Role 1319
FIXING BROADBAND AVAILABILITY IN REMOTE REGIONS AFFORDABLY AND SEAMLESSLY WITH MINIMUM CAPITAL OUTLAY
Our client, Orb Connect, is building a community-powered, peer-to-peer connectivity platform designed to solve one of the most persistent global infrastructure problems: affordable, scalable access to broadband.
Despite decades of investment, traditional broadband and mobile network models remain expensive, carbon-intensive, and poorly suited to rural, peri-urban and underserved communities. Over 2.9 billion people globally remain offline, while even connected households in developed markets face rising costs and fragmented services.
Our solution addresses this structural challenge by enabling communities to share connectivity locally, creating a seamless roaming Wi-Fi network that works across homes, streets and towns, without requiring new fibre rollout, towers or licensed spectrum.
The Problem
The current connectivity model fails on three fronts:
- Economics: Traditional infrastructure requires high capital expenditure for diminishing returns in low-density areas. Rural rollout is expensive and slow, leaving millions underserved.
- Sustainability: Mobile networks and next-generation technologies such as 5G demand increasing energy consumption, contributing materially to global CO₂ emissions.
- Access & Inclusion: A lack of reliable internet access limits education, employment, healthcare, financial inclusion, and local economic growth. In the UK alone, over 1.3 million households lack internet access.
Incremental improvements to the existing model will not solve these challenges. A structural rethink is required.
Our Solution
We deliver a peer-to-peer Wi-Fi roaming network that unifies home and mobile connectivity into a single, seamless experience.
Using self-install Orb Node devices (indoor and outdoor variants):
- Users securely share a sandboxed portion of their home internet connection
- In return, they gain free, seamless access to the wider community network
- Devices are plug-and-play, location-agnostic, and cloud-managed
- No new physical infrastructure is required
Each additional node expands network coverage, creating viral, compounding value at minimal marginal cost.
This approach enables:
- Lower household connectivity costs
- Reduced infrastructure emissions
- Faster deployment in underserved areas
- A scalable platform for B2B and public-sector partnerships
Technology & IP
- Manufacturing-ready hardware, designed and tested in the UK and Africa
- Secure, Linux-based firmware (OpenWRT) with advanced network management
- Indoor and outdoor nodes optimised for coverage, capacity and resilience
- Patent application filed, trademark registered, IP audit completed
In addition, the company has developed complementary IP, including:
- A Rural Network Planning Tool (RNPT) using AI-driven optimisation for cost, terrain and energy efficiency
- A public-safety hardware platform (Starlight), previously funded by Innovate UK and the Department for Transport
This demonstrates deep capability in hardware, software and applied infrastructure innovation.
Business Model
We operate a hybrid B2C / B2B platform model:
Consumer Layer
- Upfront node purchase during pilot (~£120) or subsidised via ISP bundles
- Low-cost monthly roaming subscription (~£5) post-B2B rollout
- Free roaming access for node hosts
B2B / Partner Layer
- ISP partnerships for customer acquisition and bundled hardware
- Paid access or coverage expansion agreements
- Licensing and deployment support for rural and public-sector networks
Our model is:
- Capital-light
- Recurring-revenue driven
- Highly scalable without telecom licensing constraints
Market Opportunity
- £30bn+ global TAM for affordable connectivity solutions
- UK household connectivity expenditure averages around £700 annually.
- At just 5–10% adoption, projected annual revenues exceed £70m–£150m by 2030
- Strong international replication potential due to regulatory flexibility
- Our client is not positioned as a traditional ISP but as a connectivity platform that complements, rather than competes with, existing providers.
Traction & Validation
We have achieved significant progress without external equity capital:
- £500k+ in non-dilutive grant funding (Innovate UK, SBRI, Energy Catalyst, DfT)
- Hardware fully designed, manufactured and field-tested
- Pilot deployment planned for Q1 2026 with local authority partners
- Manufacturing supply chain established, bill of materials available
- SEIS advance assurance secured
This materially reduces our technical and execution risk ahead of scale-up.
Our Roadmap
1. Short-term (2026):
- Pilot rollout and performance validation
- Secure first B2B / ISP partnership
- Community launch and data-driven case studies
2. Medium-term (2027–2028):
- Optimise pricing, firmware and deployment model
- Expand B2B partnerships nationally
- Prepare for international replication
3. Long-term (2029+):
- Platform-led expansion across multiple markets
- Multiple revenue streams across consumer, B2B and public-sector use cases
Investment Opportunity
We are raising £50k at a £500k pre-money valuation, with full SEIS available.
Use of funds:
- Pilot deployment and data validation
- Team onboarding for UK rollout
- Product and firmware optimisation
- Matched R&D funding
This round is designed to reach a £5m+ valuation inflection following successful pilots and commercial validation.
Investing NED Opportunity
The company is seeking an Investing Non-Executive Director to contribute capital and strategic guidance during this critical transition phase.
Relevant experience may include:
- Telecommunications or infrastructure
- Scaling early-stage hardware or network platforms
- Venture fundraising and governance
- Public-sector or regulated market engagement
This role offers meaningful board influence, early-stage entry, and exposure to a scalable platform addressing a global structural challenge.
Applying for the Role: Please reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to express your interest.
Closing date for applications: 4 weeks from today
