Our story

We are a strong team of successful entrepreneurs, leading researchers, and deep tech experts. We came together in lockdown, looking for a solution to the eternal cry from hearing clients and Deaf contacts of “how do I get this interpreted, right now?" and “why can’t I have access to what is being said?”. We were also aware that we needed to do it right at a fundamental level in terms of cultural and linguistic awareness. Signapse is building technology for tomorrow that answers the needs of today.

What do we believe in?

Equality

We are leading the way for peerless inclusive design, building the tools that make a difference. Our synthetic signers are created with the help of Deaf actors and team members who are compensated when their image is used.

Partnership

We believe in working together. Through partnerships, the challenge of deaf access becomes approachable- focusing on the common cause with absolute transparency.

Leadership

With the community having ownership, involvement, equity, and long-term revenue generated by our products. We are leading the way for meaningful digital inclusion, building the tools that make a difference.

Who are we?

Deaf Leadership

Marcel Hirshman

Craig Crowley

Mia Ward

Sally Chalk
CEO

"Hello, I’m Sally. I have a background in building organisations that provide innovative services making a significant difference. Access to sign language is a really big deal for me"

Ben Saunders
CTO

"Hello, I'm Ben. I have a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence researching Sign Language Translation. I have been fascinated by sign languages my whole life, and love seeing how technology can help improve accessibility."

Prof. Richard Bowden
Chief Research Officer

"Hello, I’m Rich. I first learned to sign over 20 years ago, and computational approaches to sign language recognition, translation and production have always fascinated me. My research focuses on computer vision and AI, specifically around people and behavior.”

Peter Whale
Head of Product

“Hello, I’m Peter. I have a strong track record of developing and delivering best-in-class software, consumer electronics products, and service solutions to global markets. I bring a real passion for applying technology to improve people’s lives."

Mohamed Abdul
VP of Engineering

“Hello, I’m Mohamed. I have a strong background in Engineering. I look after the technical aspects of the company including software engineering and infrastructure. I am passionate about tech for good and how tech can improve people's lives."

Basheer Alwaely
Deep Learning Research Engineer

"Hello, I'm Basheer. I have a Ph.D. in Computer Vision and Machine Learning. My expertise lies in the development of state-of-the-art AI techniques for sign language."

Leia Clancy
Head of Business Development

"Hello, I'm Leia. My background is in fundraising and research. I have worked in both the commercial and third sector, always with organisations that make a meaningful difference to people's lives."

Suzie Campbell
CFO

“Hi, I’m Suzie the Friendly CFO - a financial expert with more than 25 years of experience in commercial and corporate finance. I help early-stage companies and SMEs get investor ready so they can scale, achieve sustainable growth and have the freedom to do more of what they love. At heart, my work is all about making finance feel good for ambitious people who have traditionally been excluded from the funding world and helping them scale their businesses so the good things they’re doing in the world can have maximum impact”

Dan Phylbert
Front end developer

"Hi, I'm Dan. I'm an innovative front-end developer with 3 year's experience in implementing and maintaining pixel perfect design. Proficient in JavaScript, React, HTML, CSS and knowledgeable in most modern frameworks"

Rachel Benyon
Head of Translation & Data

"Hi, I am Rachel. I am profoundly Deaf and a British Sign Language (BSL) user. My professional background is in Social Care, mainly focusing on quality assurance. I am fascinated with signed languages used around the world and am always learning new languages. I thrive on making a difference to Deaf people's lives, and I am very excited to be able to use technology to improve accessibility."