Hardware and robotics · IoT and hardware deck
Hardware and IoT decks with margins and recurring revenue.
Hardware investors worry about margins and inventory. Connected products can earn recurring revenue that changes the picture. Show both.
Fixed prices. No calls: you brief us in writing and comment in writing.
Margin
Device margin and subscription margin
Illustration only. Any figures are invented for this sample slide.
Who reads it
Hardware and IoT investors.
Turnaround
5 business days for a design rebuild; 3 business days for an audit.
How it differs
How an IoT and hardware deck differs from a general pitch deck
A software deck has almost no cost for each extra customer. A hardware deck has to show what each unit costs to make and deliver, and how that falls with volume. Investors look for the build stage, because a product in engineering validation carries different risk from one in production validation. They ask about inventory, because cash leaves months before sales arrive. For connected products they read two businesses at once: the device margin and the subscription margin, with attach rate linking them.
Slide by slide
What goes in an IoT and hardware deck
- 01
Product
What it does and for whom.
- 02
Bill of materials and margin
Device cost and margin.
- 03
Recurring revenue
Software or service attached to each device.
- 04
Manufacturing
Partner, minimums and lead times.
- 05
Certification
Required approvals and timeline.
- 06
Channels
Direct, retail or distributors.
- 07
Traction
Units shipped and active.
- 08
Plan
What the round funds.
The questions behind every slide
What readers of an IoT and hardware deck ask
Each answer names the slide or document where it belongs. If a question has no home in your deck, the reader will ask it in writing, or stop reading.
- 1
Which validation stage is the product at?
The product or milestones slide should state the current build stage, such as engineering, design or production validation, and the date of the next. Test reports go in the appendix.
- 2
What is the landed cost per unit, not just the parts cost?
The margin slide should use landed cost, including assembly, freight, duties and fulfillment. A cost breakdown sits in the appendix.
- 3
What share of device buyers pay for the subscription?
Show attach rate on the recurring revenue slide, by channel if it differs. It links the device business to the recurring one.
- 4
What does connectivity, cloud and support cost per device?
The recurring revenue slide should show service margin after those costs, so investors can see the subscription earns more than it costs to serve.
- 5
How much cash does inventory tie up?
The plan slide should show minimum order sizes, deposit terms and when cash returns from sales. A cash timing chart in the appendix helps.
- 6
How are returns and warranty claims handled?
An operations line states the return process and the warranty reserve. Return data by production batch goes in the appendix.
- 7
What one-time engineering and tooling costs are still ahead?
The plan slide should list remaining engineering and tooling spend and what each item buys. These costs are often missing from first drafts.
- 8
Is there a second source for key components?
The manufacturing slide should name long-lead and single-source parts and the backup plan for each.
Headline rewrites
Slide titles that say something.
A reader skims headlines first. A label tells them the topic; a sentence tells them the point. Bracketed figures are placeholders for your own numbers.
Before
Unit economics
After
Landed cost falls from $[X] to $[Y] per unit at [Z] units
Before
Subscription
After
[X]% of device buyers subscribe, adding $[X] a year each
Before
Roadmap
After
Design validation completes in [month], with certification by [month]
What we fix
Faults we see in IoT and hardware deck drafts
Hardware margin hidden.
Certification timeline missing.
Recurring revenue assumed, not shown.
What you receive
Documents we produce
- Investor deck
- Product diagrams
- One-page summary
Every file is delivered editable, in PowerPoint, Google Slides or Keynote, with a PDF for sending. An IoT and hardware deck rebuild starts at $3,500; the full Raise Set with one-pager and teaser is $10,000.
Format
Length, versions and appendix
- Length
- Commonly 12 to 16 slides, with product diagrams and a cost appendix.
- Send-ahead version
- PDF, with product renders compressed so the file opens quickly on a phone.
- Presented version
- Put the device on the table or on screen early, then go straight to margin and attach rate.
What belongs in the appendix
- Cost breakdown at current and target volume
- Build stage and test plan
- Certification plan by market
- Inventory and cash timing
- Supplier and long-lead parts list
Before you send it
IoT and hardware deck checklist
- Current build stage stated
- Landed cost used, not parts cost
- Hardware and service margins shown separately
- Attach rate shown
- Connectivity and cloud cost per device included
- Remaining tooling and engineering costs listed
- Minimum order and inventory cash timing shown
- Return and warranty process stated
Glossary
Terms used in an IoT and hardware deck
- Landed cost
- The full cost to make and deliver one unit, including parts, assembly, freight, duties and fulfillment.
- NRE
- Non-recurring engineering: one-time design and setup costs, often paid to a design firm or factory.
- Minimum order quantity (MOQ)
- The smallest number of units a factory or supplier will produce in one order.
- Attach rate
- The share of device buyers who also pay for a related service or subscription.
- EVT, DVT and PVT
- Engineering, design and production validation tests: the three build stages a product passes before mass production.
- Tooling
- The molds and dies used to mass-produce plastic or metal parts, usually a large upfront cost.
Your written brief
What to send us for an IoT and hardware deck
No call needed. Send what you have; missing items are listed in our written reply, and nothing is invented to fill a gap.
- 01CAD exports or renders of the device
- 02Bill of materials with costs at two or more volumes
- 03Contract manufacturer quotes or agreement summary
- 04Current build stage and test results
- 05Certification plan and status
- 06Subscription pricing and attach rate data
- 07Units shipped, active and returned
- 08Inventory and purchase order schedule
Packages
Four packages, fixed prices.
Deck Audit
$1,500
3 business days
A written verdict on the deck you have, before you send it to anyone.
- Slide-by-slide notes inside your file
- The fixes that matter most, in order
- Story, numbers and design, each assessed
- The investor questions your deck leaves open
One deck, up to 20 slides. No redesign included.
Choose Deck AuditInvestor Finish
$3,500
5 business days
Your draft, rebuilt to investor standard. Design only.
- Up to 15 slides rebuilt
- Charts redrawn from your data
- Your brand applied throughout
- One written revision round
- Editable PowerPoint, Google Slides or Keynote
Design only: your wording and slide order stay as they are.
Choose Investor FinishFinish + Story
$6,500
8 business days
We restructure the argument, rewrite the headlines, then rebuild the deck.
- Up to 20 slides
- Narrative restructured from your draft and notes
- Headlines rewritten as full-sentence points
- Send-ahead PDF version
- Two written revision rounds
We work from your facts. No market research or financial modeling.
Choose Finish + StoryRaise Set
$10,000
12 business days
Everything a raise needs, in one matching set.
- Up to 30 slides plus appendix
- Investor one-pager
- Short teaser version for cold outreach
- Three written revision rounds
- All source files
No investor introductions, fundraising or legal advice.
Choose Raise SetNot included in any package: Calls or meetings · Market research · Financial modeling or valuation · Investor introductions · Fundraising, legal or securities advice. Extra slides and extra revision rounds are quoted in writing before we start them.
Questions, answered.
Can you draw exploded views of the device?+
Yes, as diagrams from your CAD images.
How much does a pitch deck cost here?+
A written Deck Audit is $1,500. Investor Finish, a design rebuild of up to 15 slides, is $3,500. Finish + Story, with the argument restructured, is $6,500. Raise Set, up to 30 slides with a one-pager and teaser, is $10,000.
How long does it take?+
Three business days for an audit, five for Investor Finish, eight for Finish + Story and twelve for Raise Set, counted from payment and a complete brief.
Is there a call?+
No. No package includes a call or meeting. You brief us in writing and comment in writing.
What do I need to send?+
Your draft deck in any editable format, or notes if you chose a package with writing, plus a few lines on who will read it and what you are asking for.
How do I pay?+
By card, through a secure payment link we send once scope and delivery date are confirmed in writing.
More decks in Hardware and robotics
All 4 Hardware and robotics decksOther categories
Pitch deck design for hardware, robotics and deep tech companies: margins, manufacturing, certification and milestones made clear for investors.
Further reading
Sources we read when writing this page. General information only; not legal, tax or investment advice.
Have a draft? Send it today.
Choose a package, link your deck and write a few lines about who it is for. You get scope, a delivery date and a payment link in writing.