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Deako Lighting announced on July 23, 2024, that it had raised $3.4 million through a convertible note. Kinetic VC, the company’s lead Series B investor, participated alongside more than 25 other investors, many of them existing backers. Deako said it would use the financing to expand its product line and scale operations as demand grew. GeekWire reported the financing.
This was not a newly announced 2026 funding round, and it was not described as a new priced equity round. It followed Deako’s previously announced $13.4 million Series B, announced roughly two years earlier.
What Deako raised—and what remains undisclosed
The $3.4 million financing was structured as a convertible note. In general, a convertible note begins as debt and may convert into equity later under agreed financing conditions. Deako’s public announcement did not disclose the note’s:
- valuation cap;
- discount rate;
- interest rate;
- maturity date;
- conversion trigger; or
- other detailed terms.
Those omissions matter because the headline amount alone does not show how much ownership the financing could ultimately represent or when conversion might occur. The available report also does not establish whether the note was part of a broader financing arrangement.
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- 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
Deako said the money would support product expansion and operational scaling. It did not provide a public breakdown assigning the funds specifically to manufacturing, hiring, advertising, geographic expansion, or other individual categories.
The July 2024 report said Deako had raised approximately $50 million in total at that time. That is a historical figure attributed to the company and reporting source—not a confirmed total for 2026.
Who invested?
Kinetic VC participated in the financing. Kinetic had led Deako’s Series B, making its involvement a sign of continued backing from at least one earlier investor.
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Deako also said more than 25 additional investors participated, with many being existing backers. The public report does not provide a complete investor list, so it would be inaccurate to assume that every previous institutional investor participated.
Deako’s business is more than a conventional smart switch
Deako’s central idea is a modular lighting system built around a replaceable switch and a permanently installed backplate:
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- 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
- A backplate is wired into the electrical junction box, normally during construction or an initial installation.
- A compatible Deako switch is installed onto the backplate.
- Future upgrades can replace the front switch rather than requiring the junction box to be rewired.
That approach gives Deako a different proposition from a conventional one-off smart-switch purchase. The company is trying to make a home “smart-ready” during construction, then allow owners or builders to add or change functionality later.
The potential benefit is reduced retrofit friction. A builder could install the underlying infrastructure before a buyer decides whether a room needs a simple switch, a dimmer, motion sensing, scheduling, or connected control. However, claims about lower total construction costs, reduced labor, or recurring upgrade revenue should be treated as potential advantages—not proven financial outcomes—because the financing announcement does not disclose those measurements.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallDeako positions this model particularly strongly for homebuilders. Its business is therefore not only direct-to-consumer hardware. It also depends on builders adopting the backplate system and buyers remaining interested in upgrading within Deako’s ecosystem.
Reported traction in the homebuilding market
According to figures attributed to Deako CFO Chris Miller in the 2024 report, the company had expanded to more than 36 states, supplied products to a number of major homebuilders, and appeared in one out of every eight newly constructed U.S. single-family homes.
Those are company-reported figures, not independently verified market-share statistics. The report does not provide the denominator, measurement period, builder list, or methodology behind the one-in-eight claim. It should therefore be read as evidence of the market Deako says it is reaching, rather than as a definitive measure of U.S. adoption.
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- 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
The figures nevertheless explain the strategic logic of the financing. A builder-installed backplate can put Deako’s hardware into a home before an owner is ready to buy a more advanced smart-home product. That gives the company a possible distribution advantage over brands that must persuade each homeowner to undertake a complete retrofit.
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How the product line has expanded
At the time of the 2024 funding report, Deako highlighted products including its Nightlight Switch, Simple Timer Switch, Astronomical Timer Switch, and additional backplate configurations.
As of the company’s current website in August 2026, its catalog is broader. It includes:
- Smart Switch Gen 2;
- Smart Dimmer;
- Smart Plug;
- Simple Dimmer;
- Motion Sensor Switch;
- Nightlight Switch;
- Ceiling Fan Controller;
- Simple Timer Switch;
- Astronomical Timer Switch;
- Ventilation Timer Switch;
- rocker switches;
- outlets; and
- whole-home bundles, backplates, and faceplates.
The company also now promotes “Deako Intelligence” features. That product expansion supports the argument that Deako is building a modular whole-home lighting platform rather than selling only one connected wall switch. It does not, by itself, establish revenue growth, profitability, or customer retention.
What the Smart Switch Gen 2 offers
Deako’s current Smart Switch Gen 2 product page listed a price of $99.99 when checked on August 18, 2026. The company lists these specifications:
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- 【Matter: All-Round Compatibility】With Matter, users are no longer tied to specific platforms and works with all certified smart home platforms, such as Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Samsung SmartThings. You can control all your smart home devices from a single app, reducing the need for multiple apps for different devices.
- 【Matter: Smooth LAN Control】With Matter, all devices in your LAN communicate efficiently, even if your internet goes offline. A direct device-to-device interaction eliminates the need for a 'forwarding' device. For instance, a Matter switch or sensor can control a Matter bulb without any cloud service. Once set up, direct communication between Matter devices on your local network is easily achieved.
- 【Matter: Multi-Admin】Matter also allows you to control devices via multiple smart home systems at the same time through its Multi-Admin feature. That means you can turn on your lights from the SmartThings app on a Samsung smartphone, dim them by asking Alexa on an Amazon Echo speaker, and then turn them off from the Apple Home app on an iPad.
- 【App-Guided Install】The 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.
- 【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.
- single-pole, 3-way, and 4-way circuit compatibility;
- neutral wire required;
- 120 VAC, 60 Hz input;
- 15-amp general-purpose load rating;
- 800-watt incandescent rating;
- 240-watt LED/CFL rating;
- one-quarter-horsepower motor rating;
- Bluetooth SIG Mesh and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi;
- indoor, dry-location use only; and
- one-year warranty.
The standard Smart Switch is for on/off control, not dimming. Buyers who need dimming should evaluate Deako’s separate Smart Dimmer.
Deako also advertises Magic Linking for automated multi-way configuration, a customizable Beacon light bar, schedules, scenes, timers, groups, and remote control. Listed integrations include Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, Alarm.com, Control4, Clare, and Home Assistant. Integration availability can change by product, software version, geography, and platform policy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Important compatibility limits
The modular design does not mean every Deako switch can be combined in every installation. The Gen 2 product page says Gen 2 and older Smart Switches cannot be used together in the same circuit, because they use different Bluetooth technology. Older switches may remain on an existing backplate when they are not part of the same circuit.
The page says Gen 2 switches are compatible with existing Deako backplates, but backplate compatibility is not the same as unrestricted cross-generation compatibility. Builders and homeowners upgrading an existing installation should map each circuit before ordering.
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Other practical checks include:
- No neutral wire: Gen 2 requires one, so it is not a universal replacement for older wiring configurations.
- Three-way and four-way circuits: advertised compatibility does not make these installations equivalent to replacing a single switch.
- Wireless range: Deako says Bluetooth Mesh range is approximately 40 feet between obstructed switches; metal and dense construction materials can reduce performance.
- Location: the product is listed for indoor, dry locations, not damp or wet areas.
- Initial installation: later modular replacement may avoid rewiring, but installing the backplate still involves household electrical work. “No electrician needed” should not be interpreted as permission for inexperienced users to perform unsafe wiring.
- Builder-installed equipment: buyers should confirm which backplates, switch types, integrations, and upgrade rights are included in a new home.
Deako’s product page displayed a 30-day full-refund policy and free shipping for orders over $200 on August 18, 2026. Policies and prices can change.
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- 【2-Gang Design】Seamless installation of two switches are now made possible. Control two different circuits with an elegant flush look. Form and function rolled into one.
- 【Easy Guided Install】Neutral wire is required. No need to understand complex switch wiring or master vs auxiliary switch configuration. The Kasa App guides you through easy step by step installation. Need 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection
- 【App & Voice Control】Control your connected lights from anywhere, anytime, with the Kasa Smart app or your favorite voice assistant: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Samsung SmartThings.
- 【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.
- 【Advanced Scheduling & Timer】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
How Deako differs from conventional alternatives
Deako’s most distinctive feature is not simply app control. It is the proprietary backplate-and-module architecture. That creates a different set of trade-offs from conventional ecosystems such as Lutron Caséta, Leviton Decora Smart, TP-Link Kasa, Aqara, and Philips Hue.
| Consideration | Deako’s model | Conventional alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Core architecture | Proprietary backplate with replaceable compatible switches | Usually a complete switch, hub, sensor, or bulb ecosystem |
| Best-fit customer | Builders, new construction, and owners planning future upgrades | Often homeowners making individual retrofit decisions |
| Wiring | Gen 2 requires a neutral wire | Requirements vary by model and brand |
| Multi-way use | Gen 2 is listed for single-pole, 3-way, and 4-way circuits | Support varies substantially by product |
| Dimming | Requires the separate Smart Dimmer | Varies by device; many ecosystems offer dedicated dimmers |
| Lock-in | Upgrades depend on Deako-compatible backplates and switches | Most also create ecosystem or platform dependencies, but may not require Deako’s physical backplate |
| Price | Gen 2 listed at $99.99 on August 18, 2026 | Prices vary widely by brand, model, hub needs, and sale |
This is a product-positioning comparison, not a hands-on test. Buyers should verify current price, warranty, hub requirements, local-control behavior, neutral-wire requirements, multi-way support, and platform compatibility for the exact device they are considering.
What the financing says about Deako’s strategy
The financing appears to be a bet on two linked ideas: first, that builders will install smart-home infrastructure before buyers select every connected feature; and second, that owners will value the ability to upgrade switches without replacing the wiring infrastructure.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →That strategy could give Deako a stronger position in new construction than a commodity smart switch sold one unit at a time. It could also create a long-term dependency on Deako’s hardware, software, integrations, and service continuity. The public financing report does not disclose customer-acquisition costs, revenue, margins, order volume, builder contract values, profitability, or what happens to cloud-dependent features if the company’s app or servers change.
For now, the most accurate interpretation is that Deako raised $3.4 million in 2024 through a convertible note to expand products and operations, with continued support from Kinetic VC and other investors. The investment was a vote on an upgradeable, builder-oriented lighting platform—not merely another launch of a consumer smart switch.
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