DeepSea Developments vs Very: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
DeepSea Developments (4.4/5) edges ahead of Very (4.2/5) overall. DeepSea Developments is the better choice for early-stage hardware startups building a first connected product. 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.
DeepSea Developments vs Very: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | DeepSea Developments | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2017 | 2011 |
| HQ | Palo Alto, California, USA | Bozeman, Montana, USA (fully distributed team) |
| Team size | 11–50 | 51–200 |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Silicon Valley boutique sized specifically for early-stage hardware startups rather than enterprise programs | Fully distributed IoT team combining firmware delivery with machine-learning-driven data solutions |
| Pricing model | Project-based product and firmware development | IoT product development engagements from concept through deployment |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, IoT connectivity stacks, Cloud integration | Embedded C/C++, IoT connectivity stacks, Machine learning data pipelines |
| Industries served | Consumer electronics, IoT hardware startups | Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Smart infrastructure |
DeepSea Developments vs Very: 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.
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: DeepSea Developments vs Very
| Capability | DeepSea Developments | 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: DeepSea Developments vs Very
| Framework / platform | DeepSea Developments | 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: DeepSea Developments vs Very
| Criterion | DeepSea Developments | 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: DeepSea Developments vs Very
| Dimension | DeepSea Developments | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer electronics, IoT hardware startups | Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Smart infrastructure |
| Best use cases | First connected hardware product for an early-stage startup, IoT device needing both electronics design and firmware from one vendor | 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 |
DeepSea Developments vs Very: 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 |
| 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 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 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: DeepSea Developments vs Very
| 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 Very (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Very |
| 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 Very
| Use case | DeepSea Developments fit | Very 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 |
| 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: DeepSea Developments vs Very
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.
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
DeepSea Developments vs Very FAQ
Is DeepSea Developments better than Very?
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. Very's strongest advantage: repeat appearances on the Inc. 5000 list provide a verifiable third-party growth signal.
How do DeepSea Developments and Very differ in pricing?
DeepSea Developments uses project-based product and firmware development 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: DeepSea Developments 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 DeepSea Developments and Very?
DeepSea Developments's primary differentiator is: silicon Valley boutique sized specifically for early-stage hardware startups rather than enterprise programs. 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 (Consumer electronics, IoT hardware startups vs Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.