When Xolani Gininda from Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, started SmartSight South Africa, he had one goal: to use technology to make life easier and more inclusive for people in the community. “The idea for SmartSight started with a simple intention, which is to make technology more human and more useful for everyday life,” says Gininda. “I have always believed that innovation should solve real problems.”
That belief became the foundation of SmartSight, a South African company developing smart glasses that help people with hearing challenges “hear with their eyes” through real-time captions that appear on the lens.
A Mission to Create Change
Growing up in Nelspruit shaped Gininda’s path as an entrepreneur. With few tech opportunities around him, Gininda had to learn on his own. “I had to figure things out by myself because Nelspruit doesn’t have the same tech ecosystem as bigger cities,” he explains.
To enhance his skills, he joined a mentorship programme, the 2025 Nedbank Pitch & Polish, which helped him refine his business and pitching abilities. These experiences made him independent, persistent, and resourceful. The lessons continued to shape his approach to be innovative in today’s world.
“The glasses have advanced microphones and speech recognition with AI to record what is spoken in real time,” Says Gininda. “The words are instantly converted into text that appears inside the lens, like live subtitles.”
Beyond accessibility, SmartSight’s technology has wider uses. It can be adapted for facial recognition, number plate detection, and real-time translation, making it useful across sectors like healthcare, education, and law enforcement. Gininda believes that these features could transform how people work and communicate in everyday situations.
Designed for Africa, Built for the World
What makes SmartSight unique is that it was built with African users in mind. “SmartSight is designed for African conditions but still meets global standards,” Gininda says. “We make our products affordable without compromising on quality so that more people, schools, and businesses can benefit from them.”
Unlike other international smart eyewear brands built mainly for entertainment, SmartSight focuses on solving real challenges. It is practical, affordable, and aimed at improving communication and inclusion in daily life. For Gininda, innovation must always have a purpose: to make people’s lives better.
Overcoming Challenges
Building advanced technology in South Africa was not without its problems. Gininda had a problem sourcing components, identifying the developers, and persuading people of the potential of the product. Still, he remained determined. “There were times when it felt impossible, but every time I saw a user put on the glasses and connected in a way they couldn’t before, I knew I had to keep going,” he says
The biggest highlight came when President Ramaphosa demonstrated the SmartSight glasses after the company won the Breaking Ground SMME Award. ‘It was an exciting moment and proof that even small businesses from Nelspruit can create something that competes at an international level,’ Gininda recalls proudly. That moment showed him that African innovation can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world.
Amazing Reviews
The feedback has been amazing. Healthcare workers value the hands-free communication. Teachers say it helps create inclusive classrooms. Security teams use it for quick identification and information access. “Deaf users tell us it has given them independence and confidence in everyday life. People see it as more than just a gadget. For them, it’s a tool that changes how they interact with the world.”
Looking at the Future
SmartSight sees itself as a go-to wearable technology for accessibility and productivity beyond the country. “Our software is already licensed, which gives us the ability to scale quickly and get into more industries,” says Xolani. The next step is to add more languages and dialects, improve the AI capabilities, and explore other wearable devices. And their technology is being used in schools, workplaces, and public spaces across the continent.
Gininda is Giving Young Entrepreneurs Advice
Gininda’s advice to young entrepreneurs is simple but powerful: they need to focus on solving real problems. “Start with the problem, not the product,” he says, “don’t wait for perfect conditions because they will never come. Start where you are, use what you have, and keep improving; you will get there.”
Through SmartSight, Xolani Gininda is proving that innovation doesn’t have to come from big cities or large companies. He emphasised that entrepreneurs should not focus on the product or the money it brings, but on solving the problem. With passion, purpose, and persistence, he is using technology to make the world more inclusive. One pair of glasses at a time, helping the community.
