Doppler Labs
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Audio technology, Consumer electronics |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | Noah Kraft, Fritz Lanman, Dan Wiggins |
| Defunct | 2017 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Key people | Noah Kraft (CEO), Fritz Lanman (Chairman), Dan Wiggins (CTO) |
| Products | In-ear computing gadgets, earplugs, wireless smart earbuds (Here One) |
Doppler Labs was an audio technology firm headquartered in San Francisco, established in 2013. The company specialized in creating in-ear computing gadgets, including sophisticated earplugs and wireless smart earbuds.
History
Doppler Labs was founded by Noah Kraft (CEO), Fritz Lanman (chairman), and Dan Wiggins (CTO). Kraft brought a background in entertainment and strategic roles at Google, while Lanman had experience as a former Microsoft executive and angel investor. Wiggins contributed extensive expertise in acoustics and technology, having collaborated with companies such as Apple, Dolby, and SONOS.
With foresight into the rise of wearable tech and voice-controlled interfaces, Doppler Labs sought to integrate computing capabilities directly into the ear. The removal of headphone jacks by Apple, the introduction of AirPods, and the growing popularity of voice assistants like Alexa positioned Doppler as a pioneer within the emerging $40 billion smart earbud sector projected for 2020.
In July 2015, Doppler secured $17 million in Series B financing, increasing its total funding to more than $50 million. Investors included The Chernin Group, Wildcat Capital Management, Acequia Capital, along with notable individuals such as Henry Kravis, David Geffen, and Dan Gilbert.
The company’s initial offering, DUBS Acoustic Filters, featured a unique 17-piece acoustic filtering system designed to lower sound pressure while preserving audio clarity. In 2016, Doppler introduced Here Active Listening at Coachella, followed by its premier product, Here One, wireless smart earbuds enabling users to selectively control ambient noise, stream music, enhance speech clarity, and manage calls. Promoted as the first-ever in-ear computer, Here One combined customizable audio with computing functionality.
In March 2017, Doppler initiated legal action against Bose over trademark infringement concerning the Here Buds name. The company also advocated for the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017 to broaden access to hearing technologies.
On November 1, 2017, Doppler Labs declared it would halt operations due to challenges in obtaining Series C investment. Despite negotiations involving potential partnerships or acquisitions with major technology firms such as Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon, and Facebook, Doppler ceased activity on December 1. At that time, the company was preparing to release its subsequent product, Here Two.
In 2018, Dolby acquired the majority of Doppler Labs’ remaining intellectual property under Wiggins’ leadership. As of May 2024, Wiggins regained ownership of the Doppler Labs trademark with plans to revive the brand focused on Over-The-Counter hearing aid solutions.
Partners
Expanding upon existing collaborations with the Tao Group, Coachella, Bonnaroo, and Outside Lands, Doppler Labs announced seven additional partnerships in November 2016. These included alliances with The New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, JetBlue, Gimlet Media, MADE Fashion, and The New York Mets. The goal was to incorporate Here One technology across sports events, museums, concert venues, and other live experiences.
In December 2016, Doppler Labs collaborated with the Global Citizen Festival to introduce #HereTogether—a campaign dedicated to raising awareness about hearing loss prevention and advancing hearing accessibility innovations. This initiative culminated in the launch of a Hearing Bill of Rights in April 2017.
Awards and recognition
- Featured in Inc. magazine's list of 2015 Game Changing Inventions
- Included in Time magazine's 2015 Best Inventions selection
- Recognized by Fast Company magazine as one of the World's Most Innovative Companies in 2016
- Honored with the Best of Show award at SXSW in 2016
- Awarded the Gold for Product Design at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2016
- Listed among Forbes magazine's Next Billion-Dollar Startups in 2016
- Achieved Runner-Up status for Hardware of the Year at the TechCrunch Crunchies Awards in 2017
References
- Defunct computer companies of the United States
- Headphones manufacturers
- Electronics companies established in 2013
- American companies established in 2013
- 2017 disestablishments in California
- Electronics companies disestablished in 2017
- 2013 establishments in New York City
- Defunct computer hardware companies
- Defunct electronics companies of the United States