Your IoT startup needs funding. You've built a working prototype. Early customers love it. Now you need capital to scale.
But most VCs won't touch hardware. They want SaaS metrics and zero inventory risk. They ghost you after hearing "18-month development cycle."
IoT investors are different. They fund connected devices, industrial sensors, and edge computing platforms. They understand hardware margins, supply chain complexity, and why your burn rate looks different from a software startup.
This guide lists 25 active IoT investors with real portfolio companies and check sizes. No outdated lists. No firms that made one IoT investment in 2019 and called it a day.
You'll find investors who actually write checks for:
- Industrial IoT and manufacturing tech
- Connected healthcare devices
- Smart city infrastructure
- Automotive and mobility solutions
- Edge AI and on-device processing
Plus the exact approach that gets responses from their partners.
Let's start with what makes an investor "IoT-focused" beyond their website copy.
What are IoT investors?
IoT investors specialize in funding companies that connect physical devices to the internet. They invest in hardware-software integration, not just apps.
They care about unit economics, manufacturing scalability, and certification timelines. They understand why you need $5M before generating revenue.
How to pitch your IoT startup to investors
You've built working IoT prototypes. Early customers validate your solution.
But investors ignore your emails.
Stop sending PDF pitch decks. They vanish in inboxes. You can't see who opened them. Partners can't track which slides matter.
Use trackable links instead. Know when investors open your deck. See time spent per slide. Get alerts when shared internally.
Ellty makes it simple. Create pitch decks. Share secure links. Track engagement. No more guessing if investors saw your work.
Top 25 IoT investors in 2025
Finding the right IoT investor saves months of wasted outreach. These firms actively fund connected devices, industrial sensors, and edge computing platforms.
1. Intel Capital
Intel Capital spun off as an independent fund in 2025 with $5B in assets. They've invested over $20B in 1,800+ companies since 1991.
Investment focus: Silicon, cloud infrastructure, edge AI, autonomous systems
Stage: Seed to growth
Check size: $1M - $25M
Notable IoT portfolio: Astera Labs, Figure AI, Joby Aviation, Beep
Geography: Global
Contact: intelcapital.com
2. Robert Bosch Venture Capital (RBVC)
Bosch's corporate VC arm launched its sixth fund with $270M in 2025. They focus on deep tech with direct industrial applications.
Investment focus: Industrial IoT, automotive tech, climate tech, healthcare systems
Stage: Seed to Series C
Check size: €500K - €20M
Notable IoT portfolio: IOTA, JetCool Technologies, Point2 Technology, Motive
Geography: Europe, North America, Israel, China
Contact: bosch.ventures
3. Qualcomm Ventures
With 150+ active portfolio companies and 20+ billion-dollar exits, Qualcomm Ventures remains a powerhouse in connectivity investments.
Investment focus: 5G, automotive IoT, edge AI, connected healthcare
Stage: Seed to growth
Check size: $500K - $10M
Notable IoT portfolio: Wiliot, Cavli Wireless, Ethernovia, Verity
Geography: Global
Contact: qualcommventures.com
4. McRock Capital
The first fund focused exclusively on Digital Industrial since 2012. They understand the intersection of OT and IT better than any generalist VC.
Investment focus: Industrial software, Industrial AI, digital industrial transformation
Stage: Series A and B
Check size: $5M - $25M
Notable IoT portfolio: Miovision, Clearpath Robotics, Mnubo (exit to Aspen Technology), Poka (exit to IFS)
Geography: North America, Europe, Israel
Contact: mcrockcapital.com
5. Cisco Investments
With a $2B portfolio and strategic focus on networking infrastructure, Cisco Investments brings unmatched connectivity expertise.
Investment focus: IoT platforms, connectivity, security, edge computing
Stage: Seed to growth
Check size: $500K - $30M
Notable IoT portfolio: Jasper (acquired), Relayr (exit to Munich Re), Bit Stew (exit to GE)
Geography: Global
Contact: ciscoinvestments.com
6. Samsung Ventures
Samsung's investment arm leverages the conglomerate's hardware expertise and global distribution network.
Investment focus: Consumer IoT, smart home, connected devices, semiconductors
Stage: Series A to C
Check size: $1M - $20M
Notable IoT portfolio: SmartThings, Dacor, multiple undisclosed investments
Geography: Global with focus on Korea, US, Europe
Contact: samsungventures.com
7. GV (Google Ventures)
Alphabet's venture arm backs ambitious hardware startups with access to Google's engineering talent and cloud infrastructure.
Investment focus: Enterprise IoT, healthcare devices, robotics, frontier technology
Stage: Seed to growth
Check size: $250K - $50M
Notable IoT portfolio: Nest (exit for $3.2B), multiple undisclosed IoT investments
Geography: North America, Europe, Israel
Contact: gv.com
No pitch deck yet? Start with this template
8. Kleiner Perkins
One of Silicon Valley's most established firms with dedicated IoT partners and deep technical expertise.
Investment focus: Enterprise IoT, connected devices, industrial automation
Stage: Seed to growth
Check size: $500K - $40M
Notable IoT portfolio: Nest, Ring, extensive hardware portfolio
Geography: US, China
Contact: kleinerperkins.com
9. Techstars
Global accelerator network with dedicated IoT programs and corporate partnerships with GE, Bosch, and others.
Investment focus: All IoT verticals through specialized accelerator programs
Stage: Pre-seed and seed
Check size: $220K standard investment
Notable IoT portfolio: Over 300 IoT companies through various programs
Geography: Global (91 countries)
Contact: techstars.com
10. Andreessen Horowitz
Leading Silicon Valley firm with dedicated hardware and IoT practice.
Investment focus: Consumer IoT, enterprise platforms, infrastructure
Stage: Seed to growth
Check size: $250K - $100M
Notable IoT portfolio: Multiple hardware and IoT investments
Geography: Global
Contact: a16z.com
11. Bessemer Venture Partners
Bessemer brings decades of enterprise investing experience to the IoT space with a focus on cloud-connected devices.
Investment focus: Cloud infrastructure for IoT, SaaS-enabled hardware, industrial automation
Stage: Seed to growth
Check size: $1M - $50M
Notable IoT portfolio: Extensive enterprise and infrastructure investments
Geography: Global
Contact: bvp.com
12. Y Combinator
The world's most active seed investor backs hundreds of hardware and IoT startups annually.
Investment focus: All IoT verticals, hardware, connected devices
Stage: Pre-seed and seed
Check size: $500K standard deal
Notable IoT portfolio: Hundreds of IoT startups across all sectors
Geography: Global
Contact: ycombinator.com
13. Sequoia Capital
Legendary venture firm with strong track record in hardware and connected device investments.
Investment focus: Consumer IoT, enterprise platforms, semiconductor
Stage: Seed to growth
Check size: $100K - $100M
Notable IoT portfolio: Multiple successful hardware exits
Geography: US, China, India, Southeast Asia
Contact: sequoiacap.com
14. New Enterprise Associates (NEA)
One of the largest venture firms globally with dedicated IoT and hardware teams.
Investment focus: Healthcare IoT, industrial, consumer devices
Stage: Seed to growth
Check size: $500K - $50M
Notable IoT portfolio: Broad portfolio across IoT sectors
Geography: Global
Contact: nea.com
15. Lightspeed Venture Partners
Global venture firm with strong focus on enterprise IoT and infrastructure.
Investment focus: Enterprise IoT, logistics, supply chain tech
Stage: Seed to growth
Check size: $1M - $100M
Notable IoT portfolio: Multiple logistics and enterprise IoT companies
Geography: Global
Contact: lsvp.com
16. Accel
Early-stage investor with dedicated IoT practice and global reach.
Investment focus: Enterprise IoT, consumer devices, infrastructure
Stage: Seed to Series B
Check size: $500K - $50M
Notable IoT portfolio: Diverse IoT investments across verticals
Geography: US, Europe, India
Contact: accel.com
17. General Catalyst
Growth-stage investor increasingly active in IoT and hardware.
Investment focus: Healthcare IoT, enterprise platforms, infrastructure
Stage: Series A to growth
Check size: $2M - $100M
Notable IoT portfolio: Healthcare and enterprise IoT focus
Geography: US, Europe
Contact: generalcatalyst.com
18. Foundry Group
Boulder-based firm with dedicated hardware and IoT investment thesis.
Investment focus: Connected devices, robotics, industrial IoT
Stage: Seed to Series B
Check size: $500K - $15M
Notable IoT portfolio: Strong hardware and robotics portfolio
Geography: US
Contact: foundry.com
19. Samsung NEXT
Samsung's innovation arm invests strategically in IoT ecosystem companies.
Investment focus: Smart home, connected devices, IoT platforms
Stage: Seed to Series B
Check size: $1M - $10M
Notable IoT portfolio: SmartThings ecosystem companies
Geography: Global
Contact: samsungnext.com
20. Siemens Venture Capital
Industrial giant's venture arm focuses on Industry 4.0 and industrial IoT.
Investment focus: Industrial IoT, manufacturing tech, energy management
Stage: Series A to growth
Check size: €1M - €25M
Notable IoT portfolio: Industrial automation and energy IoT
Geography: Europe, US, Asia
Contact: siemens.com/ventures
21. ABB Technology Ventures
ABB's venture arm invests in industrial automation and robotics.
Investment focus: Robotics, industrial IoT, energy management
Stage: Series A to C
Check size: $2M - $20M
Notable IoT portfolio: Industrial and energy automation companies
Geography: Global
Contact: new.abb.com/about/technology/ventures
22. GE Ventures
Despite GE's restructuring, their venture arm remains active in industrial IoT.
Investment focus: Industrial IoT, energy, healthcare devices
Stage: Series A to growth
Check size: $5M - $30M
Notable IoT portfolio: Bit Stew, other industrial IoT companies
Geography: Global
Contact: geventures.com
23. Schneider Electric Ventures
Energy management leader investing in smart building and grid technologies.
Investment focus: Energy IoT, smart buildings, industrial automation
Stage: Series A to C
Check size: €1M - €10M
Notable IoT portfolio: Energy management and smart building startups
Geography: Global
Contact: se.com/ventures
24. Johnson Controls Ventures
Building technology giant investing in smart building and energy IoT.
Investment focus: Smart buildings, HVAC IoT, energy management
Stage: Series A to growth
Check size: $2M - $20M
Notable IoT portfolio: Building automation and energy efficiency startups
Geography: Global
Contact: johnsoncontrols.com
25. Honeywell Ventures
Industrial conglomerate's venture arm focused on industrial and building IoT.
Investment focus: Industrial IoT, building automation, supply chain
Stage: Series A to growth
Check size: $5M - $25M
Notable IoT portfolio: Industrial automation and connected building companies
Geography: Global
Contact: honeywell.com/ventures
Why IoT startups need specialized investors
Generic VCs don't understand hardware. They want SaaS metrics. They ghost you after hearing "18-month development cycle."
IoT investors are different. They know prototyping costs money. They understand supply chain delays. They've seen hardware startups succeed.
What specialized IoT investors bring:
- Manufacturing connections that save months
- Technical partners who've built hardware
- Patience for longer development cycles
- Access to testing facilities and pilot customers
The proof: IoT startups with specialized investors raise 2.5x more in Series A and exit 40% more often than those with generic VCs.
Pick investors who've backed hardware before. It's the difference between explaining why you need $2M for tooling and getting a wire transfer.
How to identify the right IoT investor for your startup
Stop mass emailing every VC on Crunchbase. You're wasting time on investors who think Arduino is a pasta brand.
Look at their actual portfolio.
Not their website claiming they "love deep tech." Check if they've funded real hardware companies. Names, exit dates, check sizes.
Match stages:
- Prototype stage? You need angels or accelerators
- First production run? Seed funds who understand MOQs
- Scaling manufacturing? Series A investors with supply chain contacts
Industry matters more than check size.
Bosch Ventures knows automotive. Intel Capital gets edge computing. Cisco understands enterprise networking. Wrong industry focus means useless advice and dead-end intros.
Location affects everything.
Silicon Valley VCs want 10x consumer plays. European funds prefer industrial B2B. Asian investors understand manufacturing. Pick based on where your customers are, not where VCs cluster.
Test their hardware IQ.
Ask about their experience with:
- FCC certification timelines
- Component shortage mitigation
- Contract manufacturer relationships
- Hardware margin expectations
If they start talking about "pivoting to software," run.
Warning signs:
- Last hardware investment was in 2019
- Partners are all ex-consultants
- They suggest "asset-light" business models
- Meeting starts with "Why not just license the technology?"
Smart money knows hardware is hard. Dumb money makes it harder.
Common mistakes when pitching to IoT investors
Leading with technical specs instead of business value. Nobody cares about your 32-bit ARM processor. They care if customers will pay $50/unit at 60% gross margin.
Underestimating manufacturing complexity. "We'll just use a contract manufacturer" tells investors you've never shipped hardware. Detail your supply chain strategy, component sourcing, and quality control processes.
Ignoring certification timelines. FCC approval takes 3-6 months. CE marking adds more. Medical device certification can take years. Build this into your timeline or lose credibility instantly.
Promising software margins on hardware products. IoT hardware rarely exceeds 50% gross margins. Claiming 80% margins reveals inexperience. Show realistic unit economics with volume scaling.
Downplaying security risks. Every connected device is a potential attack vector. Hand-waving security concerns kills enterprise deals. Show your security architecture and update mechanisms.
Comparing yourself to software unicorns. Stop saying you're "Uber for industrial sensors." IoT companies grow differently. Use relevant comparables like Nest, Ring, or Particle.
Asking for too little money. Hardware needs buffer. Component prices spike. Certifications cost more than budgeted. Tooling requires iterations. Under-raising kills IoT startups faster than competition.
Successful IoT pitches focus on customer validation, realistic timelines, and clear paths to profitability. Not revolutionary technology that might work someday.
How Ellty helps IoT startups secure funding
IoT pitch decks need constant updates. Component costs change. New pilots launch. Certifications complete.
Stop sending outdated PDFs. Update your deck once. Investors always see current metrics, new customers, and latest prototypes.
Know who's serious. See when Bosch's technical team downloads your BOM. Track if Intel Capital shares with their hardware partners. Focus on engaged investors, not tire kickers.
Share technical docs securely. CAD files, certification reports, test data. Control who sees what. Track every download.
Specific templates. Built for hardware startups. Sections for unit economics, manufacturing timeline, regulatory roadmap.
Ellty users close IoT rounds 40% faster. Because you know exactly which investors are interested.
FAQs about IoT investors
What is the average check size for IoT investments?
Seed rounds: $500K - $2M. Series A: $5M - $15M. Series B and beyond: $15M - $50M. Hardware needs more capital than software at every stage.
How long does the IoT fundraising process take?
Expect 4-6 months from first contact to wire transfer. Hardware due diligence takes longer. Investors want to see prototypes, review supply chains, and validate manufacturing partners.
What metrics do IoT investors care about most?
Unit economics, gross margins at scale, customer acquisition cost, pilot-to-production conversion rates, and manufacturing scalability. Not MRR or ARR.
Should I approach strategic or financial investors first?
Financial investors first for seed and Series A. They move faster and set market pricing. Strategic investors join rounds but rarely lead early stages.
Do I need working prototypes before approaching investors?
For seed funding: working prototype essential. For pre-seed: detailed designs and strong technical team suffice. Never pitch hardware without something tangible.
Which IoT investors are most active in 2025?
Intel Capital (despite spin-off), Qualcomm Ventures, Robert Bosch VC, and McRock Capital lead in deal volume. Y Combinator and Techstars for earliest stages.
How do I value my IoT startup?
Based on comparable hardware exits, not SaaS multiples. Consider development stage, IP portfolio, manufacturing partnerships, and customer traction.
