Silas Adekunle is trending again and still for good reasons. The Nigerian-born engineer is famous globally as the highest-paid robotics engineer in the world, but it wasn’t just an instant success.
He built a career that took him from Lagos to Apple stores in the U.S. and the U.K. How did his journey begin? How did he become the highest-paid robotics engineer in the world? What has he been up to till date? Keep reading for all the answers.
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Silas Adekunle Journey: From Lagos to Apple Stores
Born in Nigeria in 1991, Adekunle moved to the United Kingdom at 12. He later earned a first-class degree in robotics from the University of the West of England. That academic excellence laid the foundation for what would become one of the most talked-about robotics startups of its time.
In 2013, Silas Adekunle co-founded Reach Robotics, but it was in 2016 that everything changed. His company launched MekaMon, described as the world’s first intelligent gaming robot. This was a four-legged, spider-like device that combined real robotic movement with augmented reality battles through a smartphone app.
How This Nigerian Became the Highest-Paid Robotics Engineer in the World
This innovation felt like magic with the explosive success that followed. The first 500 units reportedly sold out within months, generating millions in revenue. Then, investors trooped in, raising over 10 million to scale production. This helped Reach Robotics grow to 65 employees.
In November 2017, the defining moment came when Apple signed an exclusive retail partnership. The deal meant that Apple would stock MekaMon in its stores at around $299 per unit. For a robotics startup, that kind of deal was almost unheard of, making him the world’s highest-paid robotics engineer.
International outlets like CNBC and Forbes profiled him. In 2018, he earned a spot on Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe in Technology. This title stuck and continues to circulate online.
What Happened Next?
Though Reach Robotics closed in 2019 due to consumer robotics market challenges, Silas Adekunle took on the challenge and pivoted. He went on to co-found Reach Industries, building Lumi, an AI-powered visual intelligence system for scientific labs. He also launched Awarri, focused on advancing AI for African markets.
The limelight is back on him with recent viral posts resurfacing his story. While they can sometimes be exaggerated, Silas Adekunle’s core achievement remains undeniable. From Nigeria to the global tech market, this robotics rockstar, now in his mid-30s, keeps proving what African talent can achieve.
He’s now participating in UN’s dialogues while being hosted on various global platforms like GABI and Easy Residency. It’s little wonder the internet loves to celebrate him over and over again.
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