Forefront RF secures £16m to power next-gen connectivity solutions

Cambridge-based Forefront RF has today announced the closure of its £16 million Series A funding round — backed by existing investors BGF and Foresight Group, alongside new VC partners Octopus Ventures and Cambridge Innovation Capital. This infusion of capital supports the fabless semiconductor company’s mission to redefine how mobile devices manage complex radio frequency (RF) environments, expanding possibilities for connected devices worldwide.

With this investment, the company is set to transition from an early-stage startup to a mature player in RF technology. It is gearing up for the 2026 launch of its first-generation product, the FFM51010, to the fast-growing cellular-enabled smartwatch market.

Forefront RF’s ground-breaking technology — rooted in pioneering research by Founder Dr. Leo Laughlin — empowers mobile device manufacturers to overcome printed circuit board (PCB) size limitations, while supporting more frequency bands with simplified, cost-effective designs.

The company’s first solution is aimed at cellular-enabled wearables, where every millimetre of PCB is critical, and expanding frequency band capabilities is essential. By replacing bulky fixed-frequency filters and duplexers, with a self-configuring tunable duplexer, Forefront RF enables devices to dynamically adjust to any required frequency. This reduces overall bill of materials (BOM) count and manufacturing complexity.

Forefront RF’s innovation not only saves valuable PCB space, but also minimises stock keeping unit (SKU) variations, reducing waste and enhancing supply chain efficiency — creating a win-win for manufacturers and their corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals.

Forefront RF has quickly become a recognised leader in tunable duplexers, pioneering solutions for persistent RF challenges in mobile device design.

Since its founding in 2020, the company has pushed the boundaries of wireless technology with its patented Foretune™ technology, a transformative self-interference cancellation system that addresses leakage and interference issues inherent in all wireless devices. By dynamically inverting and neutralising unwanted signals (much like noise-cancelling headphones) Foretune™ enables cleaner signal transmission and reception in software-defined radio systems.

As well as enhancing device performance, this breakthrough simplifies product design and production processes. With Foretune™, Forefront RF is poised to redefine RF standards and drive significant advancements in next-generation wireless technology.