Reach Robotics

Reach Robotics was a consumer robotics company that focused on the intersection of gaming, robotics, and augmented reality. The firm was established in 2013 at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory by co-founders Silas Adekunle, Chris Beck, and John Rees. Adekunle, who served as CEO, is a Nigerian-British robotics engineer who moved to the UK at age 12 and later earned a first-class degree in robotics from the University of the West of England. His background and passion for science and robotics from a young age drove the company's vision to create accessible and advanced robots for entertainment and education.

The company's flagship product was the MekaMon, a four-legged, spider-like robot designed for battle gaming. These robots could be controlled via a smartphone app, allowing users to engage in real-life battles against other MekaMon owners or fight virtual enemies through an integrated augmented reality (AR) experience. The MekaMon robot featured lifelike, fluid movements with twelve degrees of freedom, customizable weapons and shields, and a character engine that allowed it to react to its environment. The business model centered on the direct sale of these MekaMon robots to consumers, with an initial price point of around $300. A key distribution milestone was a partnership with Apple, which sold the MekaMon in its stores.

Beyond consumer gaming, Reach Robotics also targeted the STEM education market with a platform called ReachEdu. This initiative used the MekaMon robot and a suite of apps (MekaDraw, MekaMotion, MekaCode) to teach coding concepts through playful, gamified missions. Despite raising approximately $9.3 million in funding from investors including Qualcomm Ventures, London Venture Partners, and IGlobe Partners, the company faced significant headwinds. The consumer robotics sector proved exceptionally challenging, and the company struggled with financial difficulties amid intense market competition. After attempting to find further investment or a sale, Reach Robotics ultimately ceased operations and appointed administrators on September 2, 2019.

Keywords: Reach Robotics, MekaMon, Silas Adekunle, consumer robotics, augmented reality gaming, battle bots, STEM education, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, robot toys, smartphone-controlled robot, AR games, robotics engineering, John Rees, Chris Beck, ReachEdu, gaming robots, educational robotics, Anki competitor, Jibo, interactive entertainment