# Manlio Allegra

> Manlio Allegra is the co-founder, President, and CEO of Polaris Wireless, a Silicon Valley company he built from the ground up in 1999 to become the global leader in high-accuracy, software-based 3D mobile location solutions. With over 30 years of international business experience spanning video games, Sega Enterprises' European expansion, and wireless technology, Allegra has guided Polaris Wireless to secure 90+ patents, earn multiple Frost & Sullivan awards, and sign landmark E911 Z-axis agreements with major U.S. carriers - helping emergency dispatchers locate people not just on a map, but on the right floor of a building.

- **Role:** Co-founder, President & CEO at Polaris Wireless
- **Organizations:** Polaris Wireless, TecMagik Inc., International Development Group (IDG), Sega Enterprises (partner), Industry Ventures (investor relationship), Qualcomm (collaboration partner)
- **Nationality:** Italian-American
- **Education:** MBA, Stanford Graduate School of Business, MSEE in Electrical Engineering, Milan Polytechnic Institute (Politecnico di Milano)
- **Known for:** Co-founder and long-term CEO of Polaris Wireless, the global leader in software-based 3D location solutions, Grew Sega Enterprises' European video game sales from under $10M to over $1B as an IDG principal (1986-1991), Polaris Wireless secured 90+ patents (124 issued as of 2025) for location technology

## Career timeline

- **1984** — Co-founded International Development Group (IDG), providing strategic marketing and software publishing services for U.S., European, and Asian companies
- **1986-1991** — As principal of IDG, orchestrated Sega Enterprises' entry into the European market, growing their video game sales from under $10 million to over $1 billion
- **1988** — Created a software publishing joint venture with Sega for the North American market
- **1991** — Founded TecMagik Inc., a video game and computer entertainment software publisher
- **1994** — TecMagik achieved sales exceeding $25 million; company became defunct that year
- **1999** — Co-founded Polaris Wireless in Silicon Valley, inventing the Wireless Location Signatures (WLS) technology
- **2001** — Polaris Wireless received its first patent for WLS technology
- **2003** — Polaris Wireless awarded its first public safety contract with SunCom
- **2011** — Polaris Wireless received the Frost & Sullivan Location-Based Services Enabling Technology Award
- **2012** — Named to Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies list; revenue grew 79% year-over-year
- **2013** — Successfully demonstrated 3D vertical (Z-axis) location capability to the FCC; closed $10M Series C with Industry Ventures
- **2017** — Won Mobility Award for Mobile Software Indoor Positioning Systems at CES
- **2019** — Launched the industry's first commercially available 3D location solution
- **2021** — Announced collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies for enhanced E911 vertical location
- **2022** — Signed two commercial E911 Z-axis location license agreements with U.S. carriers; Polaris WLS deployed in Schok feature phones nationwide
- **2025** — Polaris Wireless earned Frost & Sullivan's 2025 Global Enabling Technology Leadership Recognition in location determination technologies

## Achievements

- Co-founder and long-term CEO of Polaris Wireless, the global leader in software-based 3D location solutions
- Grew Sega Enterprises' European video game sales from under $10M to over $1B as an IDG principal (1986-1991)
- Polaris Wireless secured 90+ patents (124 issued as of 2025) for location technology
- Launched the industry's first commercially available 3D location solution in 2019
- Won Frost & Sullivan's 2025 Global Enabling Technology Leadership Recognition
- Won CES 2017 Mobility Award for Mobile Software Indoor Positioning Systems
- Named to Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies list in 2012
- Demonstrated 3D vertical (Z-axis) location accuracy proven within 2.8 meters in high-rise buildings
- Established Polaris Wireless globally with offices in Santa Clara (CA), Zug (Switzerland), Bangalore (India), and Singapore
- Collaborated with Qualcomm Technologies to bring E911 vertical location to previously unserved wireless subscribers
- Signed two commercial E911 Z-axis location license agreements in 2022

## Latest updates

- **2025-11** — Polaris Wireless earned Frost & Sullivan's 2025 Global Enabling Technology Leadership Recognition for Excellence in Location Determination Technologies
- **2022-06** — Manlio Allegra gave podcast interview discussing 911 Z-axis tech and future IoT opportunities
- **2022-03** — Polaris Wireless signed two commercial agreements for E911 Z-axis location with U.S. carriers
- **2021-08** — Announced collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies for enhanced vertical location for E911 emergency services
- **2020-01** — Featured speaker at GeoBuiz Summit 2020 panel on location data platforms

## Links

- Website: https://polariswireless.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/manlio-allegra

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/manlio-allegra
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-16