From prototype to global recognition

When Elly Savatia and Branice Kazira joined Carnegie Mellon University Africa's Business Incubation Program in November 2024, they had a bold idea: creating 3D avatars that translate speech into sign language in real-time. Their solution needed a clear roadmap, and technical and financial support to take their innovation to the market. Joining the Innovation Hub at CMU-Africa gave them the support they needed to sharpen their business model, refine their target market, and hire a strong tech team

Through structured milestones, mentorship, and technical guidance, they began translating vision into measurable impact. By March 2025, Signvrse had not only clarified its path but also demonstrated real potential for investment.

"Through CMU-Africa's Innovation Hub, Signvrse benefited from structured entrepreneurship modules and close mentorship that sharpened our thinking around scaling, infrastructure, and sustainability. Access to office space at the Innovation Hub, pitching opportunities in Kigali, and sponsored participation in the Afretec Network Conference in Senegal significantly expanded our exposure, partnerships, and integration into a pan-African innovation ecosystem," said Savatia.

Signvrse was recently selected for the Google.Org:Generative AI Accelerator, 2025, receiving $2 million in funding, six months of mentorship, technical support from Google's AI and social innovation teams, and a global platform to showcase how African innovation can lead the world in building inclusive AI for accessibility.

Since July 2025, the company has hired 12 full-time employees and over 40 part-time employees, including members of the Deaf community.Savatia recently won the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation (£60,000), founded by the Royal Academy of Engineering—Africa's biggest prize dedicated to engineering innovation. Elly was also invited to speak at the Second Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar and the Africa Tech Festival in South Africa.

With a three-year runway and plans to expand beyond Kiswahili to other African languages, Signvrse has already built a database of 60,000 Swahili words, a remarkable foundation for what's to come.

Signvrse benefited from structured entrepreneurship modules and close mentorship that sharpened our thinking around scaling, infrastructure, and sustainability.

Elly Savatia, Founder & CEO, Signvrse

Through the Innovation Hub's TechSkills Marketplace, the team has also brought CMU-Africa students on board to support ongoing development. Signvrse's journey is a testament to how CMU-Africa is advancing a vision where technology amplifies human potential and transforms lives across Africa.

The Innovation Hub, under CMU-Africa's Center for the Inclusive Digital Transformation of Africa, works in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.