Taking on an $8,000 Product with a $300 Alternative

Author: HumanOp Technologies
Published: Thu 21 Aug 2025
Episode Link: https://humanop.com

How do you challenge a stale, high-cost industry when you're a startup? Michael Leung, founder of The Flo Group, joins Harmonious at Lunch to detail his plan for disrupting the hearing aid market. Driven by his own personal experience with a degenerative eye condition, Michael is building a business around an affordable, non-invasive alternative: open-ear bone conduction headphones with built-in amplification.

This episode examines the strategy behind building a brand that serves overlooked communities. Michael discusses his go-to-market approach through senior homes, the deliberate choice to avoid a 'medical device' classification to maintain affordability, and how he's preparing for a high-stakes pitch on Canada's Dragon's Den. It's a case study in creating a product with a social mission and navigating the challenges of competing with entrenched industry giants.

In This Episode:

[00:00] - Intro: Making Noise in a Stale Industry

[01:15] - The $300 Alternative to Traditional Hearing Aids

[03:10] - How a Personal Disability Sparked a Business Mission

[05:25] - The Go-To-Market Strategy: Senior Homes, Grants & Partnerships

[08:50] - How to Prepare for a High-Stakes Pitch on Dragon's Den

[11:05] - A Critical Business Decision: Why We Aren't a 'Medical' Device

[13:40] - Facing Off Against the Hearing Aid Industry Giants

[15:10] - The Strategy for Rebranding an Existing Patented Product

[17:45] - Connect with The Flo Group

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