Intellias vs Very: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Very (4.2/5) edges ahead of Intellias (4.0/5) overall. Very is the better choice for distributed-delivery IoT programs needing firmware plus data and ML. Intellias is the stronger option for automotive and navigation programs needing a large embedded team. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Intellias vs Very: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Intellias | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 | 2011 |
| HQ | Lviv, Ukraine (also Chicago, Illinois, USA) | Bozeman, Montana, USA (fully distributed team) |
| Team size | 3,000+ | 51–200 |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Large Ukraine-founded IT outsourcer with a strong automotive and navigation software practice | Fully distributed IoT team combining firmware delivery with machine-learning-driven data solutions |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team, and staff augmentation | IoT product development engagements from concept through deployment |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, Automotive embedded platforms, Navigation and mapping software | Embedded C/C++, IoT connectivity stacks, Machine learning data pipelines |
| Industries served | Automotive, Navigation/mapping, Enterprise IT | Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Smart infrastructure |
Intellias vs Very: overview
Intellias
Intellias was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Lviv, Ukraine, with a major office in Chicago, Illinois, and roughly 3,000 employees company-wide. Automotive and navigation software forms a well-documented specialty within the firm's broader IT outsourcing business, which includes embedded and IoT engineering alongside enterprise software and digital products. The company's overall workforce has declined modestly in recent years, which is worth checking directly when evaluating current delivery capacity for a large program.
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: Intellias vs Very
| Capability | Intellias | 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: Intellias vs Very
| Framework / platform | Intellias | 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 | N/A |
| AWS IoT | N/A | N/A |
| RISC-V | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Intellias vs Very
| Criterion | Intellias | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team, Staff augmentation | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Intellias vs Very
| Dimension | Intellias | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Automotive, Navigation/mapping, Enterprise IT | Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Smart infrastructure |
| Best use cases | Automotive infotainment or navigation program needing hundreds of embedded engineers, Enterprise client extending an existing Intellias relationship into embedded work | 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 |
Intellias vs Very: pros and cons
| Intellias | |
|---|---|
| + | Well-documented automotive and navigation software specialty within a much larger organization |
| + | Roughly 3,000 employees supports large, multi-workstream embedded programs |
| + | Two decades of operating history with an established US office in Chicago |
| - | Overall workforce has declined modestly in recent years, worth confirming current capacity directly |
| - | Embedded firmware is one practice inside a much broader IT outsourcing business |
| 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 Intellias?
A typical fit: automotive infotainment or navigation program needing hundreds of embedded engineers.
Large Ukraine-founded IT outsourcer with a strong automotive and navigation software practice. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Automotive, Navigation/mapping, Enterprise IT.
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: Intellias vs Very
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Intellias |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Intellias |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Intellias (Not published) vs Very (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Intellias |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Intellias |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Intellias vs Very
| Use case | Intellias fit | Very fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive infotainment or navigation program needing hundreds of embedded engineers | Strong | Limited | Intellias |
| Enterprise client extending an existing Intellias relationship into embedded work | Strong | Limited | Intellias |
| 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: Intellias vs Very
Very (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Fully distributed IoT team combining firmware delivery with machine-learning-driven data solutions.
Intellias (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need enterprise client extending an existing Intellias relationship into embedded work. If your situation matches that, Intellias is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Intellias vs Very FAQ
Is Intellias better than Very?
Very (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Intellias's strongest advantage: well-documented automotive and navigation software specialty within a much larger organization. Very's strongest advantage: repeat appearances on the Inc. 5000 list provide a verifiable third-party growth signal.
How do Intellias and Very differ in pricing?
Intellias uses fixed project, dedicated team, and staff augmentation 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: Intellias 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 Intellias and Very?
Intellias's primary differentiator is: large Ukraine-founded IT outsourcer with a strong automotive and navigation software practice. Very's primary differentiator is: fully distributed IoT team combining firmware delivery with machine-learning-driven data solutions. They also differ in team size (3,000+ vs 51–200), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Automotive, Navigation/mapping vs Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.