Bill Austin — Founder at Starkey

William F. Austin — or Bill Austin, as most know him — is the Founder, Principal Owner and Chairman of Starkey.

In 1961, to help pay for college and with the goal of attending medical school to become a missionary doctor, Bill started in the hearing aid industry making ear pieces in his uncle’s shop. His role quickly expanded, and he began designing hearing aids as well. One day, Bill worked tirelessly to fashion a hearing aid for a patient with profound difficulties whom others had given up on. The joy in the man’s eyes when he could finally hear better set Bill on his life’s mission — to help the world hear better. Bill then realized that through this industry, he could impact and help more lives than by working alone as a missionary doctor, and that his life would have a greater impact. So, Bill started his own company. In the 1960s, Bill’s company serviced and repaired more hearing aids from any manufacturer than anyone else in the world, and Bill and his expanding team continued to design, manufacture, and sell in-the-ear hearing aids. In 1970, Bill Austin purchased a three-employee company for $13,000 called Starkey Laboratories, which was making ear molds for Bill’s business. Bill then folded his larger operation under the Starkey name, and the rest is history. Bill’s original repair shop still operates within Starkey.

More than 50 years later, Bill’s business acumen has grown Starkey into what it is today: the only American-owned and operated global hearing aid manu