Success stories in tech aren't always born in Silicon Valley or shaped by high-profile incubators. Sometimes, they emerge from unlikely corners, fueled by curiosity and a talent for solving real problems. For Josh Elijah, that corner was a quiet farmhouse workshop in the English countryside.
What began as a side project quickly evolved into something far bigger. Elijah's tinkering led to the creation of BotBlox, a defense tech startup that now supplies mission-critical networking gear to the U.S. military, aerospace companies, and defense contractors worldwide.
"I didn't set out to create a defense hardware company," Elijah says. "I was just solving problems other engineers had. It snowballed from there."
From Freelance Jobs to UAV Innovation
Elijah's path was anything but traditional. After graduating with first-class honors in electrical and electronic engineering, he bounced between research, consulting, and a brief PhD program. "I turned down engineering jobs because I knew I wasn't built for cubicles," he says.
Through Upwork, Elijah built a $500,000 electronics consulting business, taking on everything from spine simulators to military-grade antennas. "At one point, I was the top-ranked electronics engineer in the UK," he adds. "That experience taught me how to listen to clients and build exactly what they needed."
One small job changed everything. "A client needed a tiny Ethernet switch for a power line inspection robot," Elijah recalls. "I made ten units, put them online under the name BotBlox, and forgot about it." Orders trickled in, then surged. Soon, names like NASA, NATO, and the U.S. Navy were showing up in the order log.
From Bootstrapping to the Big Leagues
BotBlox wasn't created using venture capital. "We've done all of this with zero outside funding," Elijah says. "For years, my dad packed the shipments while I designed hardware on the road."
Even after a failed Kickstarter, he stayed scrappy. "That project collapsed, and I refunded everyone," he says. "But I learned more from that failure than any success."
The company's growth was rapid. Revenue climbed from $3,000 in 2019 to $2.5 million in 2024, earning BotBlox a spot on Deloitte's EMEA Technology Fast 500 list.
Why Size Matters in Defense Tech
Elijah confirms that in the world of drones and autonomous vehicles, every gram counts: "In drone tech, size is everything. Our one-inch switches enable next-gen systems to go further, faster, and fly smarter."
This niche of rugged, miniature data links has positioned BotBlox as a key player in U.S. drone infrastructure. "We fill a gap that the big players ignored. That's why our products are on systems that matter."
Culture of Problem-Solving
Even as CEO, Elijah personally answers questions on the company's public forum. "I still jump in to help engineers," he adds. "It's not about selling, it's about making sure they succeed."
He also advises on supply chain resilience and sourcing. "I spent years studying electronics supply chains. We avoid components from vulnerable regions to keep our systems secure."
The Accidental Entrepreneur
Looking back, Elijah admits his journey wasn't carefully planned. "I never had a five-year strategy," he laughs. "I just kept solving problems and listening to customers."
Now, BotBlox is moving its operations to the U.S. and preparing to build a domestic manufacturing facility. "We're aligning with U.S. defense and reshoring initiatives," Elijah says. "We have a chance to become the Cisco for drones."
Despite the growth, Elijah's mindset hasn't changed. "Taking the stable option is far less stable in the long run. You may as well take the risk and build something."
With each new product, BotBlox strengthens its foothold in defense tech. Elijah explains why: "Small is huge in this industry, and we're just getting started."
Follow Josh Elijah on LinkedIn and X for updates on BotBlox and the future of UAV networking.
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