The story of Silas Adekunle is one of the most remarkable tech success stories to emerge from Nigeria in the last decade — but it also needs proper context and factual clarification.
Silas Adekunle is a Nigerian robotics engineer, entrepreneur, and innovator best known as the co-founder and former CEO of Reach Robotics, a UK-based robotics startup. He rose to global prominence after building an interactive gaming robot called MekaMon, a four-legged battle robot that combined augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and mobile gaming.
Launched in 2017, MekaMon was marketed as the “world’s first gaming robot.” Unlike traditional toys, it allowed users to control the robot via smartphone while integrating AR gameplay. The product quickly attracted global attention for blending hardware engineering with immersive digital entertainment.
Investment and Funding
Reach Robotics secured multi-million dollar investments during its growth phase. Reports confirmed that the company raised significant funding from investors, including London-based venture capital firms. However, figures often circulated online — such as a specific ₦360 million (approximately $1 million at historical exchange rates) investment from “London Ventures” — are frequently oversimplified or misreported. The total funding raised across investment rounds was reportedly higher than that amount.
Apple Partnership
In a landmark achievement, Apple Inc. partnered with Reach Robotics to distribute MekaMon. The robot was sold in Apple Stores across several countries at a retail price of around $299 (approximately $300). This partnership significantly boosted Silas Adekunle’s global profile, as Apple is known for highly selective product partnerships.
Being stocked by Apple placed MekaMon in a premium consumer tech category — a rare feat for a hardware startup founded by a Nigerian engineer.
Revenue and Global Recognition
Claims that the robot “made $7.5 million” typically refer to early revenue projections, funding milestones, or valuation figures. While Reach Robotics generated strong initial sales and investor backing, the company later struggled with hardware production costs and eventually shut down in 2019 after failing to secure additional funding.
Despite this, Silas Adekunle’s innovation was widely recognized. He was once described in media reports as one of the highest-paid robotics engineers in the UK at the time and became a symbol of African excellence in advanced technology fields.
