Silas Adekunle, co-founder and CEO, of Reach Robotics, has today been announced as one of the top 100 most influential Black, Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) leaders in the UK tech sector. The list, produced by board appointments firm Inclusive Boards, will be released today at the House of Commons as part of the official launch of the Inclusive Tech Alliance.

The Alliance has been set up in response to new research by Inclusive Boards that will show the sector is significantly lagging behind others on diversity within senior leadership. The founder of the Inclusive Tech Alliance (ITA), Samuel Kasumu, who is also a member of the Prime Minister’s Race Disparity Advisory Board said, “Technology is increasingly playing an important role in driving our economy and there is a great need to ensure that everyone can fully participate in the jobs and opportunities technology brings. Silas and others featured in this list today are role models that will inspire the next generation, and hopefully help to improve diversity within the sector.”

Adekunle founded Reach Robotics whilst still at studying for a robotics degree at UWE. Along with co-founders John Rees and Chris Beck, he has brought the world’s first gaming robot – MekaMon – to the market.

In addition to the recent launch of MekaMon V2, Reach Robotics has also seen significant expansion in the last 12 months growing 129% including key hires to the senior team such as Nintendo veteran James Honeywell and former Deliveroo CFO Philip Green.

Adekunle said: “I’m tremendously proud to be named alongside so many inspirational BAME tech leaders.

“I’m also very aware of the value of role models in encouraging young people to pursue a career in STEM. We desperately need more visible figures in tech that look like those kids who are aspiring to work in these industries – making lists like this vital.”

Those featured in the top 100 include senior leaders from Facebook, LinkedIn, IBM, Twitter and financial services firm EY. Judges include Tim Sawyer CBE (COO, Innovate UK), Sandra Kerr OBE (Race Equality Director, Business in the Community), and Catherine Muirden (Director of HR, Co-Op Foods).

Awards Entrepreneurs Robotics