Dojo Five vs Promenade Software: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Dojo Five (4.5/5) edges ahead of Promenade Software (4.0/5) overall. Dojo Five is the better choice for teams that want a remote-first firmware partner with an explicit engineering culture. Promenade Software is the stronger option for teams wanting a stated faster development methodology within FDA-relevant constraints. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Dojo Five vs Promenade Software: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Dojo Five | Promenade Software |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 | 2013 |
| HQ | Saint Paul, MN, USA | Irvine, CA, USA |
| Team size | 26 | 11–50 |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Stated "modern firmware" culture with explicit values (humble confidence, 40-hour weeks) built into how the team operates day to day | Founders set out to apply web-framework development speed to FDA-relevant safety-critical medical device firmware, a stated methodology difference |
| Pricing model | Project-based firmware engagements | Project-based medical device software engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, Python | C, C++, Medical Device Software Standards |
| Industries served | Medical devices, Diagnostics, Connected devices | Medical devices |
Dojo Five vs Promenade Software: 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.
Promenade Software
Promenade Software was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Irvine, California with a small team, most recently reported around 11 employees. The founders set out specifically to change how medical device software development works, applying web-framework development speed to a domain that traditionally moves slower while holding to FDA-relevant safety requirements. For a hiring buyer, that's a stated methodology difference, not just a claim of general competence, and its CyberMed·Cloud product line adds a dedicated medical device cybersecurity specialty.
Services and capabilities: Dojo Five vs Promenade Software
| Capability | Dojo Five | Promenade Software |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Promenade Software
| Framework / platform | Dojo Five | Promenade Software |
|---|---|---|
| C | ✓ | ✓ |
| C++ | ✓ | ✓ |
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| FPGA | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | ✓ | N/A |
| LVGL | N/A | N/A |
| AWS IoT | N/A | N/A |
| ARM Cortex-M | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Dojo Five vs Promenade Software
| Criterion | Dojo Five | Promenade Software |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Project-based firmware development | Project-based software development |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Dojo Five vs Promenade Software
| Dimension | Dojo Five | Promenade Software |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Medical devices, Diagnostics, Connected devices | Medical devices |
| Best use cases | Embedded Linux firmware development needing a dedicated, remote-first team, Production-ready firmware handoff for a connected medical device | Hiring a team built around faster medical device firmware development within FDA constraints, Medical device cybersecurity work paired with firmware development |
| Typical project type | Project-based firmware development | Project-based software development |
Dojo Five vs Promenade Software: 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 |
| Promenade Software | |
|---|---|
| + | Founders explicitly set out to change how medical device software development works, a specific stated methodology rather than generic competence |
| + | CyberMed·Cloud product line signals dedicated medical device cybersecurity expertise |
| + | 12 years of operating history focused entirely on medical device software |
| + | Small team size gives direct access to senior engineers rather than account layers |
| - | Around 11 employees is a small bench for a program requiring multiple concurrent medical device workstreams |
| - | Sole medical-device focus is a narrower fit for hiring needs in unrelated verticals |
| - | 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 Promenade Software?
A typical fit: hiring a team built around faster medical device firmware development within FDA constraints.
Founders set out to apply web-framework development speed to FDA-relevant safety-critical medical device firmware, a stated methodology difference. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Medical devices.
Decision matrix: Dojo Five vs Promenade Software
| 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 Promenade Software (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 | Promenade Software |
Use case fit: Dojo Five vs Promenade Software
| Use case | Dojo Five fit | Promenade Software 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 a team built around faster medical device firmware development within FDA constraints | Limited | Strong | Promenade Software |
| Medical device cybersecurity work paired with firmware development | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Dojo Five vs Promenade Software
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.
Promenade Software (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need medical device cybersecurity work paired with firmware development. If your situation matches that, Promenade Software is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Dojo Five vs Promenade Software FAQ
Is Dojo Five better than Promenade Software?
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. Promenade Software's strongest advantage: founders explicitly set out to change how medical device software development works, a specific stated methodology rather than generic competence.
How do Dojo Five and Promenade Software differ in pricing?
Dojo Five uses project-based firmware engagements pricing. Promenade Software uses project-based medical device software 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 Promenade Software?
Promenade Software 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 Promenade Software?
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. Promenade Software's primary differentiator is: founders set out to apply web-framework development speed to FDA-relevant safety-critical medical device firmware, a stated methodology difference. They also differ in team size (26 vs 11–50), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Medical devices, Diagnostics vs Medical devices).
Verify all details directly with each developer before making a decision.