Generation Start-up: How I Hear You seeks to be the 'Google Translate of sign language'

Abu Dhabi-based start-up I Hear You is seeking to bridge a communication gap between deaf people and the hearing community through a mobile app that translates sign language to text and audio and vice versa.

The app uses a sign language keyboard and 3D character animations that can be applied in both individual and corporate contexts. This with the aim of fostering inclusivity and upholding the basic right of every person to be heard.

The digital service was even more necessary during the Covid-19 pandemic that severely affected deaf people and further deepened their isolation during a period of lockdowns, Mohammed Aboelazm, 28, the Egyptian co-founder and chief executive of I Hear You, said.

"The whole purpose of I Hear You is we're trying to bridge a gap in a communications problem, we're not solving a disability issue ," he said. "For example, instead of hiring an employee to serve deaf people, you can hire a deaf person directly to serve both deaf and hearing people.

"The value proposition of I Hear You is to become a Google translator for sign language. Sign languages are equal to other languages in the world and deserve attention."

There are more than 300 different sign languages in the world, spoken by more than 72 million deaf, or hard-of-hearing people, worldwide, the World Federation of the Deaf says.

Hearing loss is on the rise. Currently, one in five people globally live with hearing loss and by 2050, one in four people are projected to have problems with their hearing, the World Health Organisation says.

Nearly 80 per cent of people with disabling hearing loss live in low- and middle-income countries, the UN agency said, urging governments to act quickly to provide access to ear and hearing care for all.

The idea for I Hear You came to Mr Aboelazm during his university days in Egypt back in 2015, following an incident that stayed with him for years. He witnessed a car accident that involved a deaf person who was asking for help in sign language, but Mr Aboelazm could not understand the distressed man and found it difficult to secure the right assistance quickly.

"This left me with the determination to solve this communication problem," Mr Aboelazm said.

The incident left a deep impression on the computer science student at the time and inspired his graduation project: a mobile app for one-way translation from Egyptian sign language to written communication.

In 2019, Mr Aboelazm received a $54,000 grant from Abu Dhabi's social impact incubator Ma'an, where he developed the two-way communications app and built content for Emirati sign language. I Hear You received another $54,000 grant from Ma'an this year.

"The fact that there are multiple sign languages is an advantage because we connect with the community for every language, we don't just throw at them a generic language," Mr Aboelazm said. "One of our future growth plans is to translate from one sign language to another."

The start-up is also focusing on companies and government entities with a corporate version of its app to help them to offer services in sign language and better cater to deaf people.

I Hear You is currently working with Abu Dhabi's Yas Mall to build and customise services aimed at offering deaf people a better experience. These services include asking for directions at the information desk, interacting with employees and gaining access to a list of frequently asked questions translated into sign language. The service is scheduled to roll out at the beginning of next year, Mr Aboelazm said.

The company is also in initial talks with government entities such as Ma'an, Abu Dhabi Airports and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) to demonstrate how its app can help them to service deaf customers better, Mr Aboelazm said.

Government-related entities are "highly interested" as the UAE has set a mandate to improve inclusion and diversity, while private sector businesses are more focused on the financial returns from such a service, he said.

The corporate version of the app offers subscription packages from $40 a month, depending on the level of customisation and professional services that include initial implementation and post-sale support.

The cost for a company to enable the service — depending on the number of languages, the customer experience journey, the number of interactions and locations — starts from about $24,000.

Subscriptions can start from $10 a month for deaf people who want to have access to the translation services and for hearing people who want to communicate with a deaf person, or to learn sign language.

Hamdan bin Saad, who works as a tour guide and uses sign language to communicate, recently used I Hear You.

"This is an amazing app, do download it on your phone," he said in a video through sign language that has been translated by an interpreter.

The app has potential for use in various settings including hospitals, airports, customs, stores and cafes, Mr Aboelazm said.

I Hear You's growth plans include offering sign language courses on the app and extending its services to schools and universities.

Translating the curriculum into sign language enables deaf children to be enrolled into public schools and saves additional public spending on special needs schools, Mr Aboelazm said.

This also lays the foundation for deaf children to integrate into mainstream schools and for hearing children to better understand their peers at an early age, he added.

The start-up also plans to translate one sign language to another, as there is no one universal sign language, Mr Aboelazm said.

I Hear You is adding American sign language to its repertoire, a service it is launching from its second base in Vancouver, that is already attracting users from Canada, he said.

The seed-stage start-up, which began with $32,000 in bootstrapping and $108,000 in government grants, seeks to raise funds from investors to support its future growth, Mr Aboelazm said.

The company is currently in talks with angel investors and venture capital firms in the region.

I Hear You, which has recorded a 78 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of subscribers and a 120 per cent rise in revenue in 2021, aims to break even in 2023, Mr Aboelazm said.

Company Profile:

Company name: I Hear you

Date started: 2019

Co-Founders: Mohammed Aboelazm, Eman Khamis, Mina Samir

Based: Abu Dhabi and Vancouver, Canada

Sector: EdTech, language communication, social impact

Size: 15 employees

Investment: Seed stage

Investors: Bootstrapping and grants

Q&A with Mohammed Aboelazm, co-founder and chief executive, I Hear You

What new skills have you learnt since launching your start-up?

The basics of how to communicate in sign language and how to run a profitable social impact start-up that is changing the world.

How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected your business plans?

The pandemic gave us an edge where I Hear You had the advantage of offering digital solutions to millions of people who have been impacted by the pandemic. This was at a time when many industries had to shift their priorities from supporting inclusivity to avoiding bankruptcy. This gave us another boost to expand our target market beyond B2B to include individual customers and government entities.

How important have I Hear You’s services been during the pandemic?

I Hear You is all about closing the communication gap for sign language, introducing new ways of communications for individuals and corporations to reach out to sign language users. It's helping them to communicate, learn, serve and be served in sign language as we believe that everyone has the right to be heard and understood.

How is your product different from other resources available for people of determination in the region?

I Hear You helps individuals and corporations to communicate, learn, serve and be served in sign language. We have introduced a two-way communication channel translating from sign language to written languages and vice versa, while allowing our customers to have access to emergency, corporate and educational services.

What is your next big dream to make happen?

To expand I Hear You globally, support most of the sign languages, become incorporated by government and big enterprises, creating a shift in sign language communication and introducing it to the rest of the world as an equal to other languages. We also want to create a sign language buddy that supports more than 72 million deaf users worldwide.