SignLive

Name

SignLive

Legal name

SignLive Ltd

Website

https://signlive.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sign Language Interpreting Platform

NAICS

Translation and Interpretation Services (541930), Translation and Interpretation Services (54193)

SIC

Telegraph & Other Message Communications (4822)

akta.pro primary industry

Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Assistive Hearing & Communication Access (Captioning, Hearing Support, Transcription) (EDAFAKAC), Video Conferencing & Meetings (HDAIAHAI), Video Conferencing & Meetings (BPAMACAD)

Keywords

• Sign language interpreting
• Video relay service
• Accessibility communication
• Deaf interpreting services
• BSL ASL platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Video Relay Service (VRS) - Government Funded: In the US, VRS services are funded through the federal Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund administered by the FCC. Convo, as a certified VRS provider, receives reimbursement for eligible VRS calls. Deaf users receive free VRS access while Convo bills the government program.
2. Business/Organization Subscriptions: Convo provides paid accessibility solutions to businesses, organizations, and government entities. Organizations pay for Convo Access (QR code solution) and Convo Now services for workplace interpreting. Pricing based on usage minutes or monthly bundles. B2B sales through partnerships team with customized enterprise agreements.
3. Consumer Access to Work (AtW) / Direct Payments: In the UK, individual deaf users access Convo services through government-funded programs like Access to Work (AtW) and Direct Payments. Convo bills the relevant government program or processing agency for services provided to eligible individuals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SignLive Ltd, trading as Convo, is a deaf-owned company that provides on-demand sign language interpreting services through a proprietary software platform. The company connects deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals with qualified British Sign Language (BSL) and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters via mobile apps, web browsers, QR code technology deployed at partner business locations, and integrations including Zoom, enabling real-time communication between deaf and hearing people across phone calls, in-person interactions, and video meetings.

Product overview

SignLive Ltd, trading as Convo, operates a unified deaf-owned accessibility platform providing real-time sign language interpreting services. The portfolio spans five core products: Convo Now (on-demand interpreting for spontaneous conversations), Convo Access (QR code-based in-person accessibility at partner locations), Convo Call (next-generation VRS app for deaf users to make phone calls), Convo for Zoom (native Zoom app integration embedding interpreters directly into video meetings), and Planned Services (scheduled interpreting for events, conferences, and job interviews). The platform also includes VRS (Video Relay Service) and VRI (Video Remote Interpreting). Together these products enable deaf individuals to communicate independently with hearing people across any channel — in person via QR codes, on the phone via VRS, in video meetings via Zoom integration, and at scheduled events. Convo is deaf-owned and operates across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and South Africa, supporting ASL, BSL, Auslan, and SASL. Since founding in 2009, Convo has facilitated over 20 million conversations and serves more than 400 business partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Convo Now: On-demand BSL/ASL interpreting service connecting deaf users with qualified interpreters instantly via smartphone or web
• Convo Access
• Convo Call
• Convo for Zoom
• Convo Link

Products and services

• Convo Now On-demand sign language interpreting service (BSL in the UK, ASL in the US). Users connect to a qualified sign language interpreter instantly via the app or web platform any time they need to communicate with a hearing person, at home, work, or on the go.
• Convo Access QR code-based on-demand interpreting at partner business locations. Deaf customers scan a unique branch-specific QR code with their own smartphone and are instantly connected to a qualified sign language interpreter who facilitates a real-time conversation with staff. Zero hardware required for the business.
• Convo Call Next-generation Video Relay Service (VRS) app enabling deaf users to make telephone calls through a qualified ASL interpreter who appears on screen and relays the conversation in real time. Available on Android, iOS, and Chrome web browser. Funded by FCC TRS Fund for eligible US users.
• Convo for Zoom Native Zoom integration that embeds a sign language interpreter directly inside Zoom meetings. Interpreters have full access to participants, screen shares, chat, and reactions in one window. No cost for Convo VRS users; 100% FCC-covered.
• Planned Services Scheduled sign language interpreting services for planned events including corporate events, conferences, and job interviews. Provides both on-demand and scheduled interpreting options matched with interpreters familiar with specific work terminology.
• Video Relay Service (VRS) Video relay service enabling deaf individuals to make telephone calls via a qualified sign language interpreter. Users connect via video through a videophone or app, and the interpreter relays spoken content to the deaf user and signed content to the hearing party. Governed by FCC regulations in the United States.
• Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) Video remote interpreting providing on-demand sign language interpreters for in-person situations such as medical appointments, legal consultations, or business meetings. Interpreters appear on screen via video call to facilitate communication between deaf and hearing parties.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20M+ conversations facilitated since 2009 across 5 countries
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Stellantis GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Parent company of Citroën, Peugeot, Vauxhall, Fiat, Abarth, Jeep, Alfa Romeo, DS Automobiles, and Leapmotor. Expanding Convo's BSL access across entire UK retail network of 850+ dealership locations. Initially piloted with Citroën from June 2021, expanded after demonstrating commercial success and customer satisfaction.
• Citroën UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Initial pilot partner for on-demand BSL access at UK dealerships since June 2021. Citroën actively engaged directly with deaf community through targeted campaigns, driving strong uptake. Customer testimonials demonstrate high satisfaction with communication accessibility.
• Heathrow AirportflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeathrow deploys Convo Access QR codes throughout the airport and integrates Convo into customer support channels. Every passenger touchpoint can connect deaf travelers to qualified BSL interpreter in seconds via QR scan on their own device. Sets new standard for airport accessibility.
• MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew York City transit authority deploying Convo accessibility at transit hubs. Commuters can scan QR codes at stations to reach live ASL interpreter 24/7. Communication access on subway platforms was not available before this partnership.
• NJ TransitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Jersey Transit partnered with Convo to provide 24/7 ASL interpreter access via QR codes at transit hubs. Part of Convo's expansion into US public transit infrastructure accessibility.
• Zoom Video CommunicationscoreTechnology or IntegrationConvo for Zoom integration enables ASL interpreters to join Zoom meetings directly through the Zoom app. Interpreters have access to participants, screen shares, chat, and reactions in one window. No separate apps or windows required. 100% FCC-funded for eligible Convo VRS users.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreTechnology or IntegrationAWS provides secure data storage infrastructure for Convo's UK operations. Data centers located in the UK to meet data residency requirements. AWS acts as data processor under data protection agreements.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ZVRS: ZVRS is another major FCC-certified VRS provider competing for the same TRS-funded minutes as Convo Call. It offers video relay, on-demand interpreting, and similar consumer-facing apps for the US deaf community.
• Sign Solutions: Sign Solutions is a UK-based BSL interpreting and translation service provider offering on-demand and scheduled BSL interpretation. It competes with Convo Now and Convo Access in the UK enterprise and consumer BSL market.
• Purple Communications (ZP Better Together): Purple Communications, now part of ZP Better Together, is a long-standing FCC-certified VRS provider offering video relay services for deaf and hard-of-hearing users. It competes directly with Convo in the US VRS market.
• Sorenson Communications: Sorenson is the largest FCC-certified VRS provider in the United States, offering on-demand ASL interpretation for deaf and hard-of-hearing users. It competes head-to-head with Convo Call for VRS minutes and shares the same TRS Fund revenue model.
• InterpreterNow: InterpreterNow provides on-demand British Sign Language interpretation via video for NHS and public-sector users, with a model closely paralleling Convo Now for UK individual and institutional customers.
• BIG Language Solutions: BIG Language Solutions is a UK-based language services provider offering BSL interpreting alongside broader spoken-language interpretation. It competes with Convo UK for BSL minutes in healthcare, government, and enterprise settings.

Regional players

• Action Deafness: Action Deafness is a UK deaf-led charity providing BSL interpretation, communication support, and deaf community services. It is comparable to Convo in mission and target population but operates primarily as a non-profit rather than a commercial platform.

Broad incumbents

• CyraCom: CyraCom is a US-based interpretation services provider focused on healthcare and enterprise, offering video and phone interpretation across many languages. It is comparable to Convo in deployment model but competes primarily in spoken-language rather than sign language.
• LanguageLine Solutions: LanguageLine Solutions is the largest interpretation services provider in the world, offering spoken-language interpretation across 240+ languages plus video interpretation. It overlaps with Convo in enterprise on-demand interpreting but does not specialize in BSL/ASL.

Others

• Convo Australia: Convo Australia is the Australian regional site of SignLive/Convo itself; included only to acknowledge the regional brand presence of the parent company in the Oceania market rather than as an independent competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SignLiveUK
• Facebookfacebook.com/SignLiveUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/signlive-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about SignLive