Pelonomi Moiloa is forging a path in artificial intelligence that has garnered attention across Africa and beyond. Co-founding Lelapa AI in December 2022, Moiloa, alongside Jade Abbott, is committed to building multilingual AI systems tailored for African languages. Their Johannesburg-based startup has quickly made waves with the launch of InkubaLM, which is being hailed as Africa’s first multilingual large language model, and Vulavula, a natural language processing service designed to transcribe, translate, and analyze text in local languages such as isiZulu and Sesotho.
The startup has attracted the interest of major global tech players. In March 2025, Microsoft President Brad Smith highlighted Lelapa AI as a partner, affirming the company’s innovative approach to language AI. Moiloa’s contributions to the field have earned her recognition as one of Time magazine‘s Most Influential People in AI, in addition to accolades from Bloomberg Catalyst and the Mozilla Rise 25 Award.
Moiloa’s journey began in South Africa, where she enrolled at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2011. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering, specializing in human anatomy and biomedical signals. Her academic pursuits extended to electrical engineering, focusing on networking systems and software development. Between 2014 and 2016, she honed her skills through data science internships at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
In 2016, Moiloa took a significant step by moving to Japan to study at Tohoku University. There, she completed a master’s degree in biomedical engineering in 2019, conducting research on automated segmentation of neural calcium fluorescence images with advanced neural networks. This academic experience laid a strong foundation for her subsequent ventures in AI.
Upon her return to South Africa, Moiloa became a data science team lead at Nedbank, overseeing projects in risk management, human resources, and marketing from April 2019 until December 2022. Her work included developing systems for online fraud detection and social media analysis. Concurrently, she established The Ungovernable NPC, a community initiative that encompasses a coding academy for teenage girls and a community garden for vegetables and medicine.
At Lelapa AI, Moiloa articulates a vision aimed at creating “the world’s most efficient language infrastructure” to ensure that African languages are included in the digital age of AI. She emphasizes the importance of expanding digital inclusion, particularly as AI technologies become increasingly prevalent in everyday life.
The drive for multilingual AI solutions is critical for a continent marked by linguistic diversity. With over 2,000 languages spoken across Africa, the potential for tailored AI applications is vast. Moiloa’s work not only addresses technological gaps but also promotes cultural preservation in an era where language barriers can limit access to information and opportunities.
As global interest in AI technologies continues to rise, Lelapa AI stands at the forefront of a movement that seeks to redefine digital interaction in Africa. The company’s novel approaches to language processing may serve as a model for addressing similar challenges in other multilingual regions worldwide. Moiloa’s journey, marked by her diverse academic background and commitment to social initiatives, showcases how innovative minds can drive technological change that resonates deeply within their communities and beyond.
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