Hardware Pioneers 2025 | What we Thought, Learned and Loved

As a longstanding UK based electronics design consultancy, we’re no strangers to Hardware Pioneers Max. This year (more than ever) proved why it’s become a key date in the calendar for anyone serious about IoT, cutting-edge hardware, and embedded software.

This was i4PD’s fourth year attending, and the event once again showed impressive growth. Bigger and busier than previous years, the 2025 edition delivered a strong mix of technical insight, commercial opportunity, and meaningful conversations with ambitious startups to established industry names.

More Focus than Previous Years

From the outset, it was clear that this year’s Hardware Pioneers Max had taken another step up in scale. There were more stands and attendees, and the quality of conversations we had with leads on our stand was noticeably higher.

As an electronics design consultancy, we welcomed the chance to speak with a range of companies. What stood out this year was the number of established businesses actively looking to outsource electronics design services. While startup energy remains a core part of the show’s culture (and area in which we work), it’s clear that experienced product companies are struggling to hold onto talent or grow with their R&D demands so consultancies like i4PD are often the preferred option for new projects.

Hardware Pioneers 2025 event at Business Design Centre in London. Main concourse with a large amount of stands.

Ensure an Event Strategy at Hardware Pioneers

A question we’ve raised every time the show has grown has been “is bigger really better”? We’ll certainly find out when the show moves to it’s new home at the London ExCeL next year. So far there hasn’t been a drop in quality but with bigger shows you need to start the event with a clear objective: making the most of our time through pre-arranged meetings and targeted networking. While we had some great conversations, we have to be honest… the official matchmaking app was clunky, and we found it difficult to track or manage leads effectively through it.

That said, some attendees persisted with the app and the effort paid off as we made several strong new connections despite less than 10% of people actively engaging with the networking app. The team also reconnected with familiar faces, highlighting why these in-person events remain so valuable despite the rise of digital outreach.

people talking at the i4 Electronics design consultancy exhibition stand at the hardware pioneers event

Spotlight on Sustainability: Energy Harvesting and Low-Power Design

One of the most exciting aspects of this year’s show was the increased presence of low-power electronics and energy harvesting – two areas that align with our own values and expertise.

Our lead electronics engineer, Istvan, attended a talk on self-charging batteries. Brands such as Nichicon, Epishine, and Qoitech demonstrated how indoor light powered solar cells, coupled with efficient power management are unlocking new possibilities for product electronics. We were pleased to see the advanced performance and accessibility of this tech. The cost and complexity of energy harvesting solutions are coming down.

“Printed solar cells and ultra-low-power ICs are making self-powered electronics viable for real-world use cases, not just R&D labs.”
— Istvan, i4 Electronics

It was great that Hardware Pioneers was an opportunity to network with component manufacturers and engineers within energy harvesting. We continue to support clients exploring and adopting low-power systems, battery management, and sustainable electronics design. The demos we saw from Nichicon and Epishine (photographed) were a strong signal that the ecosystem for energy harvesting electronics is maturing quickly.

Nichicon’s printed solar cell demo for sustainable low-power electronics design

Istvan of i4 Electronics Design Consultancy at a Nichicon Energy Harvesting Talk

Tech Trends: Too Much AI?

AI and machine learning was everywhere. Istvan shared a view we suspect many engineers will agree with: the AI focus was a bit much. “I would have liked to see more focus on RF protocols like Matter, or progress in hardware innovation beyond AI,” he noted.

AI is playing a growing role within our Product Design and Software teams at i4PD but the coverage drowned out many areas that could have been explored within the seminars and fireside chats.

Takeaways Impacting our Work

Aside from inspiration, the show brought us new supplier contacts for components, PCBs, and cable prototyping. That’s the kind of practical, relationship-building value that makes trade shows worth the time and travel.

Whether it’s sourcing new parts or better understanding our clients’ evolving needs, Hardware Pioneers Max continues to help us grow and refine what we offer as a trusted electronics design partner.

See you there next year?