In 2019, Elly Savatia stood in Dubai as the captain of Team Kenya at the FIRST Global Robotics Competition, leading his team through the complex challenges of designing, assembling, and programming a competition robot. Today, he stands as the Founder and CEO of Signvrse, a social enterprise revolutionizing communication for the deaf community through AI-powered sign language translation.
Leadership at FIRST Global 2019
As captain of Team Kenya in 2019, Elly took on the comprehensive responsibility of leading the team's robot development from concept to competition. His role encompassed designing the robot's concept, coordinating the assembly process, and programming the systems that would compete on the international stage in Dubai.
The leadership experience and technical skills he developed during his time with Team Kenya would become the foundation for his future innovations. More importantly, it instilled in him a problem-solving mindset and a commitment to using technology to serve communities.
Bridging Communication Gaps: Terp 360
Elly's flagship innovation, Terp 360, is an AI-powered application that translates speech and text into Kenyan Sign Language using realistic 3D avatars. Often described as 'Google Translate for sign language,' this groundbreaking technology addresses a critical need in Kenya and across Africa.
"You don't build solutions and take them to the people, you build with them. Technology should serve everyone."
— Elly Savatia
Through Signvrse, Elly is not just creating a product - he's building Kenya's largest sign language dataset, creating a vital resource for future AI and technology development across the region. The impact is transformative: companies that cannot afford interpreters can now ensure accessibility at scale.
A Track Record of Innovation
Elly's innovative spirit emerged early. At just 16 years old, while still in high school, he invented 'The Stair Ramp' - an assistive technology robotic staircase that converts into a ramp for wheelchair users. This early project demonstrated his commitment to inclusive design and solving real-world accessibility challenges.
His passion for mentorship also runs deep. In 2019, the same year he competed with Team Kenya, Elly volunteered with Young Scientists Kenya (YSK), mentoring high school students in STEM and robotics - paying forward the knowledge and inspiration he had gained.
International Recognition
Elly's work has earned him numerous prestigious awards and recognitions. In 2025, he won the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation from the Royal Academy of Engineering, receiving £50,000 to scale Terp 360. He has also been honored with Kenya's Presidential Innovation Award, the Commonwealth Secretary General's Award for Innovation, and recognition as one of the Top 11 AI innovations in Africa.
"I'm totally grateful for this and it is a testament to the innovative assistive technology work that is coming from Africa. I'm really looking forward to the excellence that will come out of Signvrse and the African continent."
— Elly Savatia, on winning the 2025 Africa Prize
As a 2024 Mandela Washington Fellow, YALI Fellow, and One Young World Ambassador, Elly continues to inspire and lead the next generation of African innovators.
Building Movements, Creating Impact
Beyond his work at Signvrse, Elly founded and serves as President of Innovate 4 SDGs, a nonprofit mobilizing youth to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. His leadership extends from his Climate Action Club in high school to winning the Unicef Generation-Unlimited Innovation Challenge and the Kenya Drone Business Competition in 2023.
Elly Savatia embodies everything Team Kenya stands for: using STEM education as a launchpad for innovation that serves communities, solving real problems with technology, and inspiring others to follow. From captain of a robotics team to captain of social change, his journey shows current Team Kenya members the incredible impact they can make.
We couldn't be prouder to call Elly a Team Kenya alumnus. His story reminds us why we do this work - because today's robotics students become tomorrow's world-changers.