From Apple’s bare-bones circuit board to Oculus’s Kickstarter headset, nearly every major consumer hardware breakout of the past 20 years started the same way: with a developer kit. In our newly released 2025 Benchmark Report, we explore how DevKits have emerged as the launchpad for billion-dollar platforms — and why OpenHome is betting on the same strategy to lead the future of voice AI.
A New Era of Hardware Innovation
In the 1980s and 90s, Japan set the global pace for hardware breakthroughs — think Walkman, Game Boy, LCD displays, and plasma TVs. But since 2000, the model has shifted. The most valuable hardware platforms are now developer-led first — launching DevKits to attract early adopters, co-create applications, and build ecosystems before scaling to consumers.
📊 Inside the Report
The 2025 Benchmark Report includes:
A historical breakdown of legendary DevKit-first launches: Apple I, Oculus, Pebble, Nest, Ring, DJI, Roku, and more
Key patterns and timing behind their success
A 3-step formula used by companies that went from kit to unicorn
OpenHome’s own strategy and how it fits into this proven playbook
Why This Matters Now
As generative AI and local inference become viable at the edge, the demand for developer-first platforms is reaching a new peak. OpenHome is riding that wave — delivering a DevKit for voice AI that’s open, programmable, and built for speed. If you're a developer, this moment mirrors the early days of Apple, Android, or Arduino.
📥 Download the 2025 Benchmark Report — Free PDF
See how the world’s top hardware companies got their start, and why developer-led platforms are the future of voice AI.