DE Design Works vs Very: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
DE Design Works (4.4/5) edges ahead of Very (4.2/5) overall. DE Design Works is the better choice for industrial and medical products needing PCB design with firmware. Very is the stronger option for distributed-delivery IoT programs needing firmware plus data and ML. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
DE Design Works vs Very: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | DE Design Works | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 | 2011 |
| HQ | Chesterfield, Missouri, USA | Bozeman, Montana, USA (fully distributed team) |
| Team size | 11–50 | 51–200 |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Pairs custom PCB hardware design with firmware development for industrial, medical, and military clients | Fully distributed IoT team combining firmware delivery with machine-learning-driven data solutions |
| Pricing model | Contract electronics and firmware design | IoT product development engagements from concept through deployment |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C, PCB design tools, IoT connectivity modules | Embedded C/C++, IoT connectivity stacks, Machine learning data pipelines |
| Industries served | Industrial, Medical, Military | Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Smart infrastructure |
DE Design Works vs Very: overview
DE Design Works
DE Design Works was founded in 2002 and is based in Chesterfield, Missouri, with a team in the 11 to 50 employee range. The firm pairs custom PCB hardware design with embedded firmware development for industrial, medical, and military clients, which reduces handoff friction on projects where hardware and firmware need to be co-designed rather than contracted separately. Public case studies and named clients are limited, so most specific claims beyond the company's core services rely on its own materials.
Very
Very, formerly known by a different name, was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, operating as a fully distributed team of 51 to 200 people working from numerous countries rather than from central offices. The firm builds connected ecosystems spanning IoT hardware, firmware, and software infrastructure, plus interface design and machine-learning-driven data solutions built on top of device data. Very has appeared on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private US companies multiple times, a verifiable third-party growth signal distinct from marketing claims.
Services and capabilities: DE Design Works vs Very
| Capability | DE Design Works | Very |
|---|---|---|
| RTOS firmware development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bare-metal & driver development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Secure boot / OTA firmware updates | ✗ | ✗ |
| MCU & platform migration | ✗ | ✗ |
| Connectivity & IoT protocols | ✓ | ✓ |
| Functional safety / MISRA compliance | ✗ | ✗ |
| Embedded AI / on-device inference | ✗ | ✓ |
| Firmware GUI development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Staff augmentation | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: DE Design Works vs Very
| Framework / platform | DE Design Works | Very |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| STM32 | N/A | N/A |
| ARM Cortex-M | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| Secure OTA | N/A | N/A |
| PCB | ✓ | N/A |
| AWS IoT | N/A | N/A |
| RISC-V | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: DE Design Works vs Very
| Criterion | DE Design Works | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: DE Design Works vs Very
| Dimension | DE Design Works | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Industrial, Medical, Military | Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Smart infrastructure |
| Best use cases | Custom PCB and firmware bring-up for an industrial controller, Military-spec device requiring both hardware design and embedded firmware | IoT program needing firmware paired with machine-learning-driven data analysis, Smart infrastructure product requiring both device firmware and interface design |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
DE Design Works vs Very: pros and cons
| DE Design Works | |
|---|---|
| + | PCB hardware and firmware handled by the same team reduces handoff friction on co-design projects |
| + | Military and medical client base suggests comfort with stricter documentation requirements |
| + | Two decades of operating history under one ownership structure |
| - | Team of 11 to 50 people limits how many programs can run in parallel |
| - | Public case studies and named clients are limited, so most claims rely on the company's own site |
| Very | |
|---|---|
| + | Repeat appearances on the Inc. 5000 list provide a verifiable third-party growth signal |
| + | Fully distributed team structure can draw specialist talent regardless of location |
| + | Combines firmware delivery with data solutions and machine learning on top of device telemetry |
| - | Fully distributed structure means no central office for in-person collaboration during an engagement |
| - | Montana headquarters is a smaller regional base than most firms' US locations on this list |
Who should choose DE Design Works?
A typical fit: custom PCB and firmware bring-up for an industrial controller.
Pairs custom PCB hardware design with firmware development for industrial, medical, and military clients. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial, Medical, Military.
Who should choose Very?
A typical fit: IoT program needing firmware paired with machine-learning-driven data analysis.
Fully distributed IoT team combining firmware delivery with machine-learning-driven data solutions. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Smart infrastructure.
Decision matrix: DE Design Works vs Very
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | DE Design Works |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Very |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: DE Design Works (Not published) vs Very (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | DE Design Works |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: DE Design Works vs Very
| Use case | DE Design Works fit | Very fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom PCB and firmware bring-up for an industrial controller | Strong | Limited | DE Design Works |
| Military-spec device requiring both hardware design and embedded firmware | Strong | Limited | DE Design Works |
| IoT program needing firmware paired with machine-learning-driven data analysis | Limited | Strong | Very |
| Smart infrastructure product requiring both device firmware and interface design | Limited | Strong | Very |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: DE Design Works vs Very
DE Design Works (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Pairs custom PCB hardware design with firmware development for industrial, medical, and military clients.
Very (4.2/5) is worth a look if you need smart infrastructure product requiring both device firmware and interface design. If your situation matches that, Very is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
DE Design Works vs Very FAQ
Is DE Design Works better than Very?
DE Design Works (4.4/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. DE Design Works's strongest advantage: PCB hardware and firmware handled by the same team reduces handoff friction on co-design projects. Very's strongest advantage: repeat appearances on the Inc. 5000 list provide a verifiable third-party growth signal.
How do DE Design Works and Very differ in pricing?
DE Design Works uses contract electronics and firmware design pricing. Very uses iot product development engagements from concept through deployment pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: DE Design Works 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 company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between DE Design Works and Very?
DE Design Works's primary differentiator is: pairs custom PCB hardware design with firmware development for industrial, medical, and military clients. Very's primary differentiator is: fully distributed IoT team combining firmware delivery with machine-learning-driven data solutions. They also differ in team size (11–50 vs 51–200), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Industrial, Medical vs Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.