Pelonomi Moiloa

Pelonomi Moiloa is an AI innovator best known as the CEO and Co-Founder of Lelapa AI, since 2022. Her work earned her recognition as one of TIME's 100 most influential figures in AI in 2023. After graduating with Biomedical and Electrical Engineering degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand and a Master of Science from Tohoku University, Moiloa spent eight years in the data science field. In 2020, Moiloa became co-director of The Ungovernable NPC.
==Early life and education==
Moiloa pursued a double major in biomedical engineering and electrical engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa from 2014 to 2015. Interested in the intersection of artificial intelligence and bioengineering, she continued her education at Tohoku University in Japan, obtaining a master's degree in 2019. 
==Career==
===Lelapa AI===
Moiloa co-founded Lelapa AI in 2022, its name meaning "home" in Sotho and Tswana. Lelapa AI is based in Johannesburg, South Africa. It stands at the forefront of AI innovation, dedicated to reshaping technology with a focus on Africa. Committed to improving the lives of Africans through technological advancement, Lelapa AI specializes in language-based AI solutions, bridging linguistic and cultural divides. 
Vulavula, the company's leading project seeks to address communication barriers. While lesser known languages face challenges with current language models, Lelapa AI aims to provide solutions for Zulu, Sotho, and Afrikaanse. It helps with voice-to-text and identifying names and locations within written text, filling an important gap in the market. The goal is to help call centers and text-based apps, addressing accessibility and inclusivity issues. Its efforts also extend into accurately pronounce South African names, confronting issues of mispronunciation in mainstream contexts. 
Through its pioneering initiatives, Lelapa AI emerges as an innovative startup in the realm of AI, championing inclusivity, accessibility, and cultural sensitivity. In February 2023, Lelapa AI raised $2.5 million in seed funding and will have another round of funding in 2025. It is backed by Mozilla Ventures and Atlantic Ventures, along with investors like Jeff Dean and Karim Beguir. 
===The Ungovernable NPC===
In 2020, Moiloa became the co-director of The Ungovernable NPC, bringing together people to think about what community and self governance means. Ungovernable is committed to community development, through projects like informal recycling and creating a community garden.
Pelonomi also serves as a Trustee for the Ruth First Memorial Trust and runs the Code Kamoso coding academy, where she mentors and supports young women in the east of Johannesburg. 
===Data science field===
During the early years of her career, Moiloa delved deep into the realm of data science, dedicating eight years to refining her expertise while specializing in machine learning solutions within the finance industry. From April 2019 to December 2022, Moiloa served as the Team Lead Data Scientist at Nedbank, directing her efforts towards risk, human resources, and marketing.
==Reception==
In 2023, Moiloa earned recognition as one of TIME's 100 most influential people in AI, celebrating her as a leading innovator. Notably, among the 100 selected, 11 Africans stood out, showcasing the continent's growing impact in the field of artificial intelligence. Additionally, on August 23, 2023, Bloomberg unveiled Moiloa as a member of their third annual cohort for the Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst, joining a select group of 20 visionary thinkers all dedicated to "embracing instability." Moiloa also took the TED stage, with her talk delivered in October 2023, "How AI Can Preserve Endangered Languages."
Category:American people
Category:Tohoku University alumni
Category:Artificial intelligence