SaM Solutions vs Very: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Very (4.2/5) edges ahead of SaM Solutions (4.0/5) overall. Very is the better choice for distributed-delivery IoT programs needing firmware plus data and ML. SaM Solutions is the stronger option for enterprises wanting an established IT generalist with embedded capability. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
SaM Solutions vs Very: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | SaM Solutions | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 | 2011 |
| HQ | Gilching, Germany | Bozeman, Montana, USA (fully distributed team) |
| Team size | 501–1,000 | 51–200 |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Three-decade-old IT services firm with an embedded and IoT practice inside a much broader software portfolio | Fully distributed IoT team combining firmware delivery with machine-learning-driven data solutions |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, staff augmentation, and managed services | IoT product development engagements from concept through deployment |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, IoT platforms, Enterprise integration tooling | Embedded C/C++, IoT connectivity stacks, Machine learning data pipelines |
| Industries served | Manufacturing, Automotive, Enterprise IT | Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Smart infrastructure |
SaM Solutions vs Very: overview
SaM Solutions
SaM Solutions was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Gilching, Germany, with a workforce reported between 501 and 1,000 employees serving clients across Europe and the United States. Embedded and IoT engineering sits as one practice area within a broader IT services portfolio that also covers enterprise software, QA, and data engineering, so the firm suits a client that wants an established generalist with embedded capability rather than a specialist firmware boutique. Its scale and three-decade history give it more organizational stability than most firms on this list, at the cost of the deep firmware specialization boutiques offer.
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: SaM Solutions vs Very
| Capability | SaM Solutions | 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: SaM Solutions vs Very
| Framework / platform | SaM Solutions | 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: SaM Solutions vs Very
| Criterion | SaM Solutions | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Staff augmentation, Managed services | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: SaM Solutions vs Very
| Dimension | SaM Solutions | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Mid-market to enterprise | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Manufacturing, Automotive, Enterprise IT | Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Smart infrastructure |
| Best use cases | Enterprise client wanting a single established vendor for both firmware and broader IT needs, Large-scale industrial IoT program needing significant staff augmentation capacity | 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 |
SaM Solutions vs Very: pros and cons
| SaM Solutions | |
|---|---|
| + | More than three decades of operating history since 1993 gives strong organizational stability |
| + | Large team of 501 to 1,000 supports bigger, multi-workstream enterprise programs |
| + | Broader IT services portfolio can absorb adjacent work like enterprise integration alongside firmware |
| - | Embedded and IoT firmware is a smaller practice inside a much larger generalist IT business |
| - | Less firmware-specific specialization than the boutique firms ranked above it on this list |
| 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 SaM Solutions?
A typical fit: enterprise client wanting a single established vendor for both firmware and broader IT needs.
Three-decade-old IT services firm with an embedded and IoT practice inside a much broader software portfolio. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Manufacturing, Automotive, 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: SaM Solutions vs Very
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | SaM Solutions |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Very |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: SaM Solutions (Not published) vs Very (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | SaM Solutions |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | SaM Solutions |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: SaM Solutions vs Very
| Use case | SaM Solutions fit | Very fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise client wanting a single established vendor for both firmware and broader IT needs | Strong | Limited | SaM Solutions |
| Large-scale industrial IoT program needing significant staff augmentation capacity | Strong | Limited | SaM Solutions |
| 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 | Strong | Limited | SaM Solutions |
Verdict: SaM Solutions 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.
SaM Solutions (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need large-scale industrial IoT program needing significant staff augmentation capacity. If your situation matches that, SaM Solutions is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
SaM Solutions vs Very FAQ
Is SaM Solutions better than Very?
Very (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. SaM Solutions's strongest advantage: more than three decades of operating history since 1993 gives strong organizational stability. Very's strongest advantage: repeat appearances on the Inc. 5000 list provide a verifiable third-party growth signal.
How do SaM Solutions and Very differ in pricing?
SaM Solutions uses fixed project, staff augmentation, and managed services 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: SaM Solutions or Very?
SaM Solutions 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 SaM Solutions and Very?
SaM Solutions's primary differentiator is: three-decade-old IT services firm with an embedded and IoT practice inside a much broader software portfolio. Very's primary differentiator is: fully distributed IoT team combining firmware delivery with machine-learning-driven data solutions. They also differ in team size (501–1,000 vs 51–200), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Manufacturing, Automotive vs Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.