Elly Savatia
Elly Savatia | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2001 (age 23–24) |
| Occupations | Entrepreneur, innovator |
| Known for | Founder of Signvrse; creator of Terp 360 |
| Notable work | Terp 360 |
| Awards | Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation (2025) |
Elly Savatia (born 2001) is a Kenyan entrepreneur and innovator, best known as the founder of the technology startup Signvrse and creator of Terp 360,[1] an artificial intelligence-powered application that translates speech and text into sign language using 3D avatars.[1] In 2025, he won the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation for his work on the project.[1][2]
Career
Savatia founded the Nairobi-based startup Signvrse in the early 2020s for digital accessibility for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community across Africa.[3] At the age of 24, he launched Terp 360, which has been described as a "Google Translate for sign language."[1] The platform uses artificial intelligence and motion-captured data to render real-time sign language translations via photorealistic 3D avatars.[1][4][5]
The app was developed in collaboration with deaf Kenyans, recording over 2,300 signs, including common phrases and words in Kenyan Sign Language (KSL).[6] According to Savatia, the AI is trained using motion sensors that capture a signer's hand movements and gestures in three-dimensional space.[1][7]
By mid-2025, Terp 360 reached over 2,000 users and was piloted in schools, hospitals, and workplaces to assist communication between deaf and hearing people.[1][8]
Recognition
In October 2025, Savatia was awarded the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation by the Royal Academy of Engineering in a ceremony held in Dakar, Senegal. He received £50,000 for winning the competition, which honours African entrepreneurs using engineering and technology to address local challenges.[9]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Sykes, Jasmin (2025-10-22). "App that translates speech to sign language in real-time wins top innovation prize". CNN. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ^ Initiative, Young African Leaders (2024-10-17). "Elly Savatia Bridges Communication Gaps in Africa Through SignVrse". Young African Leaders Initiative. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ^ "Four African Innovators Compete for Engineering Excellence Prize | News Ghana". www.newsghana.com.gh/. 2025-09-16. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ^ Wachaya, Derrick (2025-08-22). "The Gen Z innovator changing lives across Africa, Elly Savatia". Thred Website. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ^ "Elly Savatia". africaprize.raeng.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ^ "Kenyan innovators behind an AI sign language app and EV battery hubs are up for a £50,000 prize - Techish Kenya". 2025-09-19. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ^ Wanzala, James. "Kenyan wins top Africa Prize for engineering". The Standard. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ^ Nzomo, Brian (2025-10-22). "Kenyan Engineer Elly Savatia Wins Top Innovation Prize for AI Sign-Language App". The Kenyan Wall Street - Business, Markets News, Investing Data & AI Tools. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ^ "Kenyan AI app turning speech into sign language wins African award". Citizen Digital. 2025-10-22. Retrieved 2025-10-22.