accelerate growth, expand impact, and continue advancing the future of hearing healthcare from right here in Southern Ontario.

Website: https://aheadsimulations.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ahead-simulations/

About SOFII: Empowering Innovation and Growth

SOFII is proud to fuel innovation and drive growth for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across both urban and rural communities in southern Ontario. Through our program, eligible businesses can access interest-bearing loans ranging from $150,000 to $500,000, with the potential for additional funding in exceptional cases. Launched in July 2012 by the Government of Canada through FedDev Ontario, SOFII is delivered in southwestern Ontario by Community Futures Western Ontario, helping ambitious businesses turn bold ideas into lasting success.