SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Dec. 19, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — OTOjOY, an audio technology company, was named an Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC) winner by the Arizona Commerce Authority. Ten local companies were chosen to receive up to $150,000 each in grant money.

OTOjOY is a technology company that specializes in hearing accessibility and consumer audio technology. By installing hearing loop technology in large gathering spaces, such as theaters, city council chambers, and places of worship, the company is pushing boundaries, creating equal access to speech and music and raising awareness for the need to improve audio access for all. Individuals can use their own hearing aids and cochlear implants to connect wirelessly to the venue’s sound system and receive crystal-clear sound without any distortion or background noise directly into their ears.

OTOjOY was one of 10 winners selected from 15 finalists with more than 80 applicants for the semiannual competition. The AIC is one of the largest in the country and is designed to advance innovation and technology commercialization opportunities in Arizona by helping early-stage ventures scale.

“We are thrilled to be considered one of the most promising and innovative startups in Arizona,” said Thomas Kaufmann, founder and CEO of OTOjOY. “Programs like this are extremely unique and the work of the Arizona Commerce Authority was genuinely one of the reasons we chose to make the Grand Canyon state our home. Having the local government support our work with this grant, outstanding mentorship and introductions to people who can help us continue to succeed is an incredible honor.”

This is the ninth year the AIC has supported the entrepreneurial ecosystem and innovative ideas.

“Congratulations to our fall 2019 awardees,” said Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “Each of these companies is advancing exciting innovations in digital health, wearables, fintech, SaaS and more. We could not be more proud to help them scale and achieve success in Arizona.”

OTOjOY’s first invention, OTOjOY LoopBuds, won a 2018 CES Innovation Award, an Edison Award and was nominated for a Global Mobile award. No other earbuds on the market use this technology. Kaufmann is leading the next wave of assistive technology for the mainstream through the use of artificial intelligence and loop technology. Kaufmann and his team are passionate about creating equal access to speech and music for everyone.

About OTOjOY
OTOjOY provides technology solutions for audiophiles and individuals with hearing loss. With hearing loop technology and related products, we create equal access to speech and music and enhance listening experiences by streaming sound wirelessly to people’s hearing aids, cochlear implants, and smartphones.

About the Arizona Commerce Authority
The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state’s leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create – attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visit azcommerce.com and follow the ACA on Twitter @azcommerce.

SOURCE OTOjOY