What Hand Talk does

Hand Talk is a Brazilian accessibility technology company founded in 2012 and headquartered in Maceió, Brazil, that builds AI-powered sign language translation products for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. The company's core technology uses proprietary motion recognition and natural language processing to translate text, audio, and images into Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) and American Sign Language (ASL) via two virtual translator avatars, Hugo (launched 2013) and Maya (launched 2020). Its product portfolio includes the Hand Talk Plugin, a B2B SaaS solution embedded on enterprise websites to deliver automated sign language translation and dozens of additional accessibility features (dyslexia fonts, color contrast, reading guides, etc.) under compliance frameworks including WCAG, ADA, LBI, LGPD, GDPR, and ISO 27001, and the Hand Talk App, a freemium consumer mobile application with a gamified learning journey called Hands Up.

The company operates a dual go-to-market motion: direct enterprise sales with quote-based subscription pricing for the plugin, and self-serve freemium distribution via app stores for the consumer app. Hand Talk serves more than 1,000 enterprise customers across Brazilian industries including banking (Itaú, Sicredi, BV, Banco BMG), healthcare (Unimed, Dasa), retail (Magalu, Grupo Boticário, Casas Bahia), automotive (Volkswagen, Renault), telecommunications (Claro, Algar), and pharmaceuticals (Bayer, Novo Nordisk), plus individual learners and families of deaf users. The company has translated over 1 billion words and maintains a community ecosystem through HT Academy (free accessibility courses) and Link Festival, Latin America's largest digital accessibility event.

In February 2025, Sorenson Communications acquired Hand Talk alongside OmniBridge, positioning the company for international expansion while founder Ronaldo Tenório continued as CEO. The company was founded by Ronaldo Tenório (CEO), Carlos Wanderlan (CTO), and Thadeu Luz (CAIO), and was recognized by the United Nations as the World's Best Social App in 2013. Earlier-stage funding included $669,147 from Kviv Ventures in 2018, and Hand Talk acquired its main Libras competitor ProDeaf in 2018.

Name

Hand Talk

Legal name

Hand Talk Tecnologia LTDA

Website

https://handtalk.me

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hand Talk provides AI-powered sign language translation into Libras and ASL through a B2B website accessibility plugin used by 1,000+ enterprises and a freemium consumer mobile app with 10 million downloads, serving deaf and hard-of-hearing users across Brazil.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Accessibility Software

NAICS

Translation and Interpretation Services (541930), Language Schools (61163)

akta.pro primary industry

AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) & Speech/Language Therapy Tech (EDAFAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Assistive Hearing & Communication Access (Captioning, Hearing Support, Transcription) (EDAFAKAC), AI-Powered Language Tutors, Chatbots & Speaking Practice Tools (EDAFAOAC)

Keywords

• Sign language translation
• Digital accessibility software
• Website accessibility plugin
• AI translation platform
• Assistive technology solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Maceió

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hand Talk Plugin (B2B SaaS): Subscription-based pricing for enterprise customers. Cost depends on organization size and website traffic flow. Includes access to customer dashboard, monthly translation reports, and dedicated customer success support.
2. Hand Talk App (Consumer Freemium): Freemium model with basic features free and premium features available through in-app purchases. App includes dictionary, store, and learning features. Business version available for enterprise teams.
3. HT Academy Courses: Digital accessibility courses taught by experts with certificates of completion, offered 100% online and accessible.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Hand Talk provides AI-powered sign language translation and digital accessibility solutions through its two core products: the Hand Talk Plugin (a B2B SaaS that adds sign language avatars and assistive features to enterprise websites for WCAG/ADA compliance) and the Hand Talk App (a freemium mobile application that translates text, audio, and images into Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) and American Sign Language (ASL), also serving as a sign language learning platform). The company also offers HT Academy for accessibility training and operates the Link Festival, the largest digital accessibility festival in Latin America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hugo: Virtual translator character for sign language translation, the first AI-powered avatar developed by the company.
• Maya
• Hand Talk Plugin
• Hand Talk App
• HT Academy
• Link Festival
• Hands Up

Products and services

• Hand Talk Plugin Website accessibility plugin that integrates sign language translation and dozens of assistive features (font size adjustment, dyslexia-friendly fonts, color contrast, reading masks, page structure navigation, and more) to make websites accessible for deaf, visually impaired, neurodivergent, and other users with disabilities. Designed for enterprise customers across finance, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, education, and government.
• Hand Talk App Mobile application functioning as an automatic sign language translator and learning platform, providing translations from Portuguese to Libras and English to ASL, with a dictionary, gamified learning modules (Hands Up), character customization, and offline mode. Targets individual consumers and enterprise teams.
• HT Academy Online accessibility course platform offering 100% online and accessible training taught by experts, with certificate of completion, focused on digital inclusion and accessibility education.
• Link Festival Largest digital accessibility festival in Latin America, featuring 42,000+ registrations, 110,000+ views, and 86+ hours of content promoting digital inclusion awareness and education.
• Hugo and Maya Virtual Translators AI-powered virtual translator avatars (Hugo and Maya) that animate sign language translations in Libras and ASL, customizable with brand colors and logos for enterprise clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 30% increase in online sales for companies adopting accessibility
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers31 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Sorenson CommunicationsflagshipOthers · 6 February 2025Sorenson Communications, a company focused on communication accessibility, acquired Hand Talk along with OmniBridge. This acquisition positions Hand Talk for international expansion and strengthens Sorenson's accessibility portfolio. The acquisition was announced as part of Sorenson's M&A activity in February 2025.
• GupycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with Gupy, one of Brazil's largest recruitment platforms. Hand Talk Plugin installed on Gupy's website enabled thousands of deaf people to access job opportunities. Over 1.4 million words translated and 31,000+ active users within first month.
• OmniBridgeminorOthersOmniBridge was co-acquired by Sorenson Communications along with Hand Talk, suggesting complementary technology or market positioning in the accessibility space.
• ClarocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClaro partnered with Hand Talk to take the lead in accessibility with virtual translators. The partnership makes Claro's services more accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing customers.
• Banco BMGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning partnership where Hugo the virtual translator helped Banco BMG gain market recognition in accessibility. The partnership demonstrates how financial institutions can lead in digital inclusion.
• SodexocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSodexo implemented Hand Talk's Maya tool, becoming pioneers in Brazil and the first Sodexo company in the world to have such a tool. Impact on approximately 47,000 employees including nearly 500 with hearing impairments.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SignAll: SignAll builds automated sign language translation technology (including ASL-to-text and text-to-sign avatar systems), making it a direct technological peer of Hand Talk's AI-based Libras/ASL translation pipeline.
• UserWay: UserWay offers an AI-powered website accessibility widget and compliance platform, overlapping directly with Hand Talk Plugin's assistive-features layer (font sizing, contrast, dyslexia tools) for enterprise customers.
• Level Access: Level Access is an enterprise digital accessibility consultancy and software platform focused on WCAG/ADA compliance, directly competing for the same enterprise accessibility budget as Hand Talk Plugin.
• accessiBe: accessiBe provides an AI-driven web accessibility overlay and audit suite, competing head-to-head with Hand Talk Plugin on automated WCAG/ADA remediation for SMB and enterprise websites.
• Sorenson Communications: Sorenson is now Hand Talk's parent company, providing sign language interpretation services (VRS) and communication access in the US — overlapping with Hand Talk's mission of bridging deaf and hearing communication through technology.
• AudioEye: AudioEye is a US-based SaaS provider of automated website accessibility remediation and monitoring, directly competing with Hand Talk's B2B Plugin offering on WCAG/ADA compliance for enterprise digital properties.
• Texthelp: Texthelp provides literacy, reading, and accessibility tools (Read&Write, EquatIO, OrbitNote) serving education and enterprise markets — directly comparable to Hand Talk's assistive reading and writing features and overlap in K-12/EdTech procurement.

Emerging players

• Ava: Ava delivers real-time AI captioning for deaf and hard-of-hearing users in meetings and group settings, overlapping with Hand Talk on AI-powered accessibility communication, though focused on live captioning rather than animated sign language.
• Otter.ai: Otter.ai provides AI-powered live transcription and meeting notes; while focused on audio rather than sign language, it addresses the same deaf/hard-of-hearing accessibility market with a complementary modality.

Broad incumbents

• Microsoft Accessibility: Microsoft embeds accessibility features (Live Captions, Immersive Reader, accessibility checker) across its productivity and OS stack — a broad incumbent with overlapping capabilities to Hand Talk's assistive-features suite.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HandTalkTV/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/handtalkBR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hand-talk
• Instagraminstagram.com/handtalkbr

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hand Talk