Promwad vs Punch Through: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Promwad (4.4/5) edges ahead of Punch Through (4.3/5) overall. Promwad is the better choice for hardware startups heading for volume production. Punch Through is the stronger option for bluetooth LE products with companion mobile apps. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Promwad vs Punch Through: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Promwad | Punch Through |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 | 2009 |
| HQ | Essen, Germany | Minneapolis–Saint Paul, MN, USA |
| Team size | 101–250 | 11–50 |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Combined PCB, FPGA and firmware design with manufacturing preparation, delivered from EU entities | Bluetooth LE firmware and mobile apps built by the same team, with deep radio-level debugging experience |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, time & materials, dedicated team | Time & materials, fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, Embedded Linux | C, Zephyr, FreeRTOS |
| Industries served | Telecom & broadcast, Automotive, Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics | Medical devices, Consumer electronics |
Promwad vs Punch Through: overview
Promwad
Roman Pakholkov started Promwad in Minsk in 2004 to design mass-produced electronics on system-on-chip platforms, and the company has since moved its business into the EU, with headquarters in Essen, Germany and a client delivery office in Lithuania. It reports more than 100 employees across 15 countries (per company website; independently unverifiable) and over 500 completed projects. Work spans schematic and PCB design, FPGA logic, embedded Linux, RTOS firmware and preparing designs for factory production. Broadcast video, telecom, automotive and industrial automation are its most frequently cited sectors.
Punch Through
Few firms go as deep on Bluetooth LE as Punch Through. The Minnesota company was founded in 2009 by Colin Karpfinger and employs somewhere between 11 and 50 people according to directory listings. It builds connected products where the radio link is the hard part: device firmware on Nordic, Silicon Labs and TI chips, plus the iOS and Android apps that pair with them. Its public guides on BLE throughput, pairing and power use are widely read by embedded engineers. A large share of its client work is medical and consumer health devices.
Services and capabilities: Promwad vs Punch Through
| Capability | Promwad | Punch Through |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Promwad vs Punch Through
| Framework / platform | Promwad | Punch Through |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Zephyr | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | ✓ | N/A |
| Yocto | ✓ | N/A |
| AUTOSAR | N/A | N/A |
| STM32 | ✓ | N/A |
| Nordic | N/A | ✓ |
| NXP | ✓ | N/A |
| FPGA | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Promwad vs Punch Through
| Criterion | Promwad | Punch Through |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Fixed project, Time & materials | Consulting, Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Promwad vs Punch Through
| Dimension | Promwad | Punch Through |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Telecom & broadcast, Automotive, Industrial IoT | Medical devices, Consumer electronics |
| Best use cases | Designing an FPGA-based video encoder board with embedded Linux, Taking an IoT sensor from prototype to a design ready for volume production | Fixing dropped connections between a BLE wearable and its iOS app, Building firmware and a companion app for a connected glucose or heart-rate device |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Consulting |
Promwad vs Punch Through: pros and cons
| Promwad | |
|---|---|
| + | FPGA and firmware engineers work in the same team, which helps on video and high-speed interface products |
| + | Design-for-manufacturing experience reduces surprises when a prototype moves to a contract manufacturer |
| + | Twenty years of shipped products gives it a long reference list across telecom and broadcast |
| + | Contracting through EU entities simplifies procurement for European buyers |
| - | Founded in Belarus and relocated to the EU; some buyers will want to confirm where their engineers are actually based |
| - | Headcount figures vary by source, so ask who will be assigned before signing |
| - | Pure firmware jobs without a hardware component are a smaller share of its portfolio |
| Punch Through | |
|---|---|
| + | Firmware and mobile apps from one team removes the usual finger-pointing over BLE connection bugs |
| + | Published technical guides show real depth in BLE throughput, pairing and power optimization |
| + | Experience with connected medical products and their data-integrity requirements |
| - | Narrow focus on Bluetooth LE makes it a weaker fit for cellular, wired or Linux-class products |
| - | Small team, so availability can be limited |
| - | US rates are among the higher ones on this list |
Who should choose Promwad?
A typical fit: designing an FPGA-based video encoder board with embedded Linux.
Combined PCB, FPGA and firmware design with manufacturing preparation, delivered from EU entities. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Telecom & broadcast, Automotive, Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics.
Who should choose Punch Through?
A typical fit: fixing dropped connections between a BLE wearable and its iOS app.
Bluetooth LE firmware and mobile apps built by the same team, with deep radio-level debugging experience. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Medical devices, Consumer electronics.
Decision matrix: Promwad vs Punch Through
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Promwad |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Promwad |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Promwad (Not disclosed) vs Punch Through (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Promwad |
| You need engineers to extend your own firmware team | Promwad |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Promwad vs Punch Through
| Use case | Promwad fit | Punch Through fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Designing an FPGA-based video encoder board with embedded Linux | Strong | Limited | Promwad |
| Taking an IoT sensor from prototype to a design ready for volume production | Strong | Limited | Promwad |
| Fixing dropped connections between a BLE wearable and its iOS app | Limited | Strong | Punch Through |
| Building firmware and a companion app for a connected glucose or heart-rate device | Limited | Strong | Punch Through |
| Fixed-price firmware build | Strong | Strong | Both |
| Extending an in-house firmware team | Strong | Strong | Both |
Verdict: Promwad vs Punch Through
Promwad (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Combined PCB, FPGA and firmware design with manufacturing preparation, delivered from EU entities.
Punch Through (4.3/5) is worth a look if you need building firmware and a companion app for a connected glucose or heart-rate device. If your situation matches that, Punch Through is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Promwad vs Punch Through FAQ
Is Promwad better than Punch Through?
Promwad (4.4/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Promwad's strongest advantage: FPGA and firmware engineers work in the same team, which helps on video and high-speed interface products. Punch Through's strongest advantage: firmware and mobile apps from one team removes the usual finger-pointing over BLE connection bugs.
How do Promwad and Punch Through differ in pricing?
Promwad uses fixed project, time & materials, dedicated team pricing. Punch Through 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: Promwad or Punch Through?
Promwad 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 Promwad and Punch Through?
Promwad's primary differentiator is: combined PCB, FPGA and firmware design with manufacturing preparation, delivered from EU entities. Punch Through's primary differentiator is: bluetooth LE firmware and mobile apps built by the same team, with deep radio-level debugging experience. They also differ in team size (101–250 vs 11–50), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Telecom & broadcast, Automotive vs Medical devices, Consumer electronics).
Verify all details directly with each service provider before making a decision.