Sam Kodo built his first robot at the age of eight after becoming fascinated by magazine stories about the Wright Brothers and Thomas Edison.
By the age of 23, that early curiosity had developed into Infinite Loop, a Togo-based hardware company building low-cost personal computers for students and communities where electricity access may be limited or unreliable.
Kodo’s work is focused on making basic computing more accessible without requiring users to purchase expensive traditional computer systems.
Turning TVs Into Computers
Infinite Loop’s core device can plug directly into a television or mobile phone and convert it into a functional internet-enabled desktop computer.
The approach is designed to reduce the hardware cost of accessing computing technology.
Traditional desktop computers require multiple components, including monitors and other peripherals, which can make them expensive for communities with limited purchasing power.
By using devices that people may already have, Infinite Loop is attempting to lower the barrier to entry.
Building Hardware in West Africa
Kodo currently employs six people at Infinite Loop.
Although the team remains relatively small, the company is operating in one of West Africa’s smaller technology ecosystems, where hardware startups generally receive less venture attention than software companies in larger hubs such as Lagos, Nairobi and Cairo.
Hardware development can be particularly challenging because it requires access to manufacturing, components, distribution networks and financing.
Infinite Loop’s focus therefore combines technology development with an access problem that is particularly relevant to emerging markets.
Kodo’s Vision for African Technology
Kodo has spoken openly about what he sees as one of the barriers preventing more young Africans from entering technology.
He has argued that education systems can place too much emphasis on rote repetition for examinations instead of encouraging students to use their abilities to solve problems within their own communities.
He has cited Togo’s Sylvanus Olympio and wider Pan-African figures as inspirations for thinking beyond individual success toward national-level development.
Kodo has also named musician-entrepreneur Akon and Nigerian billionaire Tony Elumelu among the figures he admires for their impact across Africa.
Infinite Loop fits into a broader group of African hardware startups attempting to solve technology-access problems directly.
Rather than developing products only for already-connected users, companies such as Infinite Loop are working on ways to make computing more accessible in communities where cost, electricity and infrastructure remain significant barriers.
