Two groundbreaking innovators are being honored, among other Revolutionaries, in a new initiative being launched by WIRED and Revolut to celebrate today’s most cutting-edge talent. The Revolutionaries event marks Revolut reaching an impressive 50 million global customers globally. Sophie de Oliveira Barata has completely re-imagined prosthetics, transforming lives as a result, while TenZ has taken esports to a whole new level, earning him a devoted fanbase.

De Oliveira Barata founded The Alternative Limb Project, combining art, technology, and science in a way that empowers those who, for whatever reason, have lost, or lack, a limb. She was initially inspired by working with military veterans who had returned from Afghanistan with life-changing injuries. “Back in the First World War, it was about rebuilding people in the crudest way possible. But with my approach, I’m looking at how prosthetics can result in a positive psychological impact and restore self-confidence,” she says.

The challenge was to overcome that potentially devastating moment when a person is confronted by their new artificial limb—an object they might dread to fit on to their body; the fear that it will be gawped at in public or stigmatize them. De Oliveira Barata is meeting this challenge head-on. She has set out to create an extension to the human body that can be worn with pride, becoming an object of fascination, and possibly even envy. “I wanted to make wearable artwork and, through these prosthetics, the wearer can communicate a kind of non-verbal message about how they feel, and the sense of pride in their own bodies.”

One of the most stunning prosthetics designed by de Oliveira Barata and a team of creators is The Vine, which was created for model Kelly Knox, who was born without her lower left arm. For Knox, the prosthetic is not so much a functional aid as an accessory that expresses her personality. “I want to change the way society perceives disability, ” she says. “It should be cool, fashionable, beautiful, and powerful”.

De Oliveira Barata views The Vine as something that integrates a human being with an “alien structure.” The prosthetic is a tentacle-like arm, made from transparent plastic, where the internal workings are visible through a series of vertebrae. Through wireless technology, Kelly can control the skilfully crafted appendage with her toes. To watch The Vine in action is to be awestruck by its grace and harmony—its movements are hypnotic, and almost serpent-like.

One of de Oliveira Barata’s most inspiring collaborations has been with the Latvian-born, British singer-songwriter and model Viktoria Modesta, referred to as the “Bionic Pop Artist.” In 2007, she underwent an operation to amputate her leg below the knee on health grounds. Viktoria is a keen supporter of the Paralympics and de Oliveira Barata approached her to develop a prosthetic that would capture her personality and an ambition, as she put it, to transcend her physical body.

In all of this, there is the background influence of popular culture—iconic films such as Robocop and The Terminator, which have popularized the idea of hybrid humans. De Oliveira Barata acknowledges and embraces this as a movement towards greater acceptance of bodies that can be extended and empowered through new technology—and that are stylish, too. The Revolutionaries event sees her showcase some of her most amazing work, including prosthetics designed specifically for Revolut.

TenZ set the online gaming world on fire as the most iconic Valorant player of all time. For those not in the know, Valorant is a 5v5 tactical shooter play-off where teams take turns attacking and defending. There’s a huge cast involved, and infinite tactical variations when it comes to your gunplay. It is a difficult game to master, with a big gap between ranked top players and pro players. There are multiple levels of skill to negotiate that make this a thrilling experience for both participants and spectators.

Teamwork in Valorant is essential. TenZ was part of Sentinels, who he describes as having been a family for him. “I think it’s most important to be able to play with the team and make smart decisions. But I also believe there are times when you can let more individual skill shine through to be the X-factor your team needs to win important games.”

At just 23, TenZ announced his “retirement” from competing in Valorant to focus more on content creation. It’s clearly been a whirlwind career, starting as a kid gaming in his room at home for enjoyment, to a more professional setting and then global acclaim. “I’ve been told by many players about how I’ve inspired them to come play and compete in Valorant. Honestly, it’s super flattering, and I just hope that I can be the best role model for the next generation of professional gamers and aspiring professional gamers.”

TenZ hopes that he’s changed the perception of esports, encouraging people to come and get involved who may have shied away in the past. With the newly found freedom of his very early retirement, TenZ intends to engage in more IRL streaming—that is streaming outdoors, making untethered broadcasts to Twitch, YouTube, or other channels. “I want to get more involved in IRL streaming because traveling is one of my favourite things to do.”

However, at the Revolutionaries event, TenZ made a rare reversion to form to invite the audience to play against the face of Valorant. For those brave enough to throw down the gauntlet, a running commentary on Twitch provided highlights as the battle of wits got underway.

These are two very different Honorees elevated as Revolutionaries, but what unites them is their vision and drive—and an unconquerable desire to push boundaries, excelling in their chosen field of activity. That’s what makes each a Revolutionary of the digital age—and why they were given this well-deserved public recognition by WIRED and Revolut.

Visit revolut.com to find out more.