A smart lighting technology innovator finds a more efficient way to illuminate homes.

By Hannah Blum

When Derek Richardson manually replaced the light switches in his home, he found the process extremely difficult and even dangerous at times. Between the hassle of stripping wires and navigating circuit breakers, there’s plenty of room for human error, especially for inexperienced homeowners. There is also the issue of time spent on such a project, which can take up to 45 minutes to an hour per light switch. Richardson found himself sacrificing three to four hours per weekend for six weekends changing out 40 light switches in his home and thought there must be a more efficient way to do this.

This experience sparked the idea behind Deako, a company Richardson founded to revolutionize how we interact with light switches.

Deako is focused on simplifying this process for homeowners, and it works alongside home builders to do so. In lieu of a typical light switch, these builders install the Deako backplate into their homes, which is wired into a standard junction box like any other light switch. It is then typically equipped with a Simple Rocker light switch before the screwless faceplate is snapped in place. From there, customers can choose from an array of switches, ranging from Smart Dimmers to Simple Motion Sensor Switches, and easily pop off the faceplate to change the switch.

This innovation is designed for everyone. Firstly, it decreases the time it takes to replace the light switch. It also eliminates the chances of an inexperienced homeowner shocking themselves and cuts the cost of having to call an electrician for backup. The flexibility behind Deako’s plug-n-play switches makes it easier for homeowners to adapt their homes to their everyday needs and make upgrades at their own pace without requiring rewiring or professional installation. Deako switches are also certified by the Underwriters Laboratories and Electrical Testing Laboratories.

Deako was founded almost 10 years ago, and like most companies, it didn’t happen overnight. “In any venture, you don’t just lace up your sneakers and start playing in the NBA. You work your way up,” says Richardson, who is also CEO of the company.

To streamline its idea, Deako began receiving feedback from a few locals who first put the switches in their homes. This response then started coming from a group of small home builders installing the switches and gradually made its way up to builders who construct 100,000 homes a year. Deako continues listening to the homeowners too, and one of its newest additions are smart switches that connect to a smart home assistant for even more accessibility options.

Deako believes in the power of listening to all of its employees and customers. “Probably the biggest pivoted change that we had came from a customer in an off-the-cuff comment that they made,” Richardson notes. “The best ideas have to win — not be based around company hierarchy.” This approach has been pivotal in ensuring that Deako stays innovative and meets homeowners’ evolving needs. 

The company has collaborated with Google Home, secured deals with homebuilders across the country, and entered into several key partnerships as it has successfully scaled up, acquiring 10 U.S. patents and trademark acknowledgements along the way. Most recently, in September 2024, it announced the debut of a Simple Ventilation Timer to improve air quality in single- and multi-family homes with enhanced energy efficiency, assisting builders in meeting certain ventilation codes and allowing them to earn ENERGY STAR® points for improved exhaust ventilation. 

Deako continues to expand its horizons, branching out to other ventures like outlets that match the design of its switches to customizable faceplates and backplates to reflect anyone’s personality. It’s important to continue adapting to the needs of its customer, sharing ideas, and giving credit where credit’s due for everyone involved. Today, there are about 10,000 homes a month installing Deako light switches, and the continued line of communication between company and customer is responsible for this growth.

“A real leader is thinking about the success of the whole over the success of themself,” Richardson says. Deako’s journey highlights that, with the right mindset, even something as simple as a light switch can be revolutionary.

Hannah Blume is a contributing writer to Real Leaders.