Cardinal Peak vs Very: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Cardinal Peak (4.6/5) edges ahead of Very (4.2/5) overall. Cardinal Peak is the better choice for IoT products combining embedded firmware with video or audio processing. 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.
Cardinal Peak vs Very: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Cardinal Peak | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 | 2011 |
| HQ | Lafayette, Colorado, USA | Bozeman, Montana, USA (fully distributed team) |
| Team size | 51–200 | 51–200 |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Signal-processing depth in video and audio firmware alongside standard embedded and hardware engineering | Fully distributed IoT team combining firmware delivery with machine-learning-driven data solutions |
| Pricing model | Contract product engineering across hardware, firmware, and software | IoT product development engagements from concept through deployment |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, ARM, Embedded Linux | Embedded C/C++, IoT connectivity stacks, Machine learning data pipelines |
| Industries served | Consumer electronics, Security & surveillance, Industrial IoT | Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Smart infrastructure |
Cardinal Peak vs Very: overview
Cardinal Peak
Cardinal Peak was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Lafayette, Colorado, with a team in the 51 to 200 employee range. The firm has worked with more than 300 clients on embedded firmware, hardware, and mobile/cloud software, and its specific strength is video and audio signal-processing work layered on top of standard embedded engineering, a niche most general firmware vendors do not carry in-house. Specialties listed on the company's own site include embedded, firmware, hardware, video, audio, and signal analysis, alongside iOS and Android app development for connected products.
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: Cardinal Peak vs Very
| Capability | Cardinal Peak | 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: Cardinal Peak vs Very
| Framework / platform | Cardinal Peak | 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 |
| 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: Cardinal Peak vs Very
| Criterion | Cardinal Peak | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Cardinal Peak vs Very
| Dimension | Cardinal Peak | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer electronics, Security & surveillance, Industrial IoT | Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Smart infrastructure |
| Best use cases | Connected camera or video doorbell needing an embedded video pipeline, Audio-enabled IoT device requiring codec integration on a resource-constrained MCU | 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 |
Cardinal Peak vs Very: pros and cons
| Cardinal Peak | |
|---|---|
| + | Video and audio signal-processing expertise is a specific niche most general embedded firms don't carry in-house |
| + | Over 300 referenced client engagements gives a large sample size to check track record against |
| + | Covers hardware, firmware, and mobile/cloud in one engagement for products that need all three |
| - | Signal-processing specialty adds less differentiated value on a project with no video or audio component |
| - | Public employee-count estimates vary by source, so exact team scale should be confirmed directly |
| 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 Cardinal Peak?
A typical fit: connected camera or video doorbell needing an embedded video pipeline.
Signal-processing depth in video and audio firmware alongside standard embedded and hardware engineering. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Consumer electronics, Security & surveillance, Industrial IoT.
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: Cardinal Peak vs Very
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Cardinal Peak |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Cardinal Peak |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Cardinal Peak (Not published) vs Very (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Cardinal Peak |
| 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: Cardinal Peak vs Very
| Use case | Cardinal Peak fit | Very fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connected camera or video doorbell needing an embedded video pipeline | Strong | Limited | Cardinal Peak |
| Audio-enabled IoT device requiring codec integration on a resource-constrained MCU | Strong | Limited | Cardinal Peak |
| IoT program needing firmware paired with machine-learning-driven data analysis | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| 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: Cardinal Peak vs Very
Cardinal Peak (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Signal-processing depth in video and audio firmware alongside standard embedded and hardware engineering.
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
Cardinal Peak vs Very FAQ
Is Cardinal Peak better than Very?
Cardinal Peak (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Cardinal Peak's strongest advantage: video and audio signal-processing expertise is a specific niche most general embedded firms don't carry in-house. Very's strongest advantage: repeat appearances on the Inc. 5000 list provide a verifiable third-party growth signal.
How do Cardinal Peak and Very differ in pricing?
Cardinal Peak uses contract product engineering across hardware, firmware, and software 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: Cardinal Peak or Very?
Cardinal Peak 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 Cardinal Peak and Very?
Cardinal Peak's primary differentiator is: signal-processing depth in video and audio firmware alongside standard embedded and hardware engineering. Very's primary differentiator is: fully distributed IoT team combining firmware delivery with machine-learning-driven data solutions. They also differ in team size (51–200 vs 51–200), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Consumer electronics, Security & surveillance vs Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.