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, an artificial intelligence-powered application that translates speech and text into sign language using 3D avatars. In 2025, he won the Royal Academy of Engineering's Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation for his work on the project.
Savatia's work focuses on digital accessibility for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community across Africa, leveraging advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning to bridge communication gaps.
Early Life and Education
Savatia was born in Kenya in 2001. Details of his early education are not widely documented, but his subsequent work indicates a strong background in technology and engineering. He developed an interest in using technology to solve social problems, particularly those affecting marginalized communities in Africa.
Career and Signvrse
In the early 2020s, Savatia founded Signvrse, a Nairobi-based startup dedicated to digital accessibility. The company's mission is to create tools that enable deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to communicate more easily in a hearing-dominated world. Signvrse initially focused on developing software that could translate between spoken language and sign language, aiming to address the lack of accessible communication tools in African countries.
Savatia's flagship product, Terp 360, was launched when he was 24 years old. The application has been described as a "Google Translate for sign language," using deep learning and motion-captured data to render real-time sign language translations via photorealistic 3D avatars. The platform is designed to be used in various settings, including schools, hospitals, and workplaces.
Terp 360 Development
Terp 360 was developed in collaboration with deaf Kenyans, ensuring that the translations are accurate and culturally relevant. The team recorded over 2,300 signs, including common phrases and words in Kenyan Sign Language (KSL). According to Savatia, the AI is trained using motion sensors that capture a signer's hand movements and gestures in three-dimensional space, which are then used to animate the 3D avatars.
The use of neural networks and transformer models allows Terp 360 to process spoken or typed input and generate sign language output in real time. The application is designed to be accessible on mobile devices, making it practical for everyday use in regions where smartphone penetration is growing.
By mid-2025, Terp 360 had reached over 2,000 users and was piloted in schools, hospitals, and workplaces to assist communication between deaf and hearing people. The pilot programs provided valuable feedback for improving the app's accuracy and usability.
Recognition and Impact
In October 2025, Savatia was awarded the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation by the Royal Academy of Engineering. The ceremony was held in Dakar, Senegal, and Savatia received £50,000 for winning the competition. The prize honours African entrepreneurs who use engineering and technology to address local challenges, and Savatia's work with Terp 360 was recognized for its potential to significantly improve the lives of deaf individuals across the continent.
The recognition brought international attention to Savatia's work and highlighted the importance of inclusive technology in Africa. His success has inspired other young innovators in Kenya and beyond to pursue projects that combine technology with social impact.
See Also
- Kenyan Sign Language
- Assistive technology
- Royal Academy of Engineering
References
- Royal Academy of Engineering, Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, 2025.
- Signvrse official communications and press releases.
- Interviews and articles about Terp 360 and Elly Savatia.