Flare Audio
Founded in 2007 by Dave and Naomi Roberts, Flare Audio is an award-winning British audio technology brand. They produce a range of earplugs and earphones that deliver clarity, fidelity, and noise reduction, shaping how we experience sound. Clients include the Alpine F1 team and music producer Flood, with products shipped to 186 countries from their dedicated head office. In 2025, Flare Audio received the King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation.
The Challenge
Breaking into the crowded audio technology market and promoting their products effectively were key challenges for the Flare Audio team. Their innovations solved problems many people didn’t yet recognise, so it was vital to communicate the benefits clearly and build consumer trust in a market full of unproven claims. With each product addressing the needs and pains of a different audience, refining marketing and positioning was critical.
Our Solution
Through Sussex Innovation’s ScaleUp Brighton & Hove Programme, the Flare Audio team received expert mentoring from Sussex Innovation’s Claire Pasquill to identify target audiences for each product and shift marketing from technical detail to the user experience. Focusing on their customers – their personalities, needs, and wants – has helped Flare Audio personalise their marketing and emphasise how customers will feel when using their technology.
As part of the programme, the Flare Audio team also benefited from connecting with other founders on similar journeys and learning from their experiences. Seeing how others navigated challenges and pivotal decisions gave them perspective, reinforced they weren’t alone in building a business, and highlighted the value of sharing insights within a supportive business community.
The Outcome
Participation in the programme gave Flare Audio insights from peers and founders, reducing isolation and informing key business decisions. Mentoring with Claire helped clarify customer segments, personalise marketing, and communicate the impact of their technology more effectively.
“Knowing there’s others out there struggling or thriving in the same ways as you makes you feel a whole lot less alone. For quite a long period of time we were very isolated, and we’ve learned how beneficial it is to be open, to share and be receptive to input from others.”
What’s Next?
Going forwards, Flare Audio are continuing to develop their unique technologies, grow their brand awareness and consumer demand, and start to explore licensing opportunities with major players to extend the reach and longevity of its innovations.
Find out more about Flare Audio over on their website.
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