Business Support Case Study: Eargym Ltd
About the business
- Business name: Eargym Ltd (Eastbourne)
- Support programme: Big Ambitions
- Participant name: Andy Shanks
Eargym is a digital platform designed to help people maintain and improve their hearing health through interactive listening games and personalised training. It aims to make hearing care accessible, engaging and proactive, supporting users to stay connected and prevent hearing decline.
Why they signed up to the business support programme
Eargym was at a major crossroads, considering several routes forward and needed some expert guidance on the technical side and team resourcing.
Eargym joined the Big Ambitions programme to refine its business-to-business marketing strategy, with a particular focus on targeting insurance companies, and to prepare for the next phase of business growth. With plans to launch a pilot with an insurer in Germany and submit for EU medical device certification, the team needed strategic guidance to support both commercial and technical development. At the same time, they were actively seeking funding and looking to recruit a technical lead to strengthen their internal capabilities.
The programme offered tailored support to help address these priorities, strengthen their offering and position the business on a long-term scale.
What support they received
Through the Big Ambitions programme, Eargym received specialist technical support to prepare for growth and potential scale-up. This included a full architectural review of their mobile application, server infrastructure and mini games, along with detailed documentation outlining existing code flows and recommended improvements. The support also covered discussions around team structure, skills gaps and future technology needs. A valuable referral to a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) candidate provided further insights and guidance, helping to strengthen Eargym’s technical roadmap and support their readiness for both sales opportunities and future investment.
How this has helped the business
The support has helped Eargym strengthen its technical foundations and prepare for the next stage of growth. The architectural reviews and expert guidance provided clarity on how to improve their platform, streamline development and address any technical gaps.
The CTO referral proved particularly valuable, offering insight that supported both product refinement and team planning. With a clearer roadmap and stronger technical documentation, Eargym is now better positioned to scale, pursue new partnerships - particularly in the insurance sector - and secure further funding with greater confidence. Eargym has achieved medical device certification and is prepared for various different outcomes.
Wider benefits from supporting this business
Supporting Eargym delivers wider benefits by promoting better hearing health through innovative, accessible technology. As the platform grows, it has the potential to reduce the long-term impact of hearing loss, support healthy ageing and lessen the strain on health services. By working with insurers and healthcare providers, Eargym can help integrate preventative hearing care into everyday life, reaching more people and raising awareness of an often-overlooked health issue.
The big ambitions programme was a great success for Eargym. We were paired with an excellent advisor who efficiently delivered what we needed and helped add clarity for the best routes forward during a tricky time of transition.
Andy Shanks
Contact
For more information on the business support programmes provided by East Sussex County Council, contact the Economic Development Team.
Economic.Development@eastsussex.gov.uk
Big Ambitions is a specialist support programme for businesses that are growing and are likely to employ additional staff within the next six to twelve months. It is funded by UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and a collaboration between Eastbourne, Lewes, Rother and Wealden District/Borough Councils. It is supported by East Sussex County Council and delivered by Digital Islands.
