Press room

Eden Prairie, Minnesota (January 20, 2026) — Starkey, a global leader in AI-driven hearing technology, has earned two major honors from the 2026 BIG Innovation Awards, with President and CEO Brandon Sawalich named Overall Winner in the Individual category and Omega AI recognized as a BIG Innovation Award winner for product innovation.

Together, the awards underscore Starkey’s leadership in redefining hearing technology, marking a year of unprecedented innovation, business momentum, and global impact on hearing healthcare.

In the past year, Sawalich led the global launch of Omega AI, Starkey’s most advanced hearing technology and the most successful product introduction in the company’s history. Since its debut in October 2025, Omega AI has fueled Starkey’s best year ever, delivering record performance across global markets while setting a new benchmark for sound quality, durability, and intelligent health features.

“Innovation at Starkey means setting the standard for what hearing technology can achieve,” said Sawalich. “Our leadership in AI, sound quality, and health and wellness capabilities is grounded in decades of experience and continues to drive the future of hearing healthcare. Omega AI reflects our commitment to lead the industry with technology that delivers real-world results and meaningful impact for people around the globe.”

Under Sawalich’s leadership, Starkey has consistently introduced industry-leading advancements that have expanded the role of hearing technology beyond amplification alone. By integrating artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, and health-focused capabilities directly into its products, Starkey has transformed hearing aids into powerful, multifunctional tools that support safety, wellness, and everyday performance.

Omega AI builds on that legacy with hearing technology that is so intelligent, it’s superhuman. Powered by Starkey’s next-generation processor and deep neural network (DNN) accelerator, Omega AI features the world’s first DNN-powered directionality system, designed to continuously scan and adapt to complex listening environments. The result is exceptional sound clarity, seamless spatial awareness, industry-leading battery life, and a waterproof design—setting a new standard for intelligent hearing performance.

Beyond sound, Omega AI advances Starkey’s long-term vision for hearing aids as high-tech health devices. The platform integrates personal health monitoring, fall detection, balance assessment and builder, and real-time language translation across 78 languages through the My Starkey app. TeleHear AI, the world’s first generative AI assistant for hearing aids, further enhances the experience by helping users resolve common issues with 93% accuracy when access to a hearing professional is limited.

With more than 30 years in the hearing industry, Sawalich began his career at Starkey in 1994 and has led teams across marketing, sales, and customer service before becoming President and CEO. He also serves as Board Chair of the Hearing Industries Association, working with policymakers to help advance accessibility, affordability, and awareness of hearing healthcare worldwide.

Presented by the Business Intelligence Group, the BIG Innovation Awards recognize organizations and individuals who are reshaping industries through bold ideas and measurable impact. Starkey’s dual recognition highlights the powerful combination of experienced leadership and breakthrough technology shaping the future of hearing health.

About Starkey
Starkey is a leading global innovator in hearing technology and AI-powered hearing aids, headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Since its founding by Bill Austin in 1967 and led today by Brandon Sawalich, Starkey has driven breakthroughs in unmatched sound clarity and machine learning and intelligent hearing technology. As the only American-owned hearing aid manufacturer, Starkey employs over 5,000 professionals across 29 facilities, delivering advanced hearing solutions to customers in 100+ markets worldwide. Explore our smart hearing devices and connected technologies at starkey.com.