“What?”
That’s what my grandfather says now, not because he can’t hear, but because he stopped trying. He’s part of the 84% of people who give up on hearing aids altogether.
For years, my grandfather was my teacher. He taught me the value of hobbies and passions, photography, grit, innovation, and building things that last. As he grew older, those lessons became fewer. Conversations shortened. Eventually, they stopped.
He has a drawer full of hearing aids, but he doesn’t wear them. They amplify everything including the dishes in the sink, the construction outside, but, unfortunately, not what matters most…the conversation. Instead, he chose to fade into the background and no longer be the driving force at family gatherings.
Fortell exists for people like him. You don’t just build hearing aids with custom AI chips. You’ve built technology that restores presence, engagement, and relevance in the moments that matter.
My name is Pierce. I’m early in my career and recently graduated from the University of Miami with a B.A. in Global Health and minor in Health Management and Policy. As you’re reading this letter, you’re probably wondering, “what’s scrolling in the background?”
That’s my resume and it’s deliberately in the background. Fortell’s technology separates signal from noise, amplifying what matters and suppressing what doesn’t. I designed this site the same way, so that you can hear the story before the credentials.
I’m a self starter with a bias toward building. At twelve, I taught myself woodworking. By thirteen, I had converted our basement into a workshop. Woodworking taught me patience, precision, and respect for craft. Small imperfections compound, and the work isn’t finished until it fits the person it’s built for. That mindset mirrors how I think about healthcare products and why Fortell’s approach resonates so strongly with me.
Fortell is on a mission to build the most advanced hearing aids in the world. You’ve proven the product works. You’ve built custom hardware and software. You’ve treated every patient that’s walked through your doors on Park Avenue like family and now comes the hardest and most exciting part.
Scaling that experience without losing quality, safety, or humanity won’t be for the faint of heart. Navigating reimbursement…building partnerships…reaching the construction worker who is slowly losing his hearing, but doesn’t know yet about Fortell…that’s the challenge.
I’ve worked on market access strategy for health tech startups and studied inefficiencies in hospital systems that are often accepted as just how things work. I’ve learned that meaningful progress comes from asking better questions and being relentless in finding answers. To be clear, I don’t claim to have all of them, but I bring integrity, grit, and a deep willingness to do the work.
I’ve experienced both startup chaos and hospital bureaucracy. I choose chaos every time because that’s where the real change happens.
My grandfather taught me that life is defined by the people you meet and the connections you keep. I want to learn from a team that has spent years redefining what hearing should be. I want to contribute to wherever I can be most useful. And, most importantly, I want to help ensure that people like my grandfather don’t fade into the background.
Fortell’s technology amplifies what matters. It’s not about being louder, but being clearer. I hope this note does too.
Looking forward to chatting!
Thank you,
Pierce