Fully aware of the importance of building an inclusive digital economy for the deaf community in Tunisia, she leverages technology to connect deaf individuals to employment opportunities.

Sonia Kherigi Nasfi (photo) is a Tunisian computer scientist and tech entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Deaf Square, an online platform that serves as a career accelerator for deaf individuals by connecting deaf talents with employers.

Deaf Square is dedicated to empowering the deaf community. It offers tools for learning sign language, a personalized job-matching service, and training for employers to promote inclusive work environments. Using artificial intelligence, the startup works to enhance the social and economic inclusion of the hearing impaired. It provides an AI-empowered virtual trainer that offers adaptive learning in multiple languages, ensuring personalized support for each user.

“At Deaf Square, we offer courses exclusively in sign language. Our team consists of deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing individuals. All our developments are based on user experience. Often, companies are legally required to hire people with disabilities but don’t know where to find these talents. Our job is to connect deaf talents with employers,” explains Sonia Kherigi Nasfi.

Since 1998, Sonia has also held the position of director at the Central Bank of Tunisia. In 2019, she became a coach in NLP (neuro-linguistic programming). She is also the focal point for the association Positiver in Tunis, supporting regional initiatives, particularly by mentoring youth and women in project development.

A graduate of the Higher Institute of Management in Tunis, where she earned a master’s degree in IT management, Sonia made headlines in July 2024 when she won the regional prize at the 11th edition of the Northern Africa Startup Awards, part of the Global Startup Awards Africa. She is also the 2024 winner of the Tunisian stage of the Orange Social Entrepreneur Prize in Africa and the Middle East (POESAM).

Melchior Koba