Zuby Onwuta
Founder, Think and Zoom
Zuby Onwuta is a trailblazing innovator, disability advocate, and global thought leader, whose transformative journey from U.S. military to groundbreaking inventor exemplifies resilience and vision. A recipient of the U.S. Presidential Service Award from President Obama, Zuby's path to becoming a leader in disability innovation began after legal blindness ended his military service and medical studies, pushing him to pursue a career in engineering. While studying at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Zuby helped pioneer Smart Home automation, paving the way for systems that empower homeowners to seamlessly control their appliances, utilities, and doors remotely.
With almost 25 years of experience in the tech industry, Zuby has led major projects for Fortune 500 companies like Goldman Sachs, Lucent (Nokia), and IBM. As a full stack web developer at Lucent, he deployed critical web applications for multi-million-dollar pricing initiatives. At Goldman Sachs, Zuby designed and developed real-time software that securely managed over $50 billion in annual electronic stock trades. His tenure at IBM as a Global Technology Leader saw him spearheading complex projects across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, resolving critical issues for high-profile clients such as NASA, The White House and Boeing.
Zuby is the visionary founder of Think and Zoom, a biotech startup that pioneered "Brain Control for Blind Assistive Tech." His patented inventions, "Think and Zoom", "Think and Read", and "Think Game" have redefined the field of Assistive NeuroTechnology, offering visually impaired individuals new levels of independence. Think and Zoom has garnered significant recognition, including from Apple, where Zuby’s brain-controlled game, "Kenti," was featured at the prestigious Apple WWDC Developer Conference, and from global innovation platforms such as MassChallenge and Singularity University.
Zuby’s global influence includes speaking engagements in Canada, Romania, Switzerland, Kenya and South Africa, as well as appearances at TEDx, SXSW, the United Nations, NASA and the U.S. Congress.
As a disabled astronaut-in-training, Accessible Space Travel Innovator and Ambassador with AstroAccess, Zuby is developing inclusive space travel technologies and advocating for the participation of disabled individuals in space exploration and this groundbreaking work has been featured by the BBC, NY Times, and other major publications.
Zuby’s unique blend of technical expertise, advocacy, and public speaking has made him a sought-after voice in the intersection of disability, innovation, and technology. Zuby has not only redefined assistive technology but also serves as a champion for inclusive innovation, working closely with global disability organizations to ensure accessible technologies meet the needs of the visually impaired. Zuby stays committed to the empowerment of individuals with disabilities through his advocacy work on Capitol Hill, in the Texas Governor's office, and the Austin Mayor’s office, as well as mentoring students with disabilities at Lime Connect and Next Billion.
Zuby believes the future of disability innovation lies in the hands of those directly impacted, which led him to coin the term 'disabled user innovator.' He features these trailblazers on his 'Future of Disability Global' blog. Zuby holds a B.Sc. in Computer Engineering and has completed extensive training in innovation and venture capital from Harvard Business School, MIT, NSF and Harvard Medical School. His work continues to inspire individuals and organizations to reimagine the possibilities for accessibility and inclusivity in technology.
For more information, visit www.thinkandzoom.com and www.zubyonwuta.com.