20 smart home investors capitalizing IoT and automation platforms in 2025

Smart home tech finally moved past expensive thermostats that nobody uses. Matter protocol standardized device connectivity and consumers actually started buying security systems that work with their existing setups. These 20 investors backed home automation platforms with real adoption numbers, not just fancy hardware demos at CES.

Quick list

Picking the right smart home investor

Experience: Find investors who've backed consumer hardware through manufacturing hell and retail distribution nightmares. Smart home products take 18-24 months from prototype to shelf and most software VCs don't understand Bill of Materials optimization. Review common pitfalls in DPA-compliant sharing when sending sensitive build data.

Network: Check if they can intro you to Best Buy buyers or Amazon Launchpad managers, not just other hardware startups. You need retail distribution or you're stuck doing DTC with terrible margins, something you can highlight properly by following pitch deck sending tactics.

Alignment: Early-stage investors won't understand why your gross margins are 40% when software companies hit 80%. Consumer hardware has different unit economics and most VCs hate inventory risk, which is why tight investor outreach strategy matters more for hardware founders.

Track record: Look at whether their portfolio companies actually shipped products or died in Kickstarter fulfillment hell. Failed hardware launches are expensive and common red flags.

Communication: Use Ellty to share your deck with trackable links. You'll see who actually opens your manufacturing timeline and BOM costs vs. just looking at the product mockups.

Value-add: Ask what operational support they provide during supply chain issues and retail negotiations. Generic "we know hardware" answers are useless if they can't help you navigate Foxconn MOQ requirements. For alternatives to legacy sharing tools, consider options mentioned in DocSend alternatives.

How to approach smart home investors

Identify potential investors: Research recent deals on Crunchbase focusing on consumer IoT and hardware platforms, not just software. Software-only VCs will pass the second they see your gross margin structure and inventory needs.

Craft a compelling pitch: Show your installed base and monthly active users, not just pre-orders and Kickstarter backers. Most investors are tired of "smart home is growing" slides without proof your device actually stays plugged in after month three.

Share your pitch deck: Upload to Ellty and send trackable links. Monitor which pages investors spend time on - if they skip your unit economics and retail distribution strategy, that's useful information.

Utilize your network: Message portfolio founders on LinkedIn and ask about response times during supply chain crises and retail negotiations. Most will be honest about whether their investor actually helped secure retail partnerships.

Attend networking events: CES in Las Vegas and IFA Berlin are where smart home deals happen. Skip the general hardware meetups that mix medical devices with consumer IoT. While preparing your event materials, make sure you're avoiding common sharing mistakes.

Engage on online platforms: Connect with partners on LinkedIn after you've been introduced by a portfolio company or retail buyer. Cold DMs to hardware investors rarely work unless you have impressive pre-order numbers.

Organize due diligence: Set up an Ellty data room with your BOM breakdown, manufacturing contracts, and retail agreements before they ask. It speeds up the process when they need to see your margin structure.

Set up introductory meetings: Lead with your customer retention rates and repeat purchase data. Don't waste 20 minutes on TAM slides about smart home adoption - they've seen the same Statista charts 200 times.

Why smart home matters in 2025

Matter protocol launched in 2022 and finally solved the fragmentation problem that killed earlier smart home platforms. Global smart home device shipments hit 1.1 billion units in 2024 and consumers started replacing devices instead of abandoning them in drawers. Amazon, Google, and Apple committed to Matter compatibility and investors figured out that interoperability actually drives adoption. The devices that got funding in 2024 were the ones with proven retention metrics and retail distribution, not just impressive Kickstarter campaigns.

20 best smart home investors

1. Lux Capital

Deep tech fund that actually understands hardware margins and supply chain risk.

• Recent Deals: Anker Innovations smart home expansion $100M (2023), August Home pre-acquisition (2017), consumer robotics platforms (2024)
• LinkedIn: Josh Wolfe
• Sector Focus: Consumer IoT, home automation, robotics, connected devices
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: New York, USA
• Website: luxcapital.com

2. Fifth Wall

Proptech specialist with $3.2B AUM, backing smart building infrastructure.

• Recent Deals: Proptech fund IV $866M close (2022), smart building platforms $200M (2023), home automation infrastructure (2024)
• LinkedIn: Brendan Wallace
• Sector Focus: Smart buildings, property technology, home automation, IoT infrastructure
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: Los Angeles, USA
• Website: fifthwall.com

3. Founders Fund

Early Ring investor before Amazon paid $1B, still backing home security platforms.

• Recent Deals: Ring pre-acquisition (2016), smart home security platforms (2023), consumer hardware investments (2024)
• LinkedIn: Keith Rabois
• Sector Focus: Home security, consumer hardware, IoT devices, automation platforms
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: foundersfund.com

4. Bessemer Venture Partners

Backed SimpliSafe to $1B+ valuation, knows home security distribution cold.

• Recent Deals: SimpliSafe growth rounds (2018-2020), smart home platforms $75M (2023), connected security devices (2024)
• LinkedIn: Byron Deeter
• Sector Focus: Home security, consumer SaaS, smart home platforms, IoT subscriptions
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: Menlo Park, USA
• Website: bvp.com

5. Kleiner Perkins

Nest investor before Google acquisition, still funding Matter-compatible devices.

• Recent Deals: Nest pre-Google acquisition (2011), smart thermostat platforms (2023), energy management devices (2024)
• LinkedIn: Ilya Fushman
• Sector Focus: Smart thermostats, home automation, energy management, consumer IoT
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Menlo Park, USA
• Website: kleinerperkins.com

6. GV (Google Ventures)

Strategic investor in platforms that integrate with Google Home and Nest ecosystem.

• Recent Deals: Smart home platforms with Google integration $50M (2023), voice-enabled devices (2024), home security investments
• LinkedIn: David Krane
• Sector Focus: Home automation, voice assistants, smart displays, Google ecosystem devices
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Strategic
• Location: Mountain View, USA
• Website: gv.com

7. Amazon Alexa Fund

Voice-enabled device specialist, obvious strategic fit for Alexa integration.

• Recent Deals: Alexa-compatible smart home devices $100M+ (2023-2024), Ring doorbell category expansion, voice control platforms
• LinkedIn: Amazon Alexa Fund Team
• Sector Focus: Voice-enabled devices, Alexa integration, smart home automation, connected appliances
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Strategic
• Location: Seattle, USA
• Website: amazon.com/alexafund

8. Samsung Venture Investment

Hardware giant backing devices compatible with SmartThings platform.

• Recent Deals: SmartThings-compatible devices $80M (2023), home automation platforms (2024), IoT connectivity investments
• LinkedIn: Samsung Ventures Team
• Sector Focus: SmartThings ecosystem, home automation, consumer electronics, IoT platforms
• Stage Focus: Strategic, Series A, Series B
• Location: Seoul, South Korea
• Website: samsungventure.com

9. Qualcomm Ventures

Chipset maker funding IoT connectivity and smart home communication platforms.

• Recent Deals: IoT connectivity platforms $60M (2023), Matter protocol devices (2024), wireless communication startups
• LinkedIn: Quinn Li
• Sector Focus: IoT connectivity, wireless protocols, smart home chipsets, device communication
• Stage Focus: Strategic, Series A, Series B
• Location: San Diego, USA
• Website: qualcommventures.com

10. Playground Global

Deep tech consumer fund focused on robotics and advanced home automation.

• Recent Deals: Home robotics platforms $40M (2023), autonomous devices (2024), consumer hardware investments
• LinkedIn: Bruce Leak
• Sector Focus: Home robotics, consumer automation, advanced IoT, hardware platforms
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: Palo Alto, USA
• Website: playground.global

11. Energy Impact Partners

Smart energy management and thermostat platforms backed by utility consortium.

• Recent Deals: Smart thermostat platforms $35M (2023), home energy management (2024), demand response devices
• LinkedIn: Hans Kobler
• Sector Focus: Smart thermostats, energy management, demand response, home efficiency
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: New York, USA
• Website: energyimpactpartners.com

12. Khosla Ventures

Backed View smart glass and building automation, focused on energy efficiency.

• Recent Deals: View smart glass investment (2020), building automation platforms $50M (2023), smart window technology (2024)
• LinkedIn: Vinod Khosla
• Sector Focus: Smart glass, building automation, energy efficiency, construction tech
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: Menlo Park, USA
• Website: khoslaventures.com

13. Sidewalk Labs (Alphabet)

Urban infrastructure specialist backing smart building and home automation tech.

• Recent Deals: Smart building platforms $45M (2023), urban infrastructure IoT (2024), connected home technology
• LinkedIn: Sidewalk Labs Team
• Sector Focus: Smart buildings, urban infrastructure, home automation, connected cities
• Stage Focus: Strategic, Series A, Series B
• Location: New York, USA
• Website: sidewalklabs.com

14. 2150

European climate tech fund backing smart energy management and home efficiency.

• Recent Deals: Smart energy devices €30M (2023), home efficiency platforms (2024), European IoT startups
• LinkedIn: Christian Hernandez
• Sector Focus: Home energy management, climate tech IoT, smart devices, efficiency platforms
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Location: London, UK
• Website: 2150.vc

15. Obvious Ventures

Consumer IoT with sustainability focus, backed August Home before Assa Abloy acquisition.

• Recent Deals: August Home pre-acquisition (2017), sustainable consumer hardware $25M (2023), smart home platforms (2024)
• LinkedIn: James Joaquin
• Sector Focus: Sustainable IoT, consumer hardware, home automation, connected devices
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: obvious.com

16. True Ventures

Early-stage consumer hardware specialist, invested in Fitbit and Peloton ecosystems.

• Recent Deals: Consumer IoT platforms $30M (2023), smart home devices (2024), hardware startups across categories
• LinkedIn: Jon Callaghan
• Sector Focus: Consumer hardware, smart home devices, IoT platforms, connected products
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: trueventures.com

17. Venrock

Healthcare-focused smart home devices for aging populations and remote monitoring.

• Recent Deals: Health monitoring devices $40M (2023), aging-in-place technology (2024), remote patient platforms
• LinkedIn: Brian Ascher
• Sector Focus: Health monitoring, aging-in-place tech, remote care devices, medical IoT
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Palo Alto, USA
• Website: venrock.com

18. Canaan Partners

Backed Vivint Smart Home through multiple growth rounds, understands subscription models.

• Recent Deals: Vivint growth rounds (2012-2019), smart home security $55M (2023), subscription IoT platforms (2024)
• LinkedIn: Deepak Kamra
• Sector Focus: Smart home security, subscription services, home automation, monitored systems
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: Menlo Park, USA
• Website: canaan.com

19. Intel Capital

Strategic investor in home automation chipsets and edge computing platforms.

• Recent Deals: IoT chipset platforms $70M (2023), edge computing devices (2024), smart home processors
• LinkedIn: Nick Washburn
• Sector Focus: IoT chipsets, edge computing, smart home processors, device platforms
• Stage Focus: Strategic, Series B, Series C
• Location: Santa Clara, USA
• Website: intelcapital.com

20. HDI (Home Depot Innovation)

Retail giant funding products for their customer base, guaranteed distribution channel.

• Recent Deals: Smart home products for retail $40M (2023), DIY automation devices (2024), contractor-focused IoT
• LinkedIn: Home Depot Innovation Team
• Sector Focus: DIY smart home, contractor devices, retail IoT products, home improvement tech
• Stage Focus: Strategic, Growth
• Location: Atlanta, USA
• Website: homedepot.com

How Ellty helps smart home startups close deals

These 20 investors backed smart home deals from 2020 to November 2025. Before you start sending decks to hardware investors, set up proper tracking so you know who's actually interested in your product.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create a unique link for each investor. You'll see exactly which slides they view and how long they spend on your BOM breakdown and retail distribution strategy. Most founders are surprised to learn investors skip technology specs but spend 10+ minutes on unit economics and manufacturing timelines.

When investors ask for your supply chain details or retail agreements during diligence, share an Ellty data room instead of email attachments. Your manufacturing contracts, BOM costs, and retail partnerships in one secure place with view analytics. You'll know if they're actually reviewing your margin structure or just collecting hardware decks.

Common questions

How do I know if an investor actually understands hardware?

Check their portfolio for consumer hardware exits or active products in retail. If they only backed software companies or medical devices, they probably don't understand consumer IoT margin structures and inventory risk.

Should I target strategic investors like Amazon Alexa Fund first?

Only if your product integrates deeply with their platform and you're okay with slower decision timelines. Strategic investors want proof you'll drive adoption of their ecosystem before they'll commit.

What's the difference between seed and growth investors for smart home?

Seed investors will fund you with working prototypes and decent pre-order numbers. Growth investors need retail distribution, proven unit economics, and monthly active user retention before they'll take a meeting.

How many smart home investors should I reach out to?

Start with 10-15 that have recent portfolio companies at your stage. Consumer hardware investors are picky about margin structure and most will pass. If you're getting 100% rejection, your unit economics probably don't work yet.

When should I set up a data room?

Before your first serious investor meeting. Hardware investors will ask for your BOM breakdown, manufacturing contracts, and retail agreements within 48 hours if they're interested. Having it ready in Ellty speeds up diligence significantly.

Do investors actually care about Matter protocol compatibility?

Yes, it's becoming table stakes for smart home devices. Investors know that proprietary protocols limit retail distribution and Matter compatibility signals you understand the fragmentation problem that killed earlier platforms.