Dojo Five vs ARCH-Embedded: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Dojo Five (4.5/5) edges ahead of ARCH-Embedded (3.8/5) overall. Dojo Five is the better choice for teams that want a remote-first firmware partner with an explicit engineering culture. ARCH-Embedded is the stronger option for teams needing engineers with direct prior positioning-technology experience. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Dojo Five vs ARCH-Embedded: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Dojo Five | ARCH-Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 | 2022 |
| HQ | Saint Paul, MN, USA | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Team size | 26 | 2–10 |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Stated "modern firmware" culture with explicit values (humble confidence, 40-hour weeks) built into how the team operates day to day | Team includes engineers with prior experience at TomTom and in micro-mobility products, a specific and checkable positioning-technology background |
| Pricing model | Project-based firmware engagements | Project-based embedded consultancy engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, Python | Nordic nRF, Cellular Connectivity, RTOS |
| Industries served | Medical devices, Diagnostics, Connected devices | Micro-mobility, Positioning and location technology, Industrial IoT |
Dojo Five vs ARCH-Embedded: overview
Dojo Five
Dojo Five was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota with a team of 26 engineers. The company explicitly builds its identity around "modern firmware", the tools, techniques, and culture behind a better day-to-day experience building embedded devices, and operates remote-first with stated values including always learning, humble confidence, and pushing boundaries while protecting a 40-hour work week. For a buyer weighing team culture and engineer retention as part of a long-term hiring decision, that explicit values statement is unusually direct for a firmware company.
ARCH-Embedded
ARCH-Embedded was founded in Amsterdam in 2022 by CEO and co-founder Mark Riemersma and operates with a team of 2 to 10 people, several with prior experience at TomTom and in micro-mobility products. As a Nordic Semiconductor partner, the team covers hardware through embedded software, RTOS, Linux, security, and connected-device architecture. For a hiring buyer building a location-aware or cellular-connected product, a team whose specific prior employer built commercial positioning technology at scale is a differentiated, checkable credential rather than a general claim of IoT experience.
Services and capabilities: Dojo Five vs ARCH-Embedded
| Capability | Dojo Five | ARCH-Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| Firmware development | ✓ | ✓ |
| RTOS development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Hardware co-design | ✗ | ✗ |
| Embedded GUI development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Medical device firmware | ✓ | ✗ |
| Functional safety | ✓ | ✗ |
| Technical training | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert-witness services | ✗ | ✗ |
| Staff augmentation | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Dojo Five vs ARCH-Embedded
| Framework / platform | Dojo Five | ARCH-Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| C | ✓ | ✓ |
| C++ | ✓ | N/A |
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| FPGA | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | ✓ | ✓ |
| LVGL | N/A | N/A |
| AWS IoT | N/A | N/A |
| ARM Cortex-M | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Dojo Five vs ARCH-Embedded
| Criterion | Dojo Five | ARCH-Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Project-based firmware development | Project-based consultancy, Architecture and project management |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Dojo Five vs ARCH-Embedded
| Dimension | Dojo Five | ARCH-Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Medical devices, Diagnostics, Connected devices | Micro-mobility, Positioning and location technology, Industrial IoT |
| Best use cases | Embedded Linux firmware development needing a dedicated, remote-first team, Production-ready firmware handoff for a connected medical device | Hiring engineers with direct positioning-technology experience for a location-aware device, Nordic Semiconductor-based connected product architecture and firmware development |
| Typical project type | Project-based firmware development | Project-based consultancy |
Dojo Five vs ARCH-Embedded: pros and cons
| Dojo Five | |
|---|---|
| + | Explicit, published team culture (humble confidence, always deliver, 40-hour weeks) gives a hiring buyer real signal about who they'd be working with |
| + | Remote-first structure from the start, not a pandemic-era retrofit, suggests mature distributed-team practices |
| + | 7 years of operating history focused entirely on firmware, with a dedicated Embedded Linux team |
| + | Small team size (26) means a client works with senior engineers directly rather than being routed through account layers |
| - | 26 engineers caps concurrent capacity for a client needing several parallel workstreams |
| - | Its stated focus on connected medical devices and diagnostics is a narrower fit outside that vertical |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
| ARCH-Embedded | |
|---|---|
| + | Team includes engineers with prior experience at TomTom, a specific and checkable positioning-technology background |
| + | Nordic Semiconductor partner status backs its cellular and positioning-technology hardware claims |
| + | Full-stack scope from hardware through RTOS, Linux, and security architecture covers more than firmware coding alone |
| + | Small team size means direct senior engineering involvement on every engagement |
| - | Founded in 2022 with 2 to 10 employees, giving it one of the shortest track records and smallest teams on this list |
| - | Capacity for large or multiple concurrent programs is limited by team size |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
Who should choose Dojo Five?
A typical fit: embedded Linux firmware development needing a dedicated, remote-first team.
Stated "modern firmware" culture with explicit values (humble confidence, 40-hour weeks) built into how the team operates day to day. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Medical devices, Diagnostics, Connected devices.
Who should choose ARCH-Embedded?
A typical fit: hiring engineers with direct positioning-technology experience for a location-aware device.
Team includes engineers with prior experience at TomTom and in micro-mobility products, a specific and checkable positioning-technology background. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Micro-mobility, Positioning and location technology, Industrial IoT.
Decision matrix: Dojo Five vs ARCH-Embedded
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Both offer fixed-price models |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Dojo Five (Not published) vs ARCH-Embedded (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Dojo Five |
| 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: Dojo Five vs ARCH-Embedded
| Use case | Dojo Five fit | ARCH-Embedded fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embedded Linux firmware development needing a dedicated, remote-first team | Strong | Limited | Dojo Five |
| Production-ready firmware handoff for a connected medical device | Strong | Limited | Dojo Five |
| Hiring engineers with direct positioning-technology experience for a location-aware device | Limited | Strong | ARCH-Embedded |
| Nordic Semiconductor-based connected product architecture and firmware development | Limited | Strong | ARCH-Embedded |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Dojo Five vs ARCH-Embedded
Dojo Five (4.5/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Embedded Firmware Development projects. Stated "modern firmware" culture with explicit values (humble confidence, 40-hour weeks) built into how the team operates day to day.
ARCH-Embedded (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need nordic Semiconductor-based connected product architecture and firmware development. If your situation matches that, ARCH-Embedded is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Dojo Five vs ARCH-Embedded FAQ
Is Dojo Five better than ARCH-Embedded?
Dojo Five (4.5/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Dojo Five's strongest advantage: Explicit, published team culture (humble confidence, always deliver, 40-hour weeks) gives a hiring buyer real signal about who they'd be working with. ARCH-Embedded's strongest advantage: team includes engineers with prior experience at TomTom, a specific and checkable positioning-technology background.
How do Dojo Five and ARCH-Embedded differ in pricing?
Dojo Five uses project-based firmware engagements pricing. ARCH-Embedded uses project-based embedded consultancy engagements pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Dojo Five or ARCH-Embedded?
ARCH-Embedded is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each developer before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Dojo Five and ARCH-Embedded?
Dojo Five's primary differentiator is: stated "modern firmware" culture with explicit values (humble confidence, 40-hour weeks) built into how the team operates day to day. ARCH-Embedded's primary differentiator is: team includes engineers with prior experience at TomTom and in micro-mobility products, a specific and checkable positioning-technology background. They also differ in team size (26 vs 2–10), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Medical devices, Diagnostics vs Micro-mobility, Positioning and location technology).
Verify all details directly with each developer before making a decision.