Hance will demo its kilobyte-size AI audio processing software at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

Picture yourself as a Formula One driver racing at 200 miles per hour, suddenly faced with a garbled message from your engineer. In such high-stakes moments, clarity is crucial, and that's precisely the challenge Norwegian startup Hance aims to tackle with its groundbreaking audio processing software. This innovative solution has already garnered attention from industry giants like Intel and Riedel Communications, the official radio supplier for F1. Hance is set to showcase its technology at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, happening from October 27 to 29 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. With a dedicated team of around 10 professionals, including co-founder Stian Aagedal, who is also CEO of audio editing software company Acon Digital, and Peder Jørgensen of sound effects library Soundly, the startup is armed with substantial expertise in the audio industry. Recognizing a burgeoning opportunity within the realm of artificial intelligence, Aagedal, Jørgensen, and their team began developing models utilizing high-quality recordings from Soundly, featuring everything from the roaring engines of F1 cars to the explosive sounds of Icelandic volcanoes. Their efforts have led to the creation of Hance’s processing models, which are impressively compact at just 242 kB, enabling them to operate on devices rather than relying on cloud processing—an approach that saves both time and energy. Hance's models are capable of effectively separating sounds, eliminating noise, echo, and reverb, while also enhancing speech clarity with a mere 10 milliseconds of latency. While competitors exist in the audio processing space, Hance's unique, energy-conserving models can perform real-time audio processing across a variety of devices, making them ideal for use in F1 radios and appealing to law enforcement and defense sectors. CEO Joote Hika highlighted the potential for Hance's technology to expand in various directions, especially following their partnership with Intel. The startup is collaborating with the tech powerhouse to adapt its models for different chip versions, including the latest neural processing units. Discussions are ongoing with other chip manufacturers and an undisclosed smartphone producer, setting the stage for significant growth. Hika anticipates that these strategic partnerships will extend over several years and remain non-exclusive, providing Hance with the flexibility to scale its operations. However, he acknowledges the necessity for continuous innovation to maintain their competitive edge. Recently, the company appointed its first chief commercial officer, yet Hika emphasizes that Hance will continue to prioritize research and development, seeking out 'AI-capable' talent to keep the team lean and agile. For those interested in exploring Hance’s innovative solutions, along with numerous other startups presenting their ideas and guest speakers at the event, TechCrunch Disrupt is the place to be from October 27 to 29 in San Francisco. Tickets and additional information can be found on the event's website.