DeepSea Developments vs Rigado: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
DeepSea Developments (4.4/5) edges ahead of Rigado (4.3/5) overall. DeepSea Developments is the better choice for early-stage hardware startups building a first connected product. Rigado is the stronger option for commercial IoT deployments needing pre-certified BLE modules and firmware. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
DeepSea Developments vs Rigado: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | DeepSea Developments | Rigado |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2017 | 2010 |
| HQ | Palo Alto, California, USA | Portland and Salem, Oregon, USA (also London, UK and Shenzhen, China) |
| Team size | 11–50 | 12–17 |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Silicon Valley boutique sized specifically for early-stage hardware startups rather than enterprise programs | Pre-certified low-power wireless modules paired with edge computing and firmware for large-scale commercial IoT rollouts |
| Pricing model | Project-based product and firmware development | Product and firmware engagements, plus module and hardware sales |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, IoT connectivity stacks, Cloud integration | BLE, 802.15.4, Edge computing platforms |
| Industries served | Consumer electronics, IoT hardware startups | Retail IoT, Smart buildings, Asset tracking |
DeepSea Developments vs Rigado: overview
DeepSea Developments
DeepSea Developments was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with a team in the 11 to 50 employee range. The firm works on electronics, IoT, hardware, and firmware development, sized specifically for early-stage hardware startups building a first connected product rather than for large enterprise programs. Its Silicon Valley location puts it close to the startup ecosystem it primarily serves, and the small team keeps communication direct without account-management layers between the client and the engineers.
Rigado
Rigado was founded in 2010 by Justin Rigling and Ben Corrado and is headquartered in Portland and Salem, Oregon, with additional offices in London and Shenzhen; employee counts are reported between roughly 12 and 17 people depending on the source. The firm provides pre-certified low-power wireless modules alongside gateways, firmware, and an edge computing platform for commercial and industrial IoT deployments such as asset tracking and smart buildings. Its small team size focused on Bluetooth Low Energy and edge connectivity makes it a narrower specialist than the larger, broader-scope firms on this list.
Services and capabilities: DeepSea Developments vs Rigado
| Capability | DeepSea Developments | Rigado |
|---|---|---|
| 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: DeepSea Developments vs Rigado
| Framework / platform | DeepSea Developments | Rigado |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| Secure OTA | N/A | N/A |
| PCB | N/A | N/A |
| AWS IoT | N/A | N/A |
| RISC-V | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: DeepSea Developments vs Rigado
| Criterion | DeepSea Developments | Rigado |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: DeepSea Developments vs Rigado
| Dimension | DeepSea Developments | Rigado |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer electronics, IoT hardware startups | Retail IoT, Smart buildings, Asset tracking |
| Best use cases | First connected hardware product for an early-stage startup, IoT device needing both electronics design and firmware from one vendor | Large-scale commercial IoT deployment needing pre-certified BLE modules, Smart building or asset-tracking program requiring an edge computing platform alongside firmware |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
DeepSea Developments vs Rigado: pros and cons
| DeepSea Developments | |
|---|---|
| + | Palo Alto location puts the team close to the hardware-startup ecosystem it primarily serves |
| + | Covers electronics, firmware, and cloud integration together for a first hardware product |
| + | Small team size keeps communication direct without account-management layers |
| - | Under 50 employees caps capacity for large or multiple concurrent enterprise programs |
| - | Founded in 2017, a shorter track record than firms operating for decades |
| Rigado | |
|---|---|
| + | Pre-certified BLE and low-power wireless modules can shorten time to certification for a new IoT product |
| + | Offices spanning Oregon, London, and Shenzhen give reach across major IoT manufacturing and deployment regions |
| + | Edge computing platform plus firmware and modules covers the full connectivity stack for large rollouts |
| - | Team size in the low teens limits capacity for large, multi-workstream programs |
| - | Narrow specialization in BLE and edge connectivity is a weaker fit for RTOS-heavy or bare-metal firmware projects outside that scope |
Who should choose DeepSea Developments?
A typical fit: first connected hardware product for an early-stage startup.
Silicon Valley boutique sized specifically for early-stage hardware startups rather than enterprise programs. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Consumer electronics, IoT hardware startups.
Who should choose Rigado?
A typical fit: large-scale commercial IoT deployment needing pre-certified BLE modules.
Pre-certified low-power wireless modules paired with edge computing and firmware for large-scale commercial IoT rollouts. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Retail IoT, Smart buildings, Asset tracking.
Decision matrix: DeepSea Developments vs Rigado
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | DeepSea Developments |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | DeepSea Developments |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: DeepSea Developments (Not published) vs Rigado (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Rigado |
| 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: DeepSea Developments vs Rigado
| Use case | DeepSea Developments fit | Rigado fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| First connected hardware product for an early-stage startup | Strong | Limited | DeepSea Developments |
| IoT device needing both electronics design and firmware from one vendor | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Large-scale commercial IoT deployment needing pre-certified BLE modules | Limited | Strong | Rigado |
| Smart building or asset-tracking program requiring an edge computing platform alongside firmware | Limited | Strong | Rigado |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: DeepSea Developments vs Rigado
DeepSea Developments (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Silicon Valley boutique sized specifically for early-stage hardware startups rather than enterprise programs.
Rigado (4.3/5) is worth a look if you need smart building or asset-tracking program requiring an edge computing platform alongside firmware. If your situation matches that, Rigado is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
DeepSea Developments vs Rigado FAQ
Is DeepSea Developments better than Rigado?
DeepSea Developments (4.4/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. DeepSea Developments's strongest advantage: palo Alto location puts the team close to the hardware-startup ecosystem it primarily serves. Rigado's strongest advantage: pre-certified BLE and low-power wireless modules can shorten time to certification for a new IoT product.
How do DeepSea Developments and Rigado differ in pricing?
DeepSea Developments uses project-based product and firmware development pricing. Rigado uses product and firmware engagements, plus module and hardware sales pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: DeepSea Developments or Rigado?
Rigado 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 DeepSea Developments and Rigado?
DeepSea Developments's primary differentiator is: silicon Valley boutique sized specifically for early-stage hardware startups rather than enterprise programs. Rigado's primary differentiator is: pre-certified low-power wireless modules paired with edge computing and firmware for large-scale commercial IoT rollouts. They also differ in team size (11–50 vs 12–17), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Consumer electronics, IoT hardware startups vs Retail IoT, Smart buildings).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.