Three Lives, One Mission
Changing how the world hears
Sometimes the most revolutionary ideas begin with a personal challenge. For us, it was the impossible choice between hearing protection and human connection—and the burning desire to solve it once and for all.
Our Mission
The Future of Sound Control
Nearly 2.5 billion people will experience hearing loss by 2050, not because technology isn't available, but because traditional earplug options force you to either disconnect from the world or harm your hearing. We're on a mission to eliminate that impossible choice.
We're changing that by making mechanical transparency mode the new standard for earplugs—proving that you don't need electronics, batteries, or compromise to have complete control over your sound environment. Every click brings us closer to a world where hearing health enhances human connection rather than limiting it.
Our journey continues as we prepare to bring Unplugs to people worldwide who deserve better earplug options without sacrificing connection to the world around them.
our story
The Personal Journey
Most people take hearing for granted. For some of us, it's a precious resource that will never return.
Tom Worcester
Growing up wearing hearing aids from age 4, sound wasn't just something Tom experienced—it was something he had to navigate, manage, and sometimes fight for.
That early relationship with hearing would one day lead to a revolution in hearing protection.
THE CONNECTION
From patient to partner—Tom's lifelong relationship with hearing challenges, paired with years in the festival industry, set the stage for a collaboration that would change hearing protection forever.
The festival industry showed Tom what people needed. His hearing journey showed him why they needed it. Dr. Bauman showed him how to build it.
Dr. Natan Bauman
This wasn't just any audiologist—Dr. Bauman was the visionary who invented the "receiver in canal" hearing aid, now the most widely used hearing aid technology in the world.
Little did either know their paths would cross again, with world-changing results.
our timeline
From Concept to Reality
2013-2015
The Spark
& Patent
What started as a simple idea between friends and working partners Dr. Natan Bauman and Ralph Campagna evolved into something revolutionary.
These two audiological legends, responsible for creating the world's most popular hearing aid technology, envisioned a mechanical solution that could give people instant control over their sound environment.
By 2015, their breakthrough concept was officially protected with patent filings, securing the foundation for what would become the first mechanical transparency mode technology.
2016
Early Prototypes Take Shape
The vision became tangible as our first prototypes came to life in the lab. Through countless iterations and refinements, we proved that electronics weren't necessary for premium sound control.
These early models validated our core concept: a simple mechanical button could deliver the seamless transition between protection and connection that traditional earplugs couldn't provide.
The foundation was set, but the real journey was just beginning.
2023
The Dream Team Forms
Tom joined our mission, bringing the vision and entrepreneurial drive needed to transform Unplugs from concept into reality.
With over a decade of experience in the festival industry and personal understanding of hearing loss, Tom connected the audiological expertise of Dr. Bauman and Ralph with the real-world needs of music lovers, workers, and anyone seeking sound control.
The Unplugs dream team was finally complete, ready to revolutionize hearing protection.
2024
Real-World Testing & Perfection
Through rigorous testing in the most demanding environments—from the dusty chaos of Burning Man to the thunderous beats of Tomorrowland, and even with Navy SEALs on shooting ranges—we perfected every aspect of the Unplugs experience.
These real-world trials helped us refine our signature triangular shape for optimal ear fit and dial in the satisfying click mechanism that makes switching between modes feel effortless.
Every challenge made our design stronger.
2025
Kickstarter Success
Our Kickstarter campaign exceeded every expectation, becoming fully funded within 24 hours and ultimately reaching over 300% of our funding goal. The overwhelming response from backers worldwide confirmed what we knew—people were ready for true sound sovereignty.
Kickstarter recognized our innovation by selecting Unplugs as a "Project We Love," validating years of development and the revolutionary nature of mechanical transparency mode.
The community's support proved that the future of hearing protection isn't about blocking sound, but about controlling it.
