Nujira

Mobile phone masts are dotted all over the UK and together they consume a massive amount of power - making them very expensive to run. Nujira has developed a technology that can be incorporated into the transmitters, which boosts the signal strength more efficiently, reducing energy consumption by as much as 50%.

Nujira's technology is also being incorporated into mobile phones. As mobile phones become increasingly sophisticated, the power consumption increases - and battery life shortens. With Nujira's technology, battery life can be doubled. Nujira's technology improves both the signal quality and battery life - the two features consistently at the top of consumer needs in a mobile device.

The Cambridge-based company was founded in 2002 and now employs 74 people. The business has so far been funded by £60m of venture capital. Funding has been more difficult to come by in recent years, but having a mobile offering in the business has helped, and investors are also keen on 'green tech' opportunities, says Tim Haynes, CEO of Nujira.

Building a new hardware business is tough and finding skilled employees is a challenge, especially as a new company. "When people come through the door, our conversion rate is high, but sometimes getting them through the door is a challenge," says Haynes. "We are operating at the very sharp end of technology so we can't necessarily expect graduates to be able to contribute to the right level."

Being based in Cambridge has been a huge advantage, adds Haynes. "The management team was all local, they knew skilled people in the area and Cambridge has a buoyant economy, which has helped," he says. "That said, we are aware there is a finite pool of talent and so we now have offices in Bath and Scotland."

It has taken some years to get to the point of having products ready to ship, and Haynes still describes Nujira as being "pre-revenue" more than eight years after the company was formed. However, he is optimistic for continued growth despite a tough economy. "Regardless of what happens to the economy as a whole, consumers are still buying more and more smartphones and mobile Internet devices," says Haynes. "We are definitely not a typical example of the industry."