Silas Adekunle is the co-founder and former CEO of Reach Robotics. He has made a significant mark in the tech world by combining gaming with education.
His standout creation, MekaMon, is a four-legged robot that moves like a real creature, bringing video games to life through robotics and augmented reality. An app developed alongside MekaMon allowed users to control the robot and enjoy an even richer gaming experience.
During his time at Reach Robotics, Adekunle raised $12 million in funding, growing the company to about 65 employees.
A major highlight came in 2018 when he secured a deal with Apple, making MekaMon available in the U.S. and UK markets. This success earned him the title of one of the highest-paid engineers in robotics, recognized for creating the world’s first gaming robot.
However, despite its early success, Reach Robotics eventually shut down in 2019. The company was later revived in 2022 by Blueprint Lab.
Silas Adekunle’s contributions have not gone unnoticed. In 2018, he was recognized as one of the Financial Times’ “Top 100 Minority Ethnic Leaders in Technology” and featured on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Europe: Technology list, celebrating his influence and innovation in the tech industry.
Not one to be discouraged, Adekunle turned his attention to robotics education in Africa. He founded Awarri, a company focused on spreading AI and robotics technology across the continent, using MekaMon to inspire young tech enthusiasts. In 2020, he also co-founded R.I., a company that helps developers manage robots and industrial systems remotely using cloud technology.