Silas Adekunle: Pioneering Nigerian Inventor Making Strides in Robotics
Silas Adekunle, a notable Nigerian inventor and entrepreneur, has garnered attention for his groundbreaking creation of the world’s first intelligent gaming robot. Born in Nigeria and relocating to the UK at the age of 12, Silas obtained a first-class degree in robotics and an honorary Doctor of Technology degree from the University of the West of England in Bristol.
As a co-founder and leader of Reach Robotics, a company based in the UK, Silas embarked on a mission to merge augmented reality gaming with STEM education. The flagship product, MekaMon, is an innovative four-legged robot capable of lifelike movements, transforming the gaming experience from mere digital interaction to real-life engagement through robotics and augmented reality. Alongside the physical robot, Reach Robotics developed an app that not only controlled MekaMon but also opened doors to additional digital experiences.
Silas successfully secured $12 million in funding, allowing the company’s workforce to grow to approximately 65 employees at its height. In a significant milestone, he struck a deal with Apple in 2018 to distribute MekaMon in both the U.S. and UK markets. This partnership positioned Adekunle as one of the highest earners in robotic engineering, particularly after his landmark agreement with Apple Inc., solidifying his reputation for pioneering the gaming robot industry.
However, despite these significant achievements, Reach Robotics faced numerous challenges in the competitive consumer robotics landscape, ultimately leading to its closure in September 2019. In 2022, the brand name “Reach Robotics” was revived by a newly established company known as Blueprint Lab.
Undeterred by past setbacks, Silas Adekunle shifted his focus toward advancing robotics education throughout Africa, utilizing MekaMon to motivate and inspire the forthcoming generation of technology pioneers. He also launched Awarri, a venture aimed at promoting artificial intelligence and robotics across the continent. By January 2020, he had taken the role of co-founder and CEO of R.I., a company dedicated to supporting developers in creating cloud-based solutions for remotely managing robots, industrial systems, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Silas’s innovative contributions to technology have earned him esteemed recognition on the global stage. In 2018,
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