South African entrepreneur Zuko Mandlakazi, founder of assistive technology company Senso, has been named a finalist in the 2026 Shell LiveWire Impact Makers awards. He is one of eight entrepreneurs selected globally in the Social Impact category and the only South African finalist across this year’s three categories.
The recognition comes after a journey that began in the rural Eastern Cape, where Mandlakazi grew up with an aunt who is hard of hearing and relies on lip-reading. When she began visiting him in Gauteng, he became concerned about how she would respond to sounds she could not hear when she was alone, particularly those that could signal danger.
That concern led Mandlakazi to begin developing Senso in 2014. The wearable device is designed for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people and translates selected sounds into vibrations and colour-coded LED alerts on a wristband. A user can associate specific sounds with different colours, allowing the device to alert them to sounds such as a baby crying, a door knock or a safety alarm.
Mandlakazi did not come to the idea from a conventional technology background. He studied banking and accountancy and had worked in roles including accounting and project management before turning his attention to Senso. Developing the technology required him to find the technical skills, funding and partnerships needed to move the idea forward.
The process has kept Mandlakazi close to the people the technology is intended to serve. He has previously spoken about the difficulty of accessing reliable information about Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities in parts of Africa and the importance of connecting with organisations working within these communities. His recent work has continued this focus, including participation in the Inclusive Africa Conference 2026, which brings together people working in accessibility and assistive technology across the continent.
“Senso was built from a simple personal belief that people in Deaf Communities deserve to feel safer, more connected, and fully included in the world around us,” Mandlakazi said ahead of the Inclusive Africa Conference earlier this year.
Over the years, Senso has received recognition through South African and international innovation programmes, while Mandlakazi was named a Mandela Washington Fellow in 2021. The latest Shell LiveWire recognition places the business alongside seven other ventures from Brazil, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, the United States and the Philippines in the Social Impact category.
Senso is currently supported by GROW Impact, a South African business development company that works with black-owned businesses to strengthen their ability to grow and build sustainable companies.
Keegan Moodley, CEO of GROW Impact, says Mandlakazi’s journey reflects the persistence required to develop a business around a problem that is both deeply personal and technically complex.
“Zuko has stayed committed to Senso over a long period of development, while continuing to learn from the community the technology is intended to serve.
“The Shell LiveWire recognition gives an African-developed assistive technology an international platform and creates an opportunity for many more people to understand the everyday problem Zuko has been working to solve.”
Public voting for the Shell LiveWire Impact Makers awards closes on 24 September 2026. The public can vote for the finalist they would like to see recognised as one of this year’s Impact Makers.
