Oxalis Design vs Promenade Software: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Promenade Software (4.0/5) edges ahead of Oxalis Design (4.0/5) overall. Promenade Software is the better choice for teams wanting a stated faster development methodology within FDA-relevant constraints. Oxalis Design is the stronger option for very small teams wanting direct, ongoing access to the founding engineers. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Oxalis Design vs Promenade Software: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Oxalis Design | Promenade Software |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 | 2013 |
| HQ | Bristol, UK | Irvine, CA, USA |
| Team size | 2–10 | 11–50 |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Founder-led team where both founders remain personally involved in client engineering work, not just management | 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 electronics and embedded engagements | Project-based medical device software engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, RF Design | C, C++, Medical Device Software Standards |
| Industries served | Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial | Medical devices |
Oxalis Design vs Promenade Software: overview
Oxalis Design
Oxalis Design is a Bristol, UK electronics and embedded systems consultancy founded by Alex Turner and Alex Thornicroft, both experienced electronics and software engineers who remain personally involved in client work rather than having moved fully into management. For a client evaluating team fit at the smallest scale, this means the people making architecture decisions are the same people who will be reachable throughout the engagement, not a sales contact who hands the work to unnamed staff.
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: Oxalis Design vs Promenade Software
| Capability | Oxalis Design | 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: Oxalis Design vs Promenade Software
| Framework / platform | Oxalis Design | Promenade Software |
|---|---|---|
| C | ✓ | ✓ |
| C++ | ✓ | ✓ |
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| FPGA | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| LVGL | N/A | N/A |
| AWS IoT | N/A | N/A |
| ARM Cortex-M | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Oxalis Design vs Promenade Software
| Criterion | Oxalis Design | Promenade Software |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Project-based engineering, concept through pilot build | Project-based software development |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Oxalis Design vs Promenade Software
| Dimension | Oxalis Design | Promenade Software |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial | Medical devices |
| Best use cases | Hiring a very small team where the founders personally do the engineering, RF and firmware co-design for a new connected consumer 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 engineering, concept through pilot build | Project-based software development |
Oxalis Design vs Promenade Software: pros and cons
| Oxalis Design | |
|---|---|
| + | Both founders remain personally involved in engineering work, not just business development |
| + | Focus on electronics and embedded firmware exclusively, without a broader IT practice diluting attention |
| + | RF design capability in-house means wireless connectivity work doesn't require a separate specialist |
| + | Serves medical, consumer, and industrial clients from concept through pilot build |
| - | A team of 2 to 10 people limits capacity to a small number of concurrent client programs at any time |
| - | Publicly verifiable founding date and detailed case study history are limited |
| - | 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 Oxalis Design?
A typical fit: hiring a very small team where the founders personally do the engineering.
Founder-led team where both founders remain personally involved in client engineering work, not just management. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial.
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: Oxalis Design 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: Oxalis Design (Not published) vs Promenade Software (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Oxalis Design |
| 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: Oxalis Design vs Promenade Software
| Use case | Oxalis Design fit | Promenade Software fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiring a very small team where the founders personally do the engineering | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| RF and firmware co-design for a new connected consumer device | Strong | Limited | Oxalis Design |
| Hiring a team built around faster medical device firmware development within FDA constraints | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Medical device cybersecurity work paired with firmware development | Limited | Strong | Promenade Software |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Oxalis Design vs Promenade Software
Promenade Software (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Embedded Firmware Development projects. Founders set out to apply web-framework development speed to FDA-relevant safety-critical medical device firmware, a stated methodology difference.
Oxalis Design (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need RF and firmware co-design for a new connected consumer device. If your situation matches that, Oxalis Design is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Oxalis Design vs Promenade Software FAQ
Is Oxalis Design better than Promenade Software?
Promenade Software (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Oxalis Design's strongest advantage: both founders remain personally involved in engineering work, not just business development. 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 Oxalis Design and Promenade Software differ in pricing?
Oxalis Design uses project-based electronics and embedded 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: Oxalis Design 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 Oxalis Design and Promenade Software?
Oxalis Design's primary differentiator is: founder-led team where both founders remain personally involved in client engineering work, not just management. 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 (2–10 vs 11–50), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Medical devices, Consumer electronics vs Medical devices).
Verify all details directly with each developer before making a decision.