AntennaWare: Pioneering the Future of Wireless Wearable Technology

AntennaWare, founded by Dr Gareth Conway and Dr Matthew Magill, is a Belfast-based company addressing one of the most significant challenges in wearable technology: ensuring reliable wireless connectivity when devices are worn on the human body. Emerging from nearly two decades of research at Queen’s University Belfast, AntennaWare is the first company to develop antennas specifically designed to overcome the performance issues caused by body interference. These challenges, including detuning, signal blocking, and unreliable connections, have traditionally hindered the performance of standard wireless devices.

Innovation Rooted in Research

AntennaWare’s innovative technology tackles these issues directly, delivering consistent performance and extended battery life. The company’s flagship product, the BodyWave™ antenna, has transformed wireless communication for wearables. By doubling communication range and reducing power consumption, BodyWave™ provides unparalleled reliability, even in the most challenging environments. This makes it an essential enabler for applications in healthcare, where uninterrupted communication in remote monitoring devices is critical, as well as in fitness wearables, military communication systems, and industrial IoT applications.

Challenges in educating the market

Despite its innovative edge, AntennaWare has faced significant challenges. Many potential customers, unfamiliar with the complexities of wireless RF engineering, were initially unaware of the limitations of standard antennas. To address this, the company invested heavily in educating the market, providing live demonstrations to showcase the real-world benefits of its solutions. Another challenge was assembling the right team to scale the business. Transitioning from a research-driven start-up to a commercial enterprise required a careful balance of technical and business expertise. Following a meticulous recruitment process, AntennaWare successfully built a team capable of driving its commercialisation efforts.