Rajshree Upadhyaya | Business Remedies | The story of Sonic Lamb began with the shared curiosity of two engineers from Karnataka, Navajith Karkera and Jagath Biddappa, who believed that the way people experienced music through headphones had remained largely unchanged for decades. Both founders had a strong interest in electronics, sound engineering, and experimental technology from their student days, and their fascination with audio eventually pushed them towards building something of their own. In 2018, they founded Rapture Innovation Labs in Hubballi, Karnataka, laying the foundation for what would eventually become the Sonic Lamb brand. From the start, their goal was not simply to create another pair of headphones but to rethink how sound itself could be experienced by listeners.
While working on various engineering projects during their academic years, the duo explored technologies involving hearing implants and helmet communication systems. These experiments made them study the science of how sound travels through the human body. They realized that traditional headphones rely almost entirely on air conduction, meaning sound reaches the ears through air vibrations alone. This approach allows listeners to hear music clearly but does not replicate the physical sensation people experience when standing near powerful speakers at a concert or music festival. That realization pushed the founders to experiment with a different approach that could allow users to both hear and physically feel music.
By 2019, their research had evolved into a breakthrough concept that combined traditional audio drivers with vibration based sound transmission. This hybrid system allowed sound to travel not only through the air but also through the body via subtle vibrations. After years of experimentation, the founders developed a patented hybrid driver technology designed to recreate the immersive feeling of a live sound system within a pair of headphones.
This innovation eventually took shape as Sonic Lamb headphones, the company’s flagship product designed to deliver what the founders describe as a subwoofer like listening experience. Unlike conventional headphones, the product integrates two different forms of sound delivery. The first is the standard air conduction audio driver that produces the music listeners hear. The second component is a vibration driver that transfers low frequency sound waves through the body, allowing users to physically feel the bass and rhythm. The result is a listening experience intended to feel closer to standing next to large speakers rather than simply wearing headphones.
Developing the product was not a quick process. The founders spent several years building and refining more than a dozen prototypes, carefully testing each version to improve the balance between sound clarity and physical vibration. Their work eventually attracted international attention, leading Sonic Lamb to be selected for the SoundTech accelerator program at Sound Hub Denmark, one of the world’s leading hubs for audio innovation. The program provided the startup with access to advanced acoustic testing facilities and mentorship from experts connected to global audio brands, helping the founders refine the engineering behind their technology.
The startup gained nationwide attention when Navajith Karkera and Jagath Biddappa presented their innovation on Shark Tank India. During their pitch, the founders demonstrated how their Sonic Lamb headphones could recreate the immersive feel of powerful speakers while remaining a wearable device. Their technology impressed the investors, and they secured an investment of Rs. 50 lakh from Peyush Bansal in exchange for 1 percent equity along with an additional 1 percent advisory equity. The deal valued the company at around Rs. 50 crore and provided the founders with both funding and mentorship to scale their venture.
Even before appearing on television, the company had begun attracting customers from outside India. Sonic Lamb’s headphones have reached users in more than forty countries, reflecting growing global interest in immersive audio technologies. The brand has particularly resonated with gamers, music enthusiasts, and audiophiles looking for deeper bass and a more engaging listening experience.
Today, Sonic Lamb continues to operate under Rapture Innovation Labs and remains an active deeptech startup in India’s growing consumer electronics ecosystem. The company continues to sell Sonic Lamb headphones while exploring new applications for its hybrid sound technology, including potential use in automotive seating and immersive entertainment systems. With its combination of engineering experimentation, global collaboration, and a bold vision to transform the way people interact with music, Sonic Lamb stands as an example of how Indian innovators are pushing the boundaries of audio technology and building products designed for a worldwide audience.
