Synapse Product Development vs Very: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Synapse Product Development (4.3/5) edges ahead of Very (4.2/5) overall. Synapse Product Development is the better choice for consumer and healthcare hardware needing firmware plus certification support. 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.
Synapse Product Development vs Very: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Synapse Product Development | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 | 2011 |
| HQ | Seattle, Washington, USA (also San Francisco, California) | Bozeman, Montana, USA (fully distributed team) |
| Team size | 89 | 51–200 |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Full product-development scope covering firmware, mechanical design, and certification under one engineering team | Fully distributed IoT team combining firmware delivery with machine-learning-driven data solutions |
| Pricing model | Full product engineering engagements from concept through manufacturing | IoT product development engagements from concept through deployment |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, Mechanical and electrical CAD, Certification and compliance tooling | Embedded C/C++, IoT connectivity stacks, Machine learning data pipelines |
| Industries served | Consumer electronics, Life sciences, Healthcare, Entertainment | Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Smart infrastructure |
Synapse Product Development vs Very: overview
Synapse Product Development
Synapse Product Development was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with an additional office in San Francisco; the company reports roughly 89 employees. Its practice spans mechanical, electrical, and embedded firmware engineering alongside industrial design, certification, and manufacturing support for entertainment, consumer electronics, life-sciences, and healthcare clients ranging from individual inventors to Fortune 500 companies. That breadth suits a hardware product that needs firmware developed alongside mechanical design and certification support in one engagement.
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: Synapse Product Development vs Very
| Capability | Synapse Product Development | 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: Synapse Product Development vs Very
| Framework / platform | Synapse Product Development | 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: Synapse Product Development vs Very
| Criterion | Synapse Product Development | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Synapse Product Development vs Very
| Dimension | Synapse Product Development | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer electronics, Life sciences, Healthcare | Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT, Smart infrastructure |
| Best use cases | Healthcare device requiring firmware developed alongside mechanical design and certification support, Entertainment or consumer electronics product needing full concept-to-manufacturing engineering | 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 |
Synapse Product Development vs Very: pros and cons
| Synapse Product Development | |
|---|---|
| + | More than two decades of operating history since 2001 with roughly 89 employees |
| + | Covers firmware, mechanical engineering, industrial design, and certification under one team |
| + | Client base ranges from independent inventors to Fortune 500 companies, suggesting flexible engagement scoping |
| - | Firmware is one part of a broader product-development practice rather than the company's sole focus |
| - | Two Seattle-area engineering hubs may mean less on-the-ground presence outside the US West Coast |
| 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 Synapse Product Development?
A typical fit: healthcare device requiring firmware developed alongside mechanical design and certification support.
Full product-development scope covering firmware, mechanical design, and certification under one engineering team. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Consumer electronics, Life sciences, Healthcare, Entertainment.
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: Synapse Product Development vs Very
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Synapse Product Development |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Very |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Synapse Product Development (Not published) vs Very (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Synapse Product Development |
| 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: Synapse Product Development vs Very
| Use case | Synapse Product Development fit | Very fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare device requiring firmware developed alongside mechanical design and certification support | Strong | Limited | Synapse Product Development |
| Entertainment or consumer electronics product needing full concept-to-manufacturing engineering | Strong | Limited | Synapse Product Development |
| 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: Synapse Product Development vs Very
Synapse Product Development (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Full product-development scope covering firmware, mechanical design, and certification under one engineering team.
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
Synapse Product Development vs Very FAQ
Is Synapse Product Development better than Very?
Synapse Product Development (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Synapse Product Development's strongest advantage: more than two decades of operating history since 2001 with roughly 89 employees. Very's strongest advantage: repeat appearances on the Inc. 5000 list provide a verifiable third-party growth signal.
How do Synapse Product Development and Very differ in pricing?
Synapse Product Development uses full product engineering engagements from concept through manufacturing 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: Synapse Product Development 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 Synapse Product Development and Very?
Synapse Product Development's primary differentiator is: full product-development scope covering firmware, mechanical design, and certification under one engineering team. Very's primary differentiator is: fully distributed IoT team combining firmware delivery with machine-learning-driven data solutions. They also differ in team size (89 vs 51–200), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Consumer electronics, Life sciences vs Industrial IoT, Consumer IoT).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.