Blu Wireless Technology
6 known investors
Bristol-based developer of mmWave wireless communication systems for defence, high-speed rail and other mobility markets.
Also known as Blu Wireless · Blu Wireless Technology Inc. · Blu Wireless Technology Ltd · BluWireless Technology
Investors · 6
Also in the syndicate · 3
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Blu Wireless Technology is a Bristol, UK company that develops millimetre-wave (mmWave) wireless communications systems delivering multi-gigabit connectivity. The company began as a silicon/system IP business, designing digital signal processing (DSP) baseband technology for 60GHz applications such as 802.11ad/WiGig Wi-Fi and 4G small-cell backhaul, and licensing that technology to chipset manufacturers. Its HYDRA baseband IP used a flexible parallel processing architecture to support the modulation schemes required by emerging multi-gigabit wireless standards, and was described as scalable toward 20Gbps and beyond.
The business has since moved from IP licensing into vertically integrated networking equipment, supplying turnkey solutions from the physical layer up to application layers. Products operate in mmWave spectrum between 57-71 GHz, target carrier-grade performance at ranges of several kilometres either stationary or on the move, and support mobility at speeds above 300 km/h. Named product lines include LightningBlu for high-speed rail and PhantomBlu for defence. Defence offerings include 360° and 180° low size, weight and power (SWaP) nodes that can be configured as either PCP (hub) or STA (client), including a 360° Tactical Vehicle Node for vehicle-to-vehicle tactical connectivity, with an emphasis on low probability of detection/interception (LPD/LPI) communications. Adjacent application areas cited include cellular backhaul, smart cities and 5G private networks.
Founding story
Mark Barrett co-founded Blu Wireless Technology in 2009, bringing wireless systems experience spanning radar, satellite, cellular and telecommunications, including EW ESM/SIGINT receiver and DF design, FMCW radar at W- and X-band, digital beamforming adaptive phased arrays, and SoC work for automotive and telecommunications; he has acted as a systems engineer and business developer in building the company.
Business model
B2B. Originally a silicon and system IP licensing business, selling baseband IP to chipset manufacturers under licence agreements for the unlicensed 60GHz band; the company now also supplies vertically integrated mmWave networking equipment and full turnkey systems to end customers in defence and transport.
Licence fees from chipset manufacturers for its baseband system IP, alongside sales of mmWave networking equipment and turnkey systems.
Traction
A 2013 profile listed 16 employees and around $500K in trailing-twelve-month revenue, with the company planning to double to 30 staff following its funding round at that time; a later executive database entry places headcount in the 51-250 band. The company reported working with several of the world's leading semiconductor and system companies and counts leading semiconductor and consumer electronics companies among its customers.
Latest developments
In January 2026 Blu Wireless announced a £6 million growth debt facility from Salica Investments to accelerate global expansion. Recent activity includes exhibiting at SOF Week 2026 in Tampa and planned participation in TechNet Augusta 2026 and InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin, plus published commentary on UK rail connectivity strategy. Leadership updates include Anthony Murray as Chief Executive Officer, Johnny Bray as Chief Financial Officer (recorded June 2026), Simon Pearcey as Director of Software Engineering (March 2026) and Peter Legg as Director of System Architecture Engineering (December 2025).
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Positions itself as a pioneer in mmWave communications and a supplier of wireless networking equipment for multi-gigabit connectivity, with a stated aim at the time of its 2013 round of becoming the leading supplier of baseband system IP to 60GHz manufacturers. Third-party profiles categorise it in semiconductors, telecoms, 5G, defence and transport.
Vertically integrated approach spanning physical layer through application layers, allowing customers to take a full turnkey solution rather than components; mobility support at speeds above 300 km/h, multi-kilometre range, low SWaP defence nodes configurable as hub or client, and stealth-oriented LPD/LPI characteristics for contested environments.
Technology
mmWave wireless communication systems operating in the 57-71 GHz range, built on DSP baseband technology (HYDRA IP) using a flexible parallel processing architecture for complex modulation schemes. Systems support multi-gigabit data rates, ranges of several kilometres, operation on the move at over 300 km/h, and low SWaP node designs configurable as hub or client. Earlier silicon IP was described as delivering multiple Gbps at ranges over 300m for WiGig applications, with LPD/LPI stealth characteristics highlighted for tactical defence networks.
Go-to-market
Direct enterprise and government sales supported by trade-show presence and marketing content; the company exhibits at defence and rail industry events including SOF Week, TechNet Augusta and InnoTrans, publishes sector commentary and insights, and established a US entity to serve North American defence, public safety and transport customers.
Defence and special operations users, high-speed rail and public transport operators, and mobility applications; historically also semiconductor and system companies, chipset manufacturers and consumer electronics companies licensing its IP.
Geography
Headquartered in Bristol, England, United Kingdom, with a United States entity, Blu Wireless Technology Inc., established to serve North American customers; marketing and events activity spans the UK, US (Tampa, FL; Augusta, GA) and Europe (Berlin).
History
Founded in 2009 in Bristol, UK, with Mark Barrett as a co-founder. In August 2013 the company closed a $3.1 million funding round to expand headcount to 30 staff and complete its HYDRA baseband IP for 802.11ad Wi-Fi and 4G backhaul. A later funding round included participation from ARM, supplemented by an investment from Calculus Capital used to grow software design and development and add sales and marketing capacity. Guinness Ventures first invested in 2019. The company subsequently expanded into the United States with the launch of Blu Wireless Technology Inc., and in January 2026 announced a £6 million growth debt facility from Salica Investments to support global expansion.
Compiled by commissioned research from 7 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 9
launches, deals, and filingsExecutive database update records Johnny Bray as Chief Financial Officer at Blu Wireless Technology.
The Bristol-based company announced a £6 million growth debt facility from UK investment firm Salica Investments to accelerate global expansion in high-speed transport and defence markets.
Blu Wireless showcased a 360° Tactical Vehicle Node enabling scalable tactical connectivity between vehicles for standalone, secure military networks.
Blu Wireless announced expansion into the United States with the launch of Blu Wireless Technology Inc., including appointment of a local team to accelerate growth in defence, public safety and transport sectors in North America.
Guinness Ventures lists Blu Wireless Technology as a current portfolio company, first invested in 2019.
Calculus Capital invested in Blu Wireless, supplementing a funding round that included ARM. The investment was earmarked to grow the software design and development team and recruit additional sales and marketing resource.
Blu Wireless closed a $3.1 million (£2m) round led by Qi3 Accelerator, which represented a syndicate of over $1.5m (£1m) of London Business Angels private investors including Wren Capital; a further $0.9 million (£0.6m) came from the Angel Co-Fund, with additional investors making up the remainder. Proceeds were to double headcount to 30 staff and complete the HYDRA baseband IP for 802.11ad WiGig Wi-Fi and 4G mobile backhaul. Tim de Vere Green of Qi3 Accelerator joined the board.
$3.1M source ↗
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 7
primary sources listed
- mmWave Technology | Blu Wireless Technologybluwireless.com · web
7 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Blu Wireless Technology do?
- Bristol-based developer of mmWave wireless communication systems for defence, high-speed rail and other mobility markets.
- Who are Blu Wireless Technology's investors?
- Blu Wireless Technology's investors include Calculus Capital Ltd., Guinness Ventures, Perscitus LLP.