Key takeaways
- Top pick: Oura, best for: Comprehensive wearable sleep tracking. Oura reported 5.7 million paid members when it set terms for an IPO, which it postponed in September 2026.
- Also near the top: Base Power, best for: Homeowners in Texas and Illinois wanting backup power; and Zipline, best for: Retailers and health systems adding drone delivery.
- How it was ranked: 10 startups compared. Each verdict is below.
Best Hardware Startups to Watch: Top 10 Ranked. Oura ranks first, with a Lister Score of 96.4.
Oura and
Base Power are the hardware startups to watch globally: Oura for the smart ring with millions of paying members, Base Power for home batteries that also serve the grid.
Zipline is the most proven in drone delivery,
Verkada is the one to know for cloud security cameras, and
Nothing is the most distinctive new phone maker.
Best Hardware Startups to Watch in 2026, compared| RANK | ENTRY | BEST FOR | SCORE | FROM |
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| 1 |  OuraOura reported 5.7 million paid members when it set terms for an IPO, which it postponed in September 2026. | Comprehensive wearable sleep tracking | 96.4 | £299 |
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| 2 |  Base PowerThe August 2026 Series D took Base Power's total capital raised to more than $2.5 billion. | Homeowners in Texas and Illinois wanting backup power | 95.2 | Not public |
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| 3 |  ZiplineReports on the January 2026 round cited 2 million drone deliveries completed by Zipline. | Retailers and health systems adding drone delivery | 94.0 | Custom |
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| 4 |  VerkadaVerkada says its devices run in more than 30,000 organizations in 170 countries, and it reported more than $1 billion in annualized bookings in 2025. | Security and IT leaders | 92.8 | – |
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| 5 |  Flock SafetyFlock says its technology is used in more than 6,000 communities. | Police departments and cities investigating crime | 91.5 | Custom |
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| 6 |  SkydioIn March 2026 the US Army ordered more than 2,500 X10D drones from Skydio in a $52 million deal. | Public safety, utility and defense teams that need US-made drones | 90.3 | Custom |
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| 7 |  NothingNothing says it has passed $1 billion in cumulative sales. | Buyers who want a well-designed mid-range phone | 89.0 | From £349 |
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| 8 |  Eight SleepThe March 2026 round followed a $100 million Series D in August 2025. | Athletes prioritising recovery optimisation and sleep-based training | 87.7 | £299 (hardware + subscription) |
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| 9 |  LumafieldLumafield unveiled Saturn, a large-format industrial CT scanner for complex assemblies and dense materials, in September 2026. | Engineering and quality teams inspecting products | 86.4 | Custom |
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| 10 |  Framework ComputerThe Framework Laptop 12 starts at $549 as a DIY edition and $699 pre-built. | Buyers who want a laptop they can repair and upgrade | 85.1 | From $549 |
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How to choose
Start from what you need it for. Where each entry fits best:
- Oura (#1): Comprehensive wearable sleep tracking
- Base Power (#2): Homeowners in Texas and Illinois wanting backup power
- Zipline (#3): Retailers and health systems adding drone delivery
- Verkada (#4): Security and IT leaders
- Flock Safety (#5): Police departments and cities investigating crime
- Skydio (#6): Public safety, utility and defense teams that need US-made drones
- Nothing (#7): Buyers who want a well-designed mid-range phone
- Eight Sleep (#8): Athletes prioritising recovery optimisation and sleep-based training
- Lumafield (#9): Engineering and quality teams inspecting products
- Framework Computer (#10): Buyers who want a laptop they can repair and upgrade
Each entry's full verdict is below.
The ranking, in detail
01
Oura, founded in 2013 in Oulu, Finland, makes the Oura Ring, a smart ring that tracks sleep, activity and heart health through a paid membership. It raised a $900 million Series E in October 2025 at a valuation of about $11 billion, and launched the smaller Oura Ring 5 in May 2026.
PROS- Highly accurate sleep stage and heart rate monitoring
- Discreet and comfortable ring form factor
CONS- Requires a monthly subscription fee for full data access
- Best for
- Comprehensive wearable sleep tracking
- Where it falls short
- You must pay a monthly subscription fee to access full data.
- Pick something else if
- you need its advanced features on a tight budget.
96.4
02
Home batteries bundled with electricity plans
Base Power, founded in 2023 in Austin, Texas, by Zach Dell and Justin Lopas, installs large home batteries bundled with an electricity plan, giving homes backup power and supplying the grid. In August 2026 it raised a $1 billion Series D at a $13 billion valuation and launched Base Core, a 39.2 kWh battery built in the United States.
PROS- Battery and power plan in one package
- Fast customer growth
CONS- Only available in two states
- Battery stays owned by Base
- Best for
- Homeowners in Texas and Illinois wanting backup power
- Where it falls short
- Base Power only operates in two states, limiting availability for most homeowners.
- Pick something else if
- you live outside Texas or Illinois.
95.2
03
Autonomous drone delivery network
Zipline, founded in 2014 and based in South San Francisco, runs autonomous drone delivery for health systems, retailers and restaurants. In January 2026 it raised more than $600 million at a $7.6 billion valuation, led by Valor Equity Partners.
PROS- Millions of commercial deliveries
- Operates in the US and Africa
CONS- A service, not a drone you can buy
- Coverage limited to served areas
- Best for
- Retailers and health systems adding drone delivery
- Where it falls short
- It only serves specific geographic areas and does not sell hardware.
- Pick something else if
- you need nationwide coverage or want to buy drones.
94.0
04
Proactive physical security powered by AI
Verkada, founded in 2016 and based in San Mateo, California, sells security cameras, access control, alarms and environmental sensors managed from one cloud platform. In December 2025 it was valued at $5.8 billion in an investment led by CapitalG.
PROS- The product eliminates NVRs by blending on-prem reliability with cloud scalability.
- Verkada delivers automatic firmware updates at no extra cost with minimal downtime.
- Best for
- Security and IT leaders
92.8
05
Licence plate cameras for public safety
Flock Safety, founded in 2017 in Atlanta, makes licence plate reader cameras, gunshot detection and drones for police departments, cities, neighbourhoods and businesses. Its $275 million Series F in March 2025 valued the company at $7.5 billion.
PROS- Wide adoption by US police departments
- Hardware and software in one subscription
CONS- Privacy criticism from some cities
- Mostly US focused
- Best for
- Police departments and cities investigating crime
- Where it falls short
- It is mostly US focused, limiting its utility for international buyers.
- Pick something else if
- you operate outside the United States.
91.5
06
Autonomous drones for enterprise and defense
Skydio, founded in 2014 and based in San Mateo, California, makes autonomous drones such as the X10 and remote docks for defense, public safety and infrastructure inspection. In April 2026 it raised a $110 million Series F at a $4.4 billion valuation.
PROS- US-made and cleared for government use
- Strong onboard autonomy
CONS- Enterprise pricing only
- No consumer line
- Best for
- Public safety, utility and defense teams that need US-made drones
- Where it falls short
- It offers no consumer line and requires enterprise pricing.
- Pick something else if
- you need a consumer drone.
90.3
07
Phones and audio with a transparent design
Nothing, founded in 2020 in London by Carl Pei, makes phones, earbuds and headphones with a transparent design, plus the lower-priced CMF line. It raised a $200 million Series C in September 2025 at a $1.3 billion valuation, led by Tiger Global.
PROS- Distinctive design at fair prices
- Clean software with few extras
CONS- Some models not sold in the US
- Smaller service network than big brands
- Best for
- Buyers who want a well-designed mid-range phone
- Where it falls short
- It has a smaller service network than big brands.
- Pick something else if
- you need extensive local support.
89.0
08
Recovery-focused AI coaching through sleep and biometric data
Eight Sleep, founded in 2014 and based in New York, makes the Pod, a mattress cover that heats and cools each side of the bed and tracks sleep without a wearable. In March 2026 it raised $50 million at a $1.5 billion valuation in a round led by Tether Investments.
PROS- Unique focus on sleep-based recovery and readiness metrics
- Advanced biometric tracking integration for comprehensive health picture
CONS- High upfront cost for smart mattress cover hardware
- Primarily recovery-focused; limited active workout coaching
- Best for
- Athletes prioritising recovery optimisation and sleep-based training
- Where it falls short
- The high upfront cost for smart mattress cover hardware may be prohibitive.
87.7
09
Industrial X-ray CT scanners
Lumafield, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, makes industrial X-ray CT scanners, including Neptune and the large-format Saturn, with cloud software for inspecting parts and assemblies. It raised a $75 million Series C in March 2025, led by IVP.
PROS- Makes CT inspection easier to use
- Cloud analysis software included
CONS- Price not published
- Industrial buyers only
- Best for
- Engineering and quality teams inspecting products
- Where it falls short
- It restricts access to industrial buyers only.
- Pick something else if
- you are not an industrial buyer.
86.4
10
Repairable, modular laptops
Framework Computer, founded in 2019 in San Francisco, makes modular laptops and desktops that owners can repair and upgrade with swappable parts sold through its own marketplace.
PROS- Repairable and upgradeable
- Parts sold directly
CONS- Costs more than similar laptops
- Small company next to PC giants
- Best for
- Buyers who want a laptop they can repair and upgrade
- Where it falls short
- It costs more than similar laptops.
- Pick something else if
- you want a cheaper laptop.
85.1
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best Hardware Startups to Watch?
Oura ranks first on Lister. Oura, founded in 2013 in Oulu, Finland, makes the Oura Ring, a smart ring that tracks sleep, activity and heart health through a paid membership. It raised a $900 million Series E in October 2025 at a valuation of about $11 billion, and launched the smaller Oura Ring 5 in May 2026.
What are the top 10 Hardware Startups to Watch?
1. Oura; 2. Base Power; 3. Zipline; 4. Verkada; 5. Flock Safety; 6. Skydio; 7. Nothing; 8. Eight Sleep; 9. Lumafield; 10. Framework Computer.
Sources
Where we checked each company's facts, and when.
Some links on Lister are affiliate links. Rankings are not affected.
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