Pelonomi Moiloa
Pelonomi Moiloa is CEO of Lelapa AI, a lab that develops language technology for African languages. She earned engineering degrees at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2014 and 2015, and by 2023 she held an MSc from Tohoku University. She helped found Lelapa AI in 2022, and in 2023 the lab announced Vulavula, a language-technology service for South African languages. TIME included her among its 100 Most Influential People in AI in September 2023, and Bloomberg listed her as a Catalyst in 2023. In 2024 she received a Mozilla Rise 25 Award and delivered a session at the AI for Good Global Summit on language technology for Africa.
- Now at
- Lelapa AI
- Works
- 10
Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026. Citations and h-index are hidden because this OpenAlex record may be incomplete or mix in other authors.
Timeline
-
2014–2023
Engineering degrees and an MSc
She completes engineering degrees at Wits in 2014 and 2015, and by 2023 she holds an MSc from Tohoku University.
-
2022
Co-founding Lelapa AI
She helps found Lelapa AI in 2022, a lab that builds technology for African languages.
-
2023
Vulavula for South African languages
Lelapa AI announces Vulavula in 2023, a language-technology service for South African languages.
-
September 2023
Named to TIME's AI list
TIME names her among its 100 Most Influential People in AI in September 2023, and Bloomberg names her a Catalyst in 2023.
-
2024
A session at AI for Good
At the 2024 AI for Good Global Summit, she delivers a session on language technology for Africa.
-
2024
A Mozilla Rise 25 Award
She receives a Mozilla Rise 25 Award in 2024.
-
As of October 2026
CEO of Lelapa AI
As of October 2026, she is CEO of Lelapa AI, a lab that develops language technology for African languages.
Sources and credits
Photo: We have no published photo of Pelonomi Moiloa yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.