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Deako announced a $12.5 million Series B in March 2021 to expand its modular lighting system, which lets builders wire a backplate during construction and install a simple or smart switch module. The company said it had commitments covering one in eight new U.S. single-family homes. That was a company-reported pipeline figure—not verified completed installations, market share, or a formal industry standard. Deako’s product line has since evolved, including a Gen 2 smart switch released in 2025.
What Deako announced in 2021
Deako said it raised $12.5 million in Series B financing, bringing its reported total funding to $36 million. It planned to use the money to expand distribution, increase manufacturing capacity, and develop products for multifamily and custom-home construction. The participating Series B investors were not identified in the available announcement. The company named Columbia Pacific Advisors, Promus Ventures, Alumni Ventures Group, Partech, Innolinks Ventures, and angel investors as earlier backers.
There is a date inconsistency worth noting: GeekWire published its report on March 15, 2021, and Deako’s release text says March 16, 2021, while the Deako page itself displays December 10, 2020. The funding announcement is therefore best understood as a March 2021 announcement, while recognizing the page-date conflict. Deako’s announcement and GeekWire’s report do not provide a valuation, ownership dilution, or detailed financial statements.
How Deako’s modular switches work
The system separates the permanent electrical installation from the switch a homeowner handles day to day. An electrician or other qualified installer wires a Deako backplate into the electrical box. A compatible simple, dimmer, or smart module then attaches to that backplate. Later upgrades can involve changing the module rather than rewiring the circuit.
#1 Best Overall
- App-Guided Install: The Kasa or Tapo app guides you through step-by-step setup. Requires neutral wiring and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Consulting an electrician is recommended if you’re unfamiliar with electrical wiring
- Control From Anywhere: Monitor your light status. Turn electronics on and off from anywhere with your smartphone using the Kasa app, whether you are at home, in the office or on vacation
- Voice Control: Enjoy the hands-free convenience of controlling the lights in your home with your voice via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant; perfect for times when your hands are full or entering a dark room
- Scheduling: Use timer or countdown schedules to set your smart switch to automatically turn on and off while you're home or away. Enable ‘away mode’ to randomly switch on and off to trick potential intruders
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- Install the backplate: It is wired to the line-voltage circuit during construction or a retrofit.
- Choose the switch module: The location can have a basic switch or a compatible smart or dimmer module.
- Upgrade as needs change: A homeowner can replace a compatible module without replacing the backplate.
“Plug-and-play” describes the replaceable module, not the initial electrical work. Installing a backplate still involves line voltage and must follow the manufacturer’s directions and applicable local electrical requirements. Deako’s system overview and Gen 2 installation instructions are the appropriate references for the specific hardware.
Why builders considered the system
Deako’s construction-channel pitch was that a builder could install the same backplate platform throughout a home without paying to fit every room with a smart switch from the outset. Buyers could select smart upgrades at purchase or add modules later. That approach also gave builders a consistent lighting-control platform across a development while letting homeowners prioritize the rooms where app control or automation mattered most.
Rank #2
- App-Guided Install: The Kasa or Tapo app guides you through step-by-step setup. Requires neutral wiring and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Consulting an electrician is recommended if you’re unfamiliar with electrical wiring
- Control from Anywhere: Monitor your light status. Turn electronics on and off from anywhere with your smartphone using the Kasa app, whether you are at home, in the office or on vacation
- Voice Control: Enjoy the hands-free convenience of controlling the lights in your home with your voice via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant; perfect for times when your hands are full or entering a dark room
- Scheduling: Use timer or countdown schedules to set your smart switch to automatically turn on and off while you're home or away. Enable ‘away mode’ to randomly switch on and off to trick potential intruders
- Trusted and reliable: Designed and developed in silicon valley, Kasa is trusted by over 4 million users. UL certified for safety use. System Requirements: Android 5.0 or higher, iOS 10 or higher
In its 2021 announcement, Deako said it had commitments for installation in one out of every eight new single-family homes built in the United States and cited a deal with D.R. Horton, which GeekWire described as the country’s largest homebuilder by volume at that time. Deako also reported double-digit monthly compounded revenue growth, expansion into two new markets per week, six manufacturing partners across three countries, and plans to increase production capacity by more than 400% by year-end 2021. It said it had 25 employees and intended to double headcount during 2021, with about ten electricians being added per week. These are historical company-reported figures and projections, not independently audited outcomes. The available sources do not establish whether those expansion targets were achieved.
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What “industry standard” did—and did not—mean
Deako’s phrase “industry standard” was a characterization of its momentum in new-home construction. The evidence cited in 2021 supports builder interest and commitments, but it does not establish a formal electrical or construction standard, independent national market share, or a completed-installation rate. In particular, a commitment to install in one in eight new homes is not the same as proof that one in eight homes actually received the system.
Rank #3
- NEVER COME HOME TO A DARK HOUSE AGAIN – Schedule exterior lights to turn on at sunset for added safety, comfort, and convenience
- USE YOUR VOICE FOR HANDS‑FREE CONTROL – Works with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Siri so you can adjust lights without lifting a finger
- CONTROL LIGHTS FROM ANYWHERE – Check if lights are on and adjust them remotely using your smartphone, whether you’re home, at work, or on vacation
- SET IT AND FORGET IT - Use the My Leviton app to schedule your lights to turn on and off when you want
- THE MOST CONNECTED – Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Home, SmartThings, Home Assistant, and is Matter ready out of the box
For a builder, the distinction matters: Deako’s backplate can become a specified platform within a particular development or builder program without becoming universally interoperable across the lighting industry. The system’s modularity depends on compatible Deako hardware, not on an industry-wide standard switch interface.
How the product has changed
Deako’s current range includes smart switches and dimmers alongside simple switches, motion and nightlight switches, timers, a ceiling-fan controller, smart plugs, backplates, faceplates, and bundles. The company describes app functions including schedules, scenes, groups, timers, and remote control, and lists integrations with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, and Alarm.com. Check the product generation and its documentation rather than assuming every integration or feature works identically across older and newer hardware. Deako’s shop lists the product families and integrations.
Rank #4
- SMART UPGRADE: Transform your home by upgrading to a smart switch that works seamlessly with Alexa, providing convenient voice control for an enhanced living experience
- GUIDED INSTALLATION: Enjoy a guided installation with our step-by-step video and user manual, providing necessary support for a smooth setup process of your smart switches for lights
- FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING: Take control of your home lighting by scheduling lights to turn on and off using Alexa routines, providing flexibility and convenience with your wifi light switch even when you're away
- VOICE-ACTIVATED CONTROL: The smart wall switch helps you effortlessly control your lighting system with voice commands via Alexa
- NO HUB REQUIRED: Simplify your setup with a smart switch that works exclusivly with Alexa, eliminating the need for additional smart home hubs or complex configurations
The Smart Switch Gen 2, model DS2023, was released in 2025; the previous model is DS2005. Deako’s support documentation identifies Magic Linking for automatic multiway setup and a configurable beacon light as Gen 2 features. Both generations are listed as 15-amp switches for general-purpose use. For current specifications and generation distinctions, see Deako’s Gen 2 comparison.
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At the prices observed in 2026, Deako’s shop listed the Gen 2 Smart Switch at $99.99, the Smart Dimmer from $109.99, and the Smart Plug at $44.99. These are retail listings, not guaranteed prices; inventory, configurations, and promotions can change. The following switch totals use the $99.99 listed Smart Switch price and exclude tax, labor, shipping, dimmers, backplates, and faceplates:
Best Value
- App-Guided Install: The Kasa or Tapo app guides you through step-by-step setup. Requires neutral wiring and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Consulting an electrician is recommended if you’re unfamiliar with electrical wiring
- 0%-100% Dimming with Scheduling: Adjust brightness via the button or Kasa App. Single-click for instant light, double-click to fade off – perfect for bedtime. Set schedules to wake up to a soft morning glow.
- Voice Control: Enjoy the hands-free convenience of controlling the lights in your home with your voice via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant
- Control from Anywhere: Monitor and control your lights status from anywhere with your smartphone using the Kasa app, whether you are at home, in the office or on vacation
- No Hub Required - Kasa Smart's dimmer light switch works with a secured 2.4GHz wireless network without the need for a separate hub
| Quantity of Smart Switches | Hardware total at $99.99 each |
|---|---|
| 5 | $499.95 |
| 10 | $999.90 |
| 20 | $1,999.80 |
For new construction, the economics can differ if a builder specifies the backplates and offers modules as options. For an existing home without Deako backplates, the modular upgrade benefit does not arrive for free: the initial backplate installation still has to happen. Deako itself suggests reserving smart switches for frequently used areas such as common rooms, bedrooms, or exterior lighting, while using simpler products in closets, pantries, or laundry rooms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Compatibility and installation checks before upgrading
- Confirm the existing hardware: Check whether the home has Deako backplates and identify whether the switch is DS2005 or Gen 2 DS2023.
- Identify the circuit: Determine whether one location controls the light or whether multiple switches control it.
- Plan multiway replacements: Deako says a Gen 2 multiway circuit requires replacing all switches in that circuit with compatible Gen 2 Smart Switches. Replacing only one can leave operation dependent on rocker positions or make another rocker ineffective, as described in its installation guidance.
- Verify the load and box: Confirm the chosen switch or dimmer is appropriate for the circuit, load, and electrical box rather than assuming all modules fit every setup.
- Check local rules and installation capability: Backplate wiring is electrical work. Follow local code and the manufacturer’s instructions; use a qualified electrician where required or prudent.
- Check ecosystem and generation details: Confirm the specific model’s smart-home compatibility and avoid assuming older and newer hardware are interchangeable.
- Read current purchase terms: The shop has advertised a 30-day money-back guarantee, but buyers should confirm the current terms, warranty, and return eligibility before ordering.
Deako compared with conventional smart-switch options
The main distinction is the architecture, not the presence of an app. A conventional smart switch generally replaces the complete existing switch. Deako makes the backplate a planned part of the electrical installation and allows later changes among compatible modules.
| Consideration | Deako modular system | Conventional smart-switch approach |
|---|---|---|
| Initial installation | Requires a Deako backplate wired into the box | Typically installs a complete smart switch directly in the box |
| Later capability change | Swap a compatible Deako module | Replace the complete switch |
| Physical ecosystem flexibility | Depends on proprietary Deako backplates and modules | Choice varies by brand and wiring; no universal interchangeability is implied |
| New-construction fit | Well suited to a builder standardizing backplates across a development | Depends on the builder’s chosen brand and installation plan |
| Multiway circuits | Gen 2 guidance says all switches in the circuit need compatible Gen 2 units | Requirements vary by product and wiring design |
| Cost comparison | 2026 observed Smart Switch listing: $99.99 each | Prices vary by model; compare current products and installation costs directly |
Other routes include conventional in-wall smart switches from manufacturers such as Lutron and Leviton, consumer-oriented switches and plugs from Kasa Smart, lighting controls within Aqara’s broader automation ecosystem, and in-wall relay modules. Each model has its own wiring, load, hub, and multiway requirements, so these categories are alternatives to evaluate—not interchangeable parts or a blanket claim that another option is cheaper.
Who is most likely to benefit
Deako’s strongest case is a new-build or Deako-equipped home where the backplates are already installed and the owner wants to add smart control selectively over time. It is less compelling for a one-switch retrofit in a home without Deako hardware, for buyers prioritizing the lowest upfront price, or for people who want freedom to change physical switch brands without considering a proprietary backplate. For a multiway circuit, the requirement to replace every switch with compatible Gen 2 units can also change the project cost and scope.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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