Beningo Embedded Group vs Very: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Beningo Embedded Group (3.8/5) edges ahead of Very (3.8/5) overall. Beningo Embedded Group is the better choice for in-house teams needing architecture and process coaching. Very is the stronger option for US companies building a first connected product. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Beningo Embedded Group vs Very: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Beningo Embedded Group | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 | 2011 |
| HQ | Linden, MI, USA | USA (fully distributed) |
| Team size | 1–10 | 51–200 |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Founder-led firmware architecture reviews and training from a widely published author | Product-strategy-led IoT development with Nerves and Elixir experience |
| Pricing model | Consulting retainer, workshops, subscription | Time & materials, fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, Rust | C, Elixir, Nerves |
| Industries served | Automotive, Aerospace & defence, Semiconductors, Consumer electronics | Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics, Energy & EV charging |
Beningo Embedded Group vs Very: overview
Beningo Embedded Group
Jacob Beningo founded Beningo Embedded Group in 2009 after a decade of embedded work in automotive, defence and space. The Linden, Michigan firm is mostly a consulting and training business: architecture reviews, process coaching, workshops and a subscription programme for embedded teams, alongside partners across North America, Europe and Asia. Listed clients include Intel, Renesas, Microchip and Volkswagen. It belongs on this list for buyers who need to fix how their own team builds firmware, and it is not set up to deliver a product for you.
Very
Very is a US IoT engineering firm that grew out of a design and development agency founded in 2011 and now works as a distributed team, with its earlier base in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Directory listings put its size at 51 to 200 people. It builds IoT products across hardware engineering, firmware, mobile apps and data, and it hired a co-author of the Nerves project, which runs Elixir on embedded Linux. Reviews mention hardware, firmware, React Native and AI feature work, so firmware is one part of a broader product offer.
Services and capabilities: Beningo Embedded Group vs Very
| Capability | Beningo Embedded Group | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Bare-metal & RTOS firmware | ✓ | ✗ |
| Embedded Linux & BSP | ✗ | ✓ |
| Electronics & PCB design | ✗ | ✓ |
| Wireless & IoT connectivity | ✗ | ✓ |
| Secure boot & OTA | ✗ | ✗ |
| FPGA development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Firmware testing & HIL | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Beningo Embedded Group vs Very
| Framework / platform | Beningo Embedded Group | Very |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | ✓ | N/A |
| Zephyr | ✓ | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | ✓ |
| Yocto | N/A | N/A |
| AUTOSAR | N/A | N/A |
| STM32 | ✓ | N/A |
| Nordic | N/A | ✓ |
| NXP | N/A | N/A |
| FPGA | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Beningo Embedded Group vs Very
| Criterion | Beningo Embedded Group | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Consulting | Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Beningo Embedded Group vs Very
| Dimension | Beningo Embedded Group | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Automotive, Aerospace & defence, Semiconductors | Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics, Energy & EV charging |
| Best use cases | Reviewing a firmware architecture before a major rewrite, Training an in-house team on RTOS design and test-driven development | Taking a first IoT product from concept to pilot, Building Nerves-based device software on embedded Linux |
| Typical project type | Consulting | Fixed project |
Beningo Embedded Group vs Very: pros and cons
| Beningo Embedded Group | |
|---|---|
| + | Independent architecture reviews from an author and conference speaker known in embedded circles |
| + | Training and workshops raise an existing team's skills instead of replacing them |
| + | Advice on CI, testing and modern tooling such as Rust and Zephyr |
| - | Advisory and training firm with very limited capacity for hands-on product development |
| - | Tiny core team, so availability is limited |
| Very | |
|---|---|
| + | Combines product strategy, design and engineering for teams new to hardware |
| + | Nerves experience is rare and useful for Elixir-based device software |
| + | Delivers the device, app and data platform together |
| - | Firmware is one part of a product agency offer |
| - | US rates without a lower-cost offshore option |
| - | Office location and headcount details vary between sources |
Who should choose Beningo Embedded Group?
A typical fit: reviewing a firmware architecture before a major rewrite.
Founder-led firmware architecture reviews and training from a widely published author. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Automotive, Aerospace & defence, Semiconductors, Consumer electronics.
Who should choose Very?
A typical fit: taking a first IoT product from concept to pilot.
Product-strategy-led IoT development with Nerves and Elixir experience. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics, Energy & EV charging.
Decision matrix: Beningo Embedded Group vs Very
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Very |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Beningo Embedded Group (Not disclosed) vs Very (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Beningo Embedded Group |
| You need engineers to extend your own firmware team | Neither lists a dedicated-team model |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Beningo Embedded Group |
Use case fit: Beningo Embedded Group vs Very
| Use case | Beningo Embedded Group fit | Very fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reviewing a firmware architecture before a major rewrite | Strong | Limited | Beningo Embedded Group |
| Training an in-house team on RTOS design and test-driven development | Strong | Limited | Beningo Embedded Group |
| Taking a first IoT product from concept to pilot | Limited | Strong | Very |
| Building Nerves-based device software on embedded Linux | Limited | Strong | Very |
| Fixed-price firmware build | Limited | Strong | Very |
| Extending an in-house firmware team | Limited | Strong | Very |
Verdict: Beningo Embedded Group vs Very
Beningo Embedded Group (3.8/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Founder-led firmware architecture reviews and training from a widely published author.
Very (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need building Nerves-based device software on embedded Linux. If your situation matches that, Very is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Beningo Embedded Group vs Very FAQ
Is Beningo Embedded Group better than Very?
Beningo Embedded Group (3.8/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Beningo Embedded Group's strongest advantage: independent architecture reviews from an author and conference speaker known in embedded circles. Very's strongest advantage: combines product strategy, design and engineering for teams new to hardware.
How do Beningo Embedded Group and Very differ in pricing?
Beningo Embedded Group uses consulting retainer, workshops, subscription pricing. Very uses time & materials, fixed project pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Beningo Embedded Group or Very?
Very is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each service provider before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Beningo Embedded Group and Very?
Beningo Embedded Group's primary differentiator is: founder-led firmware architecture reviews and training from a widely published author. Very's primary differentiator is: product-strategy-led IoT development with Nerves and Elixir experience. They also differ in team size (1–10 vs 51–200), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Automotive, Aerospace & defence vs Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics).
Verify all details directly with each service provider before making a decision.