Silas Adekunle is a Nigerian-British inventor, robotics engineer and technology entrepreneur best known for developing MekaMon, an intelligent gaming robot that combined robotics, augmented reality and interactive digital gaming.
Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, Adekunle moved to the United Kingdom at the age of 12. His work in robotics eventually led him to co-found Reach Robotics, a UK-based augmented reality gaming company that developed MekaMon and attracted millions of dollars in investment.
His career has since expanded beyond consumer robotics, with a focus on artificial intelligence, robotics education and the development of advanced technology ecosystems in Africa.
Early Life and Education
Adekunle was born in Ibadan, Nigeria, and moved to the United Kingdom when he was 12 years old.
He later studied Robotics at the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol, where he graduated with First Class Honours.
His academic achievements were subsequently recognised by the university with an Honorary Doctor of Technology degree.
Adekunle has spoken about the potential for Africa to compete globally through science and technology, particularly by developing expertise in frontier technologies.
Building Reach Robotics
Adekunle’s breakthrough as a technology entrepreneur came through Reach Robotics, which he co-founded and led as CEO.
The company developed robotics products aimed at both gaming and STEM education, with its flagship creation being MekaMon, a four-legged robotic creature designed to move in a lifelike manner.
MekaMon was more than a conventional toy. It combined physical robotics with augmented reality, allowing users to interact with a digital gaming environment through a real-world robotic device.
The system was supported by a companion mobile application that allowed users to control the robot while accessing additional digital content and gaming features.
The combination of robotics, gaming and augmented reality helped Reach Robotics distinguish itself within the emerging consumer robotics market.
MekaMon and the Global Gaming Market
MekaMon represented Adekunle’s attempt to bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds.
The robot’s movements were designed to resemble those of a living creature, while augmented reality enabled users to incorporate the physical robot into interactive gaming experiences.
The company attracted significant investor interest as it developed and commercialised the technology.
Adekunle reportedly raised approximately $12 million from investors, including London Venture Partners, helping Reach Robotics expand its operations to approximately 65 full-time employees at its peak.
The company’s growth demonstrated the commercial potential of combining robotics with entertainment and interactive technology.
Partnership With Apple
In 2018, Adekunle and Reach Robotics secured a major distribution partnership with Apple.
The company entered into an exclusive distribution arrangement that enabled MekaMon to be sold through Apple in the United States and the United Kingdom.
The deal represented a significant milestone for the young robotics company and placed an African-born robotics entrepreneur at the centre of the global consumer technology market.
The partnership also brought MekaMon to a wider audience at a time when consumer robotics and augmented reality were emerging as major areas of technological innovation.
The End of Reach Robotics
Despite the attention and investment surrounding MekaMon, Reach Robotics ultimately faced the broader commercial challenges associated with consumer robotics.
The company shut down on 2 September 2019, citing inherent challenges within the consumer robotics sector.
The closure marked the end of Reach Robotics as an operating company, but the technology and intellectual property associated with the business continued to have a presence in the robotics industry.
In 2022, Blueprint Lab announced plans to adopt the Reach Robotics name.
Expanding Into Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
Following the Reach Robotics experience, Adekunle’s focus expanded beyond consumer gaming.
He founded Awarri, a company focused on enabling the development and adaptation of advanced artificial intelligence and robotics technologies in Africa.
The venture reflects his broader interest in developing Africa’s capabilities in frontier technologies and exposing young Africans to areas such as robotics, artificial intelligence and STEAM education.
His work through Awarri has been connected to the wider goal of developing a stronger African technology ecosystem capable of producing and adapting advanced technologies locally.
Building Robotics and Cloud Infrastructure
Adekunle has also been involved in developing technology infrastructure for robotics and industrial automation.
The source identifies him as a co-founder and CEO of a company focused on helping developers implement the cloud infrastructure required to remotely monitor, manage and control robots, industrial automation systems and Internet of Things devices.
This work represents another stage in his career, moving from consumer-facing robotics into the underlying infrastructure required for connected machines and automated systems.
A Career Beyond Consumer Robotics
Adekunle’s career illustrates how an initial breakthrough in consumer technology can evolve into a broader interest in industrial and educational applications.
His work began with the development of MekaMon, a robotic platform designed to make gaming more interactive by combining physical machines with augmented reality.
He subsequently turned his attention toward robotics education, artificial intelligence and industrial automation, particularly in relation to Africa’s technology ecosystem.
This progression reflects a broader ambition to make advanced technologies more accessible and relevant to African markets.
International Recognition
Adekunle’s achievements have attracted recognition from major international organisations.
In 2018, he was selected for the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe: Technology list.
The same year, the Financial Times named him among its Top 100 Minority Ethnic Leaders in Technology.
These recognitions highlighted his position as one of the emerging technology entrepreneurs working at the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence and consumer technology.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Beyond building companies, Adekunle has consistently spoken about the importance of developing Africa’s technological capacity.
His belief that African innovators can compete globally through science and technology has become an important part of his public profile.
Through his work in robotics education and artificial intelligence, he has sought to contribute to a future in which African young people are not merely consumers of emerging technologies but are also involved in developing them.
Silas Adekunle Today
Silas Adekunle’s journey from Ibadan to the global robotics industry is a story of technological ambition, entrepreneurship and innovation.
His creation of MekaMon established him as one of the most recognisable African-born figures in consumer robotics, while the growth of Reach Robotics demonstrated the commercial possibilities of combining robotics, augmented reality and gaming.
Although Reach Robotics ultimately closed, Adekunle continued building in the technology sector, shifting his attention toward artificial intelligence, robotics education, cloud infrastructure and industrial automation.
Through ventures such as Awarri, his work continues to reflect a broader ambition: helping build the technological capabilities that will enable Africa to participate more meaningfully in the next generation of global innovation.