BSL-first feedback platform takes top prize as recognition grows for Deaf-inclusive innovation.
Unzippd, the UK-based BSL-native survey and feedback platform, has been named the winner of the Yotewo Giveaway Competition 2026. The announcement brings to a close a competition that drew entries from across the global tech sector, with Unzippd ultimately chosen by public vote following a dedicated podcast series featuring all three finalists earlier this spring.
The win follows a string of recent achievements for Unzippd, including recognition as a Sage Small Business XI 2025 winner and the release of a landmark interim NHS pilot report demonstrating that Deaf BSL users become the most engaged patient demographic when linguistic barriers are removed.
Co-founded by a Deaf and hearing team, Unzippd provides a first-of-its-kind platform that replaces written English touchpoints with video. By enabling Deaf individuals to respond directly in their native British Sign Language (BSL), Unzippd captures the linguistic subtleties and nuances often lost in translation. For the first time, organisations can ask questions in BSL and receive high-quality insights in English, ensuring every voice is heard and integrated into the decision-making process.
The competition is hosted by Yotewo, an AI-curated talent marketplace that connects startups with pre-vetted engineering talent, recognised as one of Entrepreneur UK’s 100 most exciting startups of 2026.
Aliaksandr Kazhamiakin, CEO &Founder at Yotewo, said: “From the outset, Unzippd stood out. They have built something genuinely useful that makes a real difference for everyone – the most groundbreaking, inclusive, and human feedback platform in the UK. We are proud to announce them as the winner of the inaugural Yotewo Competition.”
As part of the prize, Unzippd receives 180 senior developer hours from Yotewo – a resource that will directly accelerate product development and infrastructure improvements. Finalists were also invited to feature on a dedicated podcast series, available at https://youtu.be/Cxheq5LyMuk?si=ODV_WnwK5-01zLaN, which brought their work to a wider audience ahead of the public vote. Rob Troy CEO and Co-founder of Unzippd said: “The developer hours are a game-changer for us. We will be investing them in improving the platform and conducting a thorough audit of our systems to make sure we are holding ourselves to the highest possible standards.”
He added: “Winning Yotewo 2026 is a massive moment for us and for the Deaf community we serve – it is recognition that the world is ready to listen to Deaf people in their own language. We built Unzippd because we knew the demand was there; this proves the world agrees.”
The win comes as Unzippd continues to scale its impact across healthcare, local government, and the private sector. The company recently completed its inaugural NHS pilot in the London Borough of Wandsworth and is actively working with commissioners to expand BSL-first feedback channels across the health system.
Last month, Unzippd broke new ground at DeafExpo at Birmingham NEC, the first event of its kind, collecting over 2,500 responses from around 350 Deaf attendees, representing nearly 10% of all people at the event. It was the first time any organisation had collected community feedback at this scale in BSL.
