Our #OnePerson for October 2025 is Silas Adekunle
Before most people ever thought of robots as more than machines, Silas Adekunle was already building one that could think, learn, and play.
Silas Adekunle is a robotics engineer whose work has redefined the intersection of gaming, education, and technology. Born in Nigeria, Adekunle relocated to the UK at age 12, a move that set him on a path to pioneer the future of interactive robotics.
Adekunle’s professional journey began at the University of the West of England, where he graduated with First Class Honours in Robotics. While still an undergraduate, he co-founded Reach Robotics in 2013. His flagship product, MekaMon, was the world’s first intelligent gaming robot. The product blended physical robotics with augmented reality, making STEM education accessible and engaging through interactive battle.
The innovation earned immediate, high-level recognition. Reach Robotics successfully raised $12 million in investment and, critically, secured an exclusive 2018 distribution deal with Apple to sell MekaMon in the US and UK markets. These achievements positioned Adekunle as a technology leader, resulting in his inclusion on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and the Financial Times’ Top 100 Minority Ethnic Leaders in Technology.
But his story didn’t end with success; it evolved through challenge. When his company – Reach Robotics, closed in 2019, Silas didn’t retreat. He redirected. This moment, often a breaking point for founders, instead became a pivotal point for Adekunle. He immediately demonstrated remarkable perseverance, leveraging the knowledge gained to launch two new ventures. He turned his focus homeward (to Africa) and founded Awarri, a company dedicated to building a native-intelligence ecosystem for AI and robotics in Africa. Awarri’s mission is clear: to bridge the technological skills gap by strengthening local ecosystems and nurturing a new generation of African creators.
Through Awarri, Adekunle is actively working on developing culturally-rooted solutions, including plans for a locally trained, multilingual AI assistant. This approach is crucial to his vision of ensuring Africa is a significant contributor, not merely a consumer, in the global AI economy.
Simultaneously, he is the Co-founder and CEO of Reach Industries (R.I.), which applies visual intelligence and AI to accelerate scientific automation in laboratories.
Adekunle’s consistent commitment to innovation, resilience in the face of commercial failure, and his clear dedication to empowering African youth through high-end technology exemplify the commended work deserving of this spotlight. He is an enduring pioneer, turning every challenge into a new foundation for future progress.
Let us celebrate Silas!