Embien Technologies vs Very: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Embien Technologies (4.1/5) edges ahead of Very (3.8/5) overall. Embien Technologies is the better choice for automotive and semiconductor firmware at Indian rates. 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.
Embien Technologies vs Very: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Embien Technologies | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2010 | 2011 |
| HQ | Madurai, India | USA (fully distributed) |
| Team size | 51–200 | 51–200 |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Renesas partner with its own reusable protocol stack libraries (RAPIDSEA) | Product-strategy-led IoT development with Nerves and Elixir experience |
| Pricing model | Time & materials, fixed project, offshore development centre | Time & materials, fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | C, AUTOSAR, FreeRTOS | C, Elixir, Nerves |
| Industries served | Automotive, Medical devices, Industrial IoT, Semiconductors | Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics, Energy & EV charging |
Embien Technologies vs Very: overview
Embien Technologies
Embien Technologies has run an embedded product engineering business since 2010 from Madurai, India, with additional presence in Chennai, Bengaluru, Palatine, Illinois and Germany. It is a Renesas design partner and sells its own RAPIDSEA protocol stack libraries alongside services. Engagements cover automotive ECUs and instrument clusters, medical devices, industrial controllers and semiconductor reference designs, with team estimates of 60 to 200. Indian rates make it a cost-effective choice for MCU firmware and BSP work.
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: Embien Technologies vs Very
| Capability | Embien Technologies | 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: Embien Technologies vs Very
| Framework / platform | Embien Technologies | Very |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | ✓ | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | ✓ | ✓ |
| Yocto | N/A | N/A |
| AUTOSAR | ✓ | N/A |
| STM32 | ✓ | N/A |
| Nordic | N/A | ✓ |
| NXP | N/A | N/A |
| FPGA | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Embien Technologies vs Very
| Criterion | Embien Technologies | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Fixed project, Time & materials | Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Embien Technologies vs Very
| Dimension | Embien Technologies | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Automotive, Medical devices, Industrial IoT | Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics, Energy & EV charging |
| Best use cases | Developing instrument-cluster firmware on Renesas RH850, Adding CANopen or Modbus to an industrial controller | Taking a first IoT product from concept to pilot, Building Nerves-based device software on embedded Linux |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Fixed project |
Embien Technologies vs Very: pros and cons
| Embien Technologies | |
|---|---|
| + | Own protocol stacks shorten development time for CAN, Modbus and similar interfaces |
| + | Renesas partnership is useful for automotive MCUs such as RH850 and R-Car |
| + | Indian delivery rates suit long firmware programmes |
| - | Smaller and less widely known than the large Indian engineering services firms |
| - | Large time-zone gap with US West Coast clients |
| 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 Embien Technologies?
A typical fit: developing instrument-cluster firmware on Renesas RH850.
Renesas partner with its own reusable protocol stack libraries (RAPIDSEA). Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Automotive, Medical devices, Industrial IoT, Semiconductors.
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: Embien Technologies vs Very
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Embien Technologies |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Embien Technologies |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Embien Technologies (Not disclosed) vs Very (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Embien Technologies |
| You need engineers to extend your own firmware team | Embien Technologies |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Embien Technologies vs Very
| Use case | Embien Technologies fit | Very fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developing instrument-cluster firmware on Renesas RH850 | Strong | Limited | Embien Technologies |
| Adding CANopen or Modbus to an industrial controller | Strong | Limited | Embien Technologies |
| 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 | Strong | Strong | Both |
| Extending an in-house firmware team | Strong | Strong | Both |
Verdict: Embien Technologies vs Very
Embien Technologies (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Renesas partner with its own reusable protocol stack libraries (RAPIDSEA).
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
Embien Technologies vs Very FAQ
Is Embien Technologies better than Very?
Embien Technologies (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Embien Technologies's strongest advantage: own protocol stacks shorten development time for CAN, Modbus and similar interfaces. Very's strongest advantage: combines product strategy, design and engineering for teams new to hardware.
How do Embien Technologies and Very differ in pricing?
Embien Technologies uses time & materials, fixed project, offshore development centre 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: Embien Technologies or Very?
Embien Technologies 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 Embien Technologies and Very?
Embien Technologies's primary differentiator is: renesas partner with its own reusable protocol stack libraries (RAPIDSEA). Very's primary differentiator is: product-strategy-led IoT development with Nerves and Elixir experience. They also differ in team size (51–200 vs 51–200), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Automotive, Medical devices vs Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics).
Verify all details directly with each service provider before making a decision.