Globetrotting to countless expos, we’ve preached to enterprises of all sizes about the potential of bone conduction headsets. And we’ve seen it come to life in the field! From the giant warehouses in France where situational awareness is demanded, to the facilities of a leading European vehicle manufacturer where hearing protection is mandated by law, to the campus of the largest U.S. retailer where comfort and versatility are prioritized to suit hybrid work, bone conduction gradually unveiled its vast potential. 

We’re enamored by different ways we can help and fully aware of the challenges ahead. While our vision could be blurred by the mountainous difficulties, our resolve can never be shaken—because deep down we all want comfort, wearability and portability.

The 2012 Consumer Electronics Show was effectively the breakout party of AfterShokz and bone conduction headphones, in retrospect. Our little shabby booth showcased a wired bone conduction headphone that was rudimentary at best. However, bone conduction technology caught people’s imagination from the largest channels to mainstream media.  

Overjoyed by the CES success, we quickly found out that it’s one thing to ignite public interest and entirely another to reach into their pockets. Our concept was the future; our product design and bone conduction technology needed work. Though we’d experienced grand initial successes, the struggle to improve exceeded the patience of Apple and Best Buy, and we lost retail shelf space as a result. But we persevered on a mission to eliminate sound leakage, enhance bass, curb vibration, and make bone conduction sound truly musical. Our effort even impressed the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Starting with the grassroots release of Trekz Titanium in 2016, validation came in full force. A crowdfunding campaign and independent sports and specialty retail effort drew people in to try the technology. Those small demo stations mushroomed in retail stores worldwide. Our customers not only bought bone conduction headphones for themselves, they urged their family and friends to try.

Reflecting on the journey we traveled to build the consumer bone conduction headphones category, we anticipate the road ahead is going to be both challenging and full of risk. We will continue to deliver value via bone conduction technology and chase the best user experience even if it takes us to the ends of the earth to discover. If we have user experience in the center of our hearts, we can weather the baddest storm.