Kenyan student team among top three finalists of Microsoft Imagine Cup

A team of students from The African Leadership University, Machakos University, Technical University of Mombasa, and the United States International University – Africa, have been recognized as one of the top three finalists of the prestigious Microsoft Imagine Cup finals.

The winner was announced at an event during Microsoft Build this week.

Now in its 23rd year, the Imagine Cup is the premier global technology competition for student founders leveraging AI to push the boundaries of innovation.

Since the first Imagine Cup, over 2 million students have participated from over 160 countries across the globe. In 2025, more than 15,000 students from 150 countries participated, with 18 semi-finalist teams finally shortlisted to just three teams.

Imagine Cup student semifinalists from around the world have unlocked an advanced level of AI innovation at speed.

Students are using Microsoft Azure AI tools to create inclusive apps for everything from hair texture identification to avatar sign language.

This year’s winners, Argus, from the United States, earned the top title with their AI-powered wearable assistant that helps people with visual impairments navigate and interpret the world more independently.

Co-founders Daniel Kim and Arjun Oberoi met during their first year at Stanford University and connected through a shared interest in the startup ecosystem, before developing their idea for Argus.

“It takes just one idea to make an impact,” says Daniel Kim. “And we believe Argus will help us make an impact on the lives of our grandparents, the hundreds of millions of others with visual impairments.”

The finalist team from Kenya, consisting of Anthony Marugu, Branice Kazira, Gheida Abdala Al Mashjery, and Daniel Phillip, created Signvrse, an AI-powered platform bridging communication gaps between the deaf and hearing communities.

Its tool, Terp, uses lifelike avatars to translate spoken languages into sign language, fostering inclusivity and accessibility on a global scale.

The young talent behind Signvrse joins a growing list of Kenyan teams which have featured at the Imagine Cup, testifying to the country’s pipeline of burgeoning talent.

While in 2023, team TAWI were crowned world champions for their solution addressing the communication challenges faced by children with Auditory Processing Disorder, team REWEBA won the grand prize in 2021 for creating a device to remotely conduct post-natal screenings, saving infants' lives.

Using Azure AI Speech, Signvrse provides real-time sign language translation using hyper-realistic 3D avatars and motion capture technology. Their solution bridges the communication gap for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in education, healthcare, and employment by converting speech and text into sign language in real time.

With a growing vocabulary database of over 2,300 words, Signvrse ensures accessibility at scale while addressing the global shortage of human interpreters.

By leveraging AI and community-driven data expansion, they aim to make digital spaces more inclusive and empower millions with seamless communication access.

The solution is designed not just to be a tool for translation but a transformative approach to inclusivity. By making sign language more accessible and intuitive in a world dominated by digital communication, Signvrse hopes to give deaf individuals a greater sense of independence, enabling them to engage more fully in society.

As someone who has grown up deaf, team member Daniel Phillip has faced discrimination and stigma from both peers and adults who could not see past his hearing impairment.

Daniel aims to challenge these misconceptions through Signvrse, demonstrating that Deaf individuals are capable, intelligent, and have valuable contributions to offer. 

“Our hearty congratulations go to the four talented young tech entrepreneurs of the Signvrse team for achieving the impressive placement of Top Three finalists. We are tremendously proud to have yet another home-grown Kenyan team representing the African continent so ably at the Imagine Cup finals,” says Phyllis Migwi, Country Manager, Microsoft Kenya.

“This is a testament to the incredible innovation our African youth are producing in response to real challenges faced every day by people across the continent, and the world.”

She adds: “Creating inclusive technology is a crucial step towards providing people with the opportunities to live a productive and fulfilling life, and we look forward to seeing how the team continues to develop this groundbreaking platform.”

The winning team takes home the prestigious Imagine Cup trophy, and receives a $100,000 (Ksh.12.9 million) prize and a mentorship session with Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella.