Ronaldo Tenório is building a bridge between hearers and the deaf community in Brazil through his app Hand Talk.

by Julia Migné

Ronaldo Tenório, CEO of Hand Talk. © Hand Talk

Recently nominated as one of 35 most innovative under 35 by the MIT, Brazilian Ronaldo Tenório is the face behind the app Hand Talk. Launched in 2012, the app led by a friendly 3D translator named Hugo, translates Portuguese conversations into sign language.

Knowing that 70% of the Brazilian deaf people cannot read or write in Portuguese, the app is having a massive impact on the way they communicate with hearers. According to the World Health Organization, 360 million people around the globe have hearing problems and struggle to communicate.

Representing an accessible solution, the app was acknowledged around the globe for its innovation and potential. The startup has won a number of awards including the Best Social…