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All investor lists > Hardware
Browse OpenVC's database of investors funding startups in hardware, robotics, and electronic devices.
Last update: June 14, 2026
List author: Lucas Roquilly
Shortlist investors, submit pitch decks, and get replies
Use code "OpenVC". Conditions apply.
Hardware is having a real comeback. And this time, it’s driven by tangible demand, not hype. AI compute, robotics, climate tech, manufacturing automation, and dual-use systems have pushed hardware back to the center of venture capital. Investors who once shied away from atoms-based businesses are now aggressively backing founders who can prove technical defensibility, strong unit economics, and a path to scalable production.
The numbers back it up. Hardware-as-a-service companies earned 59% higher median revenue multiples than other frontier tech startups in 2024. Multiple mega-rounds (five $100M+ deals in Q4 2024 alone) went to AI hardware and robotics startups. U.S. venture capital firms collectively held $307.8B in deployable dry powder entering 2025 — a massive signal for founders with real technology, real IP, and real revenue potential.
What this means for founders:
Prototype ≠product. Investors care less about the demo and more about how you’ll manufacture at scale. Show DFM, CM partnerships, and realistic cost curves.
Hybrid hardware + software wins. Data loops, automation layers, and recurring revenue turn physical products into compounding businesses.
Derisk your supply chain early. Long lead times, component availability, and inventory management can make or break investor confidence.
Use non-dilutive capital strategically. Grants, pilot programs, and government funding can extend runway without sacrificing equity during hardware-heavy phases.
Lux Capital backs founders building hard, technically ambitious products that reshape industries. Lux invests early in frontier hardware companies and supports them with deep scientific expertise, operator networks, and long-term conviction.
Eclipse partners with companies transforming the industrial world through hardware-led innovation. Their team brings unmatched expertise in manufacturing, supply-chain strategy, and scaling complex products from prototype to production.
Root Ventures is a firm built by engineers for engineers. They invest at the earliest stages of hardware development and help founders build reliable, scalable systems with strong engineering foundations.
Playground Global partners with technical founders creating breakthrough physical technologies. Their in-house engineering resources and deep technical mentorship accelerate founders from prototype to scalable product.
DCVC invests in deep tech companies solving complex, high-impact problems through defensible engineering. They’ve backed seminal hardware companies across robotics, aerospace, and climate, supporting founders with scientific and operational rigor.
SOSV’s HAX is the world’s premier hardware accelerator with a fully equipped prototyping lab and hands-on engineering support. Their model accelerates hardware founders through rapid iteration, manufacturing readiness, and early customer development.
The Engine invests in “tough tech” companies solving civilization-scale challenges with physical innovation. Their deep technical support, lab space, and commercialization guidance help hardware founders overcome long development cycles.
UP.Partners invests in solutions that move people and goods more efficiently. They back frontier hardware companies building robotics, autonomous systems, and next-generation transportation infrastructure.
Construct Capital focuses on rebuilding the backbone of the modern economy through industrial and hardware innovation. They partner deeply with founders modernizing physical industries with automation and advanced manufacturing.
Prime Movers Lab backs scientists and engineers building world-changing physical-science companies. Their hands-on approach supports founders tackling ambitious technical challenges with long-term commercialization paths.
HAX is the most advanced hardware accelerator globally, offering deep prototyping support, manufacturing guidance, and early pilot access. Founders move from concept to production-ready hardware faster and with fewer missteps.
MassRobotics is the leading non-profit innovation hub for robotics startups. They provide workspace, prototyping labs, corporate connections, and access to early pilot partners.
Lemnos Labs backs early-stage hardware companies with engineering-first discipline. Their program helps founders refine prototypes, build manufacturing plans, and prepare for capital-efficient scaling.
Techstars Industry 4.0 supports hardware founders building the next wave of industrial automation and connected systems. The program emphasizes customer discovery, enterprise partnerships, and early revenue traction.
Greentown Labs is the largest climate-tech incubator in North America, offering lab space, prototyping resources, and corporate partnerships. It’s a hub for hardware founders building energy, materials, and sustainability innovations.
Hardware Pioneers Max – the go-to event for IoT, robotics, and electronics founders.
ROSCon – essential for robotics teams building on ROS.
CES – massive exposure for consumer and industrial hardware products.
Deep Tech Summit – a hub for frontier engineering, materials, and climate hardware.
SBIR/STTR Programs – critical non-dilutive capital for hardware R\&D.
NSF America’s Seed Fund – funding for deep tech and hardware innovation.
DOE Advanced Research Projects (ARPA-E) – energy and climate hardware programs.
Manufacturing USA – access to advanced manufacturing institutes nationwide.
Fictiv – fast-turn CNC, injection molding, and fabrication.
Xometry – global manufacturing marketplace.
Hubs – on-demand manufacturing for prototypes and low-volume runs.
Hardware overlaps deeply with frontier tech, automation, and manufacturing. Explore these related investor lists:
Robotics Investors & VC Firms
Deeptech Investors & VC Firms
Manufacturing Investors & VC Firms
Aerospace Investors & VC Firms
Climate Tech Investors & VC Firms
🚀 Ready to raise? Here’s how OpenVC helps hardware founders get funded:
Find hardware investors fast – Filter by stage, check size, geography, and categories like robotics, manufacturing, or industrial hardware.
Browse detailed investor profiles – See which VCs are actively funding hard-tech startups.
Submit your pitch deck directly – Share your deck securely and track who opens it.
Use the Fundraising CRM – Manage your raise, track conversations, and organize your pipeline.
Get warm intros – Receive verified introductions from investors already interested in your category.
Close your round faster – Turn meetings into capital with data-driven outreach and tracking.
🔥 Join OpenVC today for free and start connecting with top hardware investors instantly.
Save investors, manage outreach, and run your fundraising in one platform.
OpenVC is a free startup fundraising platform that helps founders find the right investors and manage their entire raise. Search 20,000+ verified investors, including venture capitalists, angel investors, family offices, accelerators, and more. Build your target list, send your pitch deck, and track your pipeline all in one place.
Founders raise with OpenVC because it is designed to cut through the noise and get founders in front of the right investors, fast. With built-in tools for CRM, analytics, and warm intros, it helps you stay organized and improve your chances of getting a reply.
OpenVC is for early-stage startup founders who want to raise capital efficiently. Find investors from dozens of industries including SaaS, AI, fintech, biotech, and more. Whether you’re pre-seed, seed, or Series A, OpenVC helps you find and pitch aligned investors without paying intro fees, aimlessly cold-emailing, or scraping databases.
To start pitching investors on OpenVC, create a free account and submit your pitch deck directly through our startup funding platform. Investors receive a unique link to view your deck, and you get analytics on who opens it and how long they spend on it. No cold emails, no guesswork. For more info, check out our complete guide to fundraising on OpenVC.
Absolutely, OpenVC is designed for early-stage fundraising. You’ll find thousands of angel investors, pre-seed VCs, accelerators, incubators, and family offices who are actively backing startups across sectors and geographies. Use OpenVC’s filters to narrow your search and find the right investors for your startup.
Some examples of startups that successfully secured funding through OpenVC include Mobly (2.5M seed), Paxum ($1.2M seed), and Laennec AI ($400k pre-seed). OpenVC startups have gone on to raise more than $1 billion from top venture capital firms like YC, Sequoia, Google Ventures, and M12.
OpenVC was created by Stephane Nasser and Lucas Roquilly—two founders building tools to make startup fundraising more transparent and accessible. We launched OpenVC to help founders find investors, get replies, and raise smarter. The platform is bootstrapped, community-driven, and built with a lot of heart.
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