How Josh Elijah Built a UAV Hardware Empire by Accident

A Journey from Side Hustle to Defense Tech Leader

Josh Elijah didn’t start out with the intention of building a defense technology startup, but he always had a passion for solving real engineering challenges. From his small home office in rural England, Elijah founded BotBlox, a UAV hardware company that now provides mission-critical systems to the U.S. Navy, NASA, Lockheed Martin, and NATO.

What began as a side project has grown into a significant business. In 2024, BotBlox generated $2.5 million in revenue and was recognized on Deloitte’s EMEA Technology Fast 500 list. This remarkable success came without venture capital, flashy launches, or corporate backing. Instead, it was built through hard work, innovation, and a deep understanding of engineering needs.

Engineering Roots and the Decision to Go Solo

Elijah’s journey started at the University of Manchester, where he earned a First Class Honours degree in Electronic Engineering. While studying, he was already experimenting with robots and small drones—long before these technologies became mainstream. After graduation, he briefly pursued a PhD in hyperspectral imaging in Colombia, but eventually left academia without a backup plan.

With just a laptop and a determination to build, Elijah set up shop in a fablab in London. His first entrepreneurial attempt was a robotics Kickstarter campaign that raised $64,000. However, the project failed after a disagreement with a co-founder. Despite this setback, Elijah refunded all the money and used the experience to learn how to deliver on promises.

The Consulting Hustle That Laid the Foundation

Elijah turned to freelance work, starting with Upwork, where he charged £10 per hour for electronics consulting. Over time, he built a successful consulting business, earning over $500,000 and hiring a team. He became one of the top-ranked electronics consultants in the UK, working with clients ranging from military antenna developers to medical device manufacturers.

One of his consulting projects involved designing a tiny Ethernet switch for a power line inspection drone. This experience sparked the idea for BotBlox. “I built a prototype, spent $600 to manufacture 10 units in China, and launched a basic website under the name BotBlox. I didn’t think much of it,” he recalls.

Orders slowly began to come in while Elijah was also working with Morgan Stanley, helping design low-latency trading hardware and securing four patents. Meanwhile, his BotBlox business was shipping military-grade hardware to NASA and the U.S. Navy.

Building a Business from the Ground Up

Elijah remains deeply involved in his business, personally responding to questions on the BotBlox forum. He advises engineers on topics like jamming resistance, low-SWaP (size, weight, and power) systems, and secure supply chains. “I’m regularly on calls with customers, helping them design their drones to be robust,” he says.

His expertise extends to sourcing semiconductors that aren’t from China and advising military defense teams on secure supply chain architecture. Elijah has become a key figure in the field of defense electronics, offering insights that are highly valued by industry professionals.

The Future of BotBlox: Becoming the Cisco of Drones

For Elijah, entrepreneurship is about solving real problems rather than chasing flashy opportunities. He encourages young engineers to take risks in their twenties and know when to pivot. “Be an engineer for product development, but be an entrepreneur for business development. Engineers calculate all scenarios and design for the worst case. Entrepreneurs take action and seek feedback,” he explains.

BotBlox is expected to surpass $4 million in revenue this year, but Elijah isn’t slowing down. His vision is to expand the product line and become the “Cisco for drones.” In an industry dominated by large corporations, his story demonstrates that hands-on, customer-focused engineering can still lead to significant success.