If necessity is the mother of invention, then frustration has to be the father. While still a student in Lehigh University's Integrated Business and Engineering (IBE) honors program, Curtis MacDonald loved the free wireless Internet access he tapped on campus. Unfortunately, even though his apartment was within walking distance of school, his laptop couldn't pick up a useable signal.

The Wi-Fire from hField Technologies is a directional high-gain Wi-Fi adapter that can connect to any publicly accessible wireless network from a distance of 1,000 feet or more. By comparison, unaided computers can connect only if they are within 300 feet of a wireless network. A little larger than a deck of cards, the antenna plugs into a USB port and clips easily to a laptop.

The thought of paying for his own high-speed Internet connection didn't much appeal to MacDonald. Instead, he hit the drawing board and started working on his own solution—a portable antenna that would allow him to connect to a wireless network from farther away than his existing built-in adapter would allow.

His first prototype was little more than an empty soup can attached to a wireless antenna—a Frankenstein creation he dubbed the "cantenna." But the potential was there, and he began working with his electrical engineering professors to find ways to expand and refine his humble, homespun device. The concept even won a $14,000 grant from Lehigh as part of an IBE competition.

From University to Marketplace
MacDonald teamed up with fellow Lehigh IBE program classmate Blake Kleintop. Together, they refined the design and began to field-test the next generation of prototypes. Lehigh connected the pair with Ben Franklin Technology Partners (BFTP), which helps commercialize ideas that are hatched in university laboratories.

BFTP introduced the pair to Tom DiClemente, a highly successful serial entrepreneur and partner in Gran Sasso Ventures LP, a venture capital firm. DiClemente was so impressed with the concept and the two Lehigh students that he signed on as CEO. The trio formed hField Technologies—and the Wi-Fire was born.

The Wi-Fire is a directional high-gain antenna that can connect to any publicly accessible wireless network from a distance of 1,000 feet or more. By comparison, unaided computers can connect only if they are within 300 feet of a wireless network. A little larger than a deck of cards, the antenna plugs into a USB port and clips easily to a laptop.

Support for the Entrepreneur
DiClemente and his partners credit BFTP with the rapid startup of their company. In addition to business advice and market research assistance, BFTP has also invested $180,000 in hField and rented them office space in the Ben Franklin Business Incubator in Bethlehem. The trio soon completed the design, prototyped and tested the product, acquired FCC approval and launched the Wi-Fire in September 2006.

"Having Ben Franklin at your back not only provides entrepreneurs with helpful funding, it also lends a sense of security that business advice is ready when it's needed most," says DiClemente. "Their support is also a stamp of approval in the minds of potential investors."

The Wi-Fire is currently being marketed to the mobile "power user"—business travelers, students and other laptop-dependent people who frequently access public Wi-Fi networks.

"With Wi-Fire," says DiClemente, "you can walk into any area with wireless and not only connect, but do so with faster speed and greater consistency and from farther away. The beauty to its users is that Wi-Fire can connect at a higher speed, is compatible with various systems, streams video easily and does not require adding access points to fill in deadspots. In fact, it eliminates deadspots entirely."

The Importance of Continuous Improvement
Though focusing on Wi-Fire, the company is already looking ahead to new products.

"In the Wi-Fi market, it's necessary to improve products, reduce costs and introduce new and exciting products on a regular basis," DiClemente says. "We have three new products in development and an additional three new versions planned for Wi-Fire. And we now have approved further funds for a revolutionary new wireless network product, the Boomerang, which we're very enthusiastic about."

DiClemente describes the Boomerang as a product designed to access a wireless network whose source is outside the home or other building, and then redistribute that Wi-Fi signal for use inside the building. The Boomerang works by focusing a very tight and powerful Wi-Fi beam on the signal source, thus allowing the unit to communicate from much larger distances than standard Wi-Fi products. This signal is relayed through a bridge to a second Wi-Fi Access Point, where it is re-broadcasted to users locally.

"With the Boomerang," says DiClemente, "a rapid expansion of wireless networks is possible without the necessity of running additional cables to the new access point."

Now, with the company poised for substantial continued growth and several new products in the pipeline, DiClemente and his partners are optimistic about the future of their company. They are planning to have 60 to 70 employees within three years, with the majority in engineering, sales and marketing positions.

 From the March/April 2007 issue