$12 Million Idea: How Silas Adekunle Built a Robotics Empire

Estimated reading time: 13 minutes

Silas Adekunle is a name that resonates deeply in the intersection of technology, business, and career development. A Nigerian-British robotics engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur, Adekunle’s journey from a curious child fascinated by machines to a global innovator creating the world’s first intelligent gaming robot is both inspiring and instructive.

His story exemplifies how passion, innovation, and business acumen can converge to build a robotics empire valued at $12 million in funding. For aspiring entrepreneurs, STEM students, tech enthusiasts, and career changers, Adekunle’s path offers essential lessons on overcoming challenges, securing strategic partnerships, and redefining the future of robotics.

This blog delves deeply into the remarkable rise of Silas Adekunle, tracing the inspiring journey behind the creation of Reach Robotics and the innovative MekaMon. It also examines the wider influence of his groundbreaking work on the fields of technology and education, with a special focus on its transformative effects across the African continent.

The $12 Million Robotics Vision: Key Concepts and Ideas

With his company Reach Robotics, Silas Adekunle transformed a straightforward yet ingenious idea into a thriving business venture that successfully attracted millions of dollars in investment funding and drew significant attention from one of the world’s leading technology giants.

We will delve deeply into the fundamental concepts behind the design and development of the MekaMon robot, highlighting the cutting-edge technology that revolutionized the gaming industry and made it a true game-changer.

Additionally, we will thoroughly examine the strategic business decisions and innovative approaches that played a crucial role in propelling this emerging startup to the very edge of widespread mainstream success and broad recognition within its industry and market.

The Genesis of Reach Robotics and MekaMon

Silas Adekunle co-founded Reach Robotics in 2013 with a clear, ambitious vision: to fuse robotics with interactive gaming and education. Their flagship product, MekaMon, was a four-legged, intelligent gaming robot equipped with lifelike movements and sophisticated sensors. What set MekaMon apart was its seamless integration of augmented reality (AR), which combined physical robotics with digital gameplay through an app that users could control via smartphones.

MekaMon was not merely a toy but a breakthrough in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education and interactive entertainment. It was designed to engage users in ways traditional gaming could not, promoting a hands-on understanding of robotics while delivering an immersive play experience.

This innovative concept deeply resonated and struck a powerful chord within the tech and gaming communities all around the world, capturing their attention and sparking widespread interest and enthusiasm.

Innovation at the Crossroads of Robotics and Augmented Reality

The innovative core of MekaMon lies in its combination of AI-driven robotics and AR gaming. The robot’s four-legged design enabled fluid, lifelike movement, while its AI capabilities allowed it to learn and respond to users’ actions and environment. The augmented reality overlay brought the virtual game battles to life in real-world spaces, creating an entirely new genre of interactive entertainment.

This hybrid approach was pioneering; it expanded the possibilities of how robots could serve both recreational and educational purposes. Silas Adekunle’s team focused not just on technical ingenuity but also on user experience, ensuring MekaMon had a personality and emotional engagement that appealed to a broad audience.

The Journey: From Idea to $12 Million Funding

Silas Adekunle’s journey from an idea to raising $12 million in funding for Reach Robotics was marked by a combination of technical brilliance, visionary leadership, and strategic execution. Starting with limited resources, Silas and his team had to solve complex engineering challenges to bring to life MekaMon, a four-legged intelligent gaming robot that combined robotics with augmented reality (AR).

His first-class degree in robotics from the University of the West of England lent him credibility and deep expertise, which energized a growing team based in London focused on transforming the way people interact with technology through gaming and education.

By 2017, Reach Robotics had gained significant global attention. MekaMon debuted to critical acclaim and commercial interest, leading Adekunle to secure an exclusive distribution deal with Apple. This milestone marked MekaMon as the first consumer robot sold in Apple Stores across both the UK and the USA—a monumental breakthrough validating the product’s innovation and Adekunle’s leadership in the robotics industry.

The company successfully raised $12 million in investment capital from venture capitalists, including London Venture Partners. This funding allowed Reach Robotics to expand its operations significantly, growing its team to approximately 65 employees.

The investors were not only convinced by the technology but also by Silas Adekunle’s capacity to disrupt traditional gaming and robotics markets, positioning the startup for accelerated growth and broader market reach.

However, despite early momentum, Reach Robotics faced challenges inherent to the consumer robotics sector. Complexities in hardware manufacturing, high distribution costs, and a relatively niche market made sustained growth difficult. In 2019, the company ultimately shut down, a decision reflecting these tough realities in consumer robotics.

Rather than viewing this as a failure, Silas Adekunle treated it as a pivotal moment to pivot his focus. Recognizing the challenges in consumer robotics, he shifted toward broader, more impactful applications of robotics and artificial intelligence, particularly in industrial automation and scientific research.

This remarkable adaptability clearly illustrates a fundamental entrepreneurial trait—resilience combined with a strong willingness to continuously evolve and change in direct response to shifting market realities and emerging business challenges.

Today, Silas directs his efforts into education-oriented robotics and cloud infrastructure for industrial automation through new ventures such as Awarri and Reach Industries, continuing to lead innovation in robotics while inspiring the next generation of African technologists.

Expanding the Robotics Empire: New Frontiers

Post-Reach Robotics, Silas Adekunle expanded his robotics empire by co-founding Reach Industries, where he now leads the development of Lumi, a cutting-edge visual intelligence platform designed to automate and accelerate scientific research.

Lumi uses advanced computer vision, voice recognition, and machine learning to capture and analyze operational data from experiments and lab equipment in real time. This automation addresses major inefficiencies in scientific workflows, saving researchers valuable time and improving reproducibility and accuracy in life sciences research.

Lumi is already deployed in leading biotech and pharmaceutical labs, exemplifying how consumer robotics skills can translate into industrial innovation and highlighting Adekunle’s adaptability as a visionary entrepreneur focused on impactful technology.

Moreover, Silas Adekunle is deeply committed to transforming Africa’s technology landscape through education and innovation. Through Awarri, a startup he founded, he fosters robotics and artificial intelligence education across the continent.

Awarri equips African youth with hardware robotics kits, educator training, and localized learning programs designed to bridge the technological and educational gap in STEM fields. A key initiative is developing Nigeria’s first multilingual large language model (LLM) to boost local language AI representation and support African creators and developers.

Collaborating with governments and educational institutions, Awarri is positioning Africa as a future innovation hub by nurturing a generation of innovators prepared to solve the continent’s unique challenges through frontier technologies like AI and robotics.

Silas Adekunle’s work with Reach Industries and Awarri demonstrates the evolution of his career from gaming robots to science automation and tech education leadership. Both ventures underline his mission to harness AI and robotics not only for business success but also for social good, underscoring how visionary technology entrepreneurship can drive sustainable development in emerging markets.

Latest Trends and Developments in Robotics and AI

The fields of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) are evolving rapidly in 2025, marked by significant trends that emphasize automation, AI-enabled analysis, and enhanced human-machine collaboration. Robots equipped with advanced AI can now perform complex real-time decision-making, interpret large data streams, and predict maintenance needs, transforming industries from manufacturing to healthcare and scientific research.

Silas Adekunle’s current work with Lumi exemplifies these trends by combining robotics with visual intelligence to automate scientific workflows. Lumi’s ability to capture and analyze experimental data efficiently accelerates discoveries, highlighting how AI-powered robotics are reshaping research processes and improving operational efficiency.

Educational robotics, pioneered by innovations like Adekunle’s MekaMon, continues to gain traction globally. Schools increasingly adopt hands-on STEM education models that use interactive robotics kits to engage students in practical learning, addressing the growing demand for skills in technology and innovation.

Another major development is the rise of collaborative robots, or cobots, designed to work safely alongside humans in dynamic environments. Cobots are becoming accessible to small and medium enterprises due to simplified programming, flexible modular designs, and built-in safety features, which enhance productivity and reshape workforce dynamics.

Sustainability is also a growing priority in robotics. Advances in eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient battery technologies, and green manufacturing practices align with global environmental goals, making robotics development more responsible and sustainable.

Furthermore, AI platforms like those being developed by Silas Adekunle’s Awarri are contributing to democratizing technology access, especially in underrepresented regions such as Africa. By fostering AI literacy and developing local language models, these initiatives empower more people to participate in the digital economy, making technological innovation both commercially viable and socially transformative.

In Summary

The most recent and emerging trends in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence highlight a significant shift towards greater autonomy in machines, enhanced real-time learning capabilities, improved collaboration between humans and robots, a strong focus on sustainability, and a broader adoption of these technologies within educational settings.

Silas Adekunle’s pioneering work fits seamlessly with these evolving trends, demonstrating not only remarkable technological progress but also emphasizing the immense potential for inclusive growth and a positive global impact that can be achieved through innovation in robotics and AI.

Key Learnings from Silas Adekunle’s Journey

An inventor’s path is rarely a simple, straightforward journey. For Silas Adekunle, the experience of moving from creating an award-winning gaming robot to building a successful global presence in the field of industrial AI has been shaped by a series of crucial strategic decisions, as well as an unwavering resilience to overcome challenges and learn from various setbacks along the way.

Let’s distill the most important and valuable lessons from his extensive career, providing insights that extend far beyond the development of a single product and are highly relevant to any aspiring entrepreneur or innovator working within the fast-evolving technology sector.

• Strong, Specific Idea: Silas Adekunle’s success started with a clear and focused vision of combining robotics with augmented reality gaming. By creating MekaMon, a unique four-legged intelligent gaming robot that blended physical robotics with immersive digital gameplay, he addressed an untapped niche in both the entertainment and educational sectors. This laser focus on a novel, specific product set sets Reach Robotics apart in a competitive industry.

• Strategic Partnerships: One of Adekunle’s breakthroughs was securing an exclusive distribution deal with Apple, which positioned MekaMon as the first consumer robot sold in Apple Stores across the UK and the USA. This partnership not only gave the startup a global platform but also lent enormous credibility and market access that helped attract investors and customers, fueling growth and visibility.

• Resilience and Adaptability: The consumer robotics sector is notoriously difficult to scale due to high manufacturing costs and niche markets. Despite the early $12 million funding success and notable achievements, Reach Robotics eventually shut down in 2019. Adekunle’s ability to pivot strategically toward broader AI applications in scientific research and industrial automation underscores the importance of flexibility and resilience for entrepreneurs facing market realities.

• Empowering Others: Beyond business success, Adekunle is committed to social impact, particularly through Awarri, his initiative to advance robotics and AI education in Africa. By empowering the next generation of African technologists and fostering innovation ecosystems on the continent, he leverages his achievements to create lasting social value. This highlights how entrepreneurship can intersect with purpose and community development.

• Multicultural Experience: Born in Nigeria and educated in the UK, Adekunle’s multicultural background enriched his worldview and approach to innovation. His global perspective helped him navigate diverse markets and challenges, positioning him as a role model for aspiring inventors and entrepreneurs across continents. His journey illustrates how diverse experiences and cultural fluency can be powerful assets in global technology leadership.

These valuable lessons drawn from Silas Adekunle’s extraordinary and inspiring journey offer a wealth of practical insights and motivation for aspiring entrepreneurs, STEM students, and technology professionals who are eager to innovate, excel, and take on leadership roles in rapidly evolving and highly competitive industries.

FAQs

Who is Silas Adekunle?

Silas Adekunle is a Nigerian-British robotics engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur best known for co-founding Reach Robotics and creating MekaMon, the world’s first intelligent gaming robot that blends robotics with augmented reality. He graduated with first-class honors in Robotics from the University of the West of England and has been recognized internationally for his innovative work in technology.

What is MekaMon?

MekaMon is a four-legged interactive robot developed by Reach Robotics that combines lifelike robotics with augmented reality gaming. It can move like a real creature and is controlled via a smartphone app, providing an immersive gaming experience that also serves educational purposes in STEM fields.

How did Silas Adekunle fund Reach Robotics?

Reach Robotics raised $12 million in venture capital funding led by investors including London Venture Partners. This capital enabled the company to scale operations and grow its team to about 65 employees, while also securing partnerships such as an exclusive distribution deal with Apple.

Why did Reach Robotics shut down?

Despite early success, Reach Robotics ceased operations in 2019 due to the inherent challenges of scaling consumer robotics sustainably in a highly competitive and capital-intensive market. The shutdown reflected the complexity and costs associated with hardware manufacturing and finding a mass market for robotic gaming products.

What is Silas Adekunle doing now?

Currently, Silas Adekunle is focused on expanding robotics and AI applications beyond gaming. He co-founded Reach Industries, which develops Lumi, a visual intelligence platform for automating scientific research. Additionally, through Awarri, a company he founded, he promotes robotics and AI education across Africa to empower the next generation of innovators.

In Conclusion

Silas Adekunle’s story is a compelling testament to what can be achieved when cutting-edge technology meets entrepreneurial vision and resilience. From a $12 million-funded startup disrupting gaming with robotics to a broader mission of transforming scientific research and African tech education, Adekunle embodies innovation, adaptability, and purpose-driven leadership.

His journey provides a wealth of valuable lessons and insights that are especially beneficial for entrepreneurs, STEM students, tech professionals, and individuals considering career changes who aspire to innovate and make a significant impact at the critical intersection where technology meets business innovation and strategy.

Exploring the remarkable legacy of Silas Adekunle not only inspires practical action but also fuels bold ambition and creative thinking for anyone who is deeply passionate about actively shaping and influencing the future landscape of technology in meaningful and innovative ways.