Silas Adekunle is a Nigerian-British robotics engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur known globally for developing the world’s first intelligent gaming robot. Born in Nigeria and raised partly in the UK, Adekunle has become a leading innovator at the crossroads of robotics, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality gaming. He is recognized as one of the best-compensated robotics engineers worldwide, having achieved this status through his pioneering work on MekaMon and a landmark partnership with Apple.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Silas Adekunle |
| Date of Birth | July 2, 1991 |
| Place of Birth | Lagos, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian-British |
| State of Origin | Lagos (Yoruba ethnicity) |
| Partner | Zeyn Pfindk (reported) |
| Children | Not publicly disclosed |
| Occupations | Robotics Engineer, Inventor, Entrepreneur, CEO |
| Net Worth | Estimated $13 million |
Early Life and Education
Silas Adekunle was born on July 2, 1991, in Lagos, Nigeria. He spent his early years there before moving to the United Kingdom with his family around the age of 10 to 12.
His interest in technology began early, building a basic robot at age nine using simple materials like a motor and batteries.
After relocating to the UK, Adekunle’s passion for robotics deepened. He joined a robotics club at school and taught himself programming languages such as C++ through online tutorials.
He pursued higher education at the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol, drawn by the research at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory.
He graduated in 2014 with a First Class Honours degree in Robotics, focusing on legged robots — a foundation for his future entrepreneurial projects.
Career
While still an undergraduate, Adekunle co-founded Reach Robotics in 2013 along with Christopher Beck and John Rees.
Their mission was to merge robotics, gaming, and augmented reality to offer unique entertainment experiences. Even before this, Adekunle had been involved in teaching robotics to young people in local schools through an initiative named “Reach.”
In 2016, the team launched MekaMon, the world’s first intelligent gaming robot. It’s a four-legged robot controlled via a smartphone app that combines physical robotics with augmented reality gameplay, allowing for both solo play and robot battles.
The initial release sold 500 units and generated $7.5 million in revenue. This success helped Reach Robotics raise over $12 million in funding and expand its team.
In 2017, Adekunle secured a groundbreaking exclusive distribution deal with Apple, making MekaMon the first gaming robot sold in Apple stores.
Apple valued MekaMon’s innovative design and expressive robotic movements. The robot retailed for $300 and was available across Apple stores in the US and UK.
Adekunle’s work earned widespread acclaim. In 2018, he featured on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Europe list in Technology and the Financial Times’ Top 100 Minority Ethnic Leaders in Technology. He was also named “Someone to Watch” by the Black Hedge Fund Group.
Despite early success, Reach Robotics faced challenges sustaining profitability in the competitive consumer robotics space and shut down in 2019.
Afterward, Adekunle founded Reach Industries in 2020, focusing on Lumi—a visual intelligence platform that applies computer vision and machine learning to improve scientific research automation.
He also established Awarri in late 2019 to promote AI and robotics development across Africa. Awarri uses the MekaMon robots as educational tools and has partnered with Nigeria’s Ministry of Information, Communication, and Digital Economy to build local AI models supporting low-resource languages.
Their platform LangEasy allows users to contribute voice and text data to enhance AI training.
Personal Life
Silas Adekunle keeps his private life out of the spotlight. He is reported to be married to Zeyn Pfindk, though details are limited. He identifies as Yoruba, practices Christianity, and has interests in wildlife photography and lifelong learning.
Silas Adekunle Net Worth
Adekunle’s exact net worth is undisclosed, but estimates place it around $13 million, with some variation depending on sources. His wealth primarily stems from the success of MekaMon, his partnership with Apple, and ongoing ventures in robotics and AI.
Awards and Recognitions
- Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe: Technology (2018)
- Financial Times Top 100 Minority Ethnic Leaders in Technology (2018)
- Black Hedge Fund Group “Someone to Watch” (2018)
- Honorary Doctorate of Technology, University of the West of England (2018)
- Maserati 100 List for innovation and technology leadership
Silas Adekunle’s journey from a curious child in Lagos to a global robotics innovator highlights his dedication, creativity, and vision. He continues to push boundaries in robotics and AI, inspiring a new generation of African technologists through his pioneering ventures and educational efforts.
