ARCH-Embedded vs Sigma Software Group: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
ARCH-Embedded (4.0/5) edges ahead of Sigma Software Group (4.0/5) overall. ARCH-Embedded is the better choice for cellular and positioning-technology firmware for connected and micro-mobility devices. Sigma Software Group is the stronger option for mid-to-large programs needing firmware alongside a broader multi-industry engineering group. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
ARCH-Embedded vs Sigma Software Group: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | ARCH-Embedded | Sigma Software Group |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2022 | 2002 |
| HQ | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Kharkiv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 2–10 | 1,100+ |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Positioning-technology and cellular-connectivity specialty drawing on team experience from TomTom and micro-mobility products | Majority Swedish ownership since 2006 combined with a 1,100-plus person multi-country delivery footprint |
| Pricing model | Project-based embedded consultancy engagements | Project-based and staff augmentation engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Nordic nRF, Cellular Connectivity, RTOS | C, C++, Embedded Middleware |
| Industries served | Micro-mobility, Positioning and location technology, Industrial IoT | Aviation, Gaming, Telecom, Industrial IoT |
ARCH-Embedded vs Sigma Software Group: overview
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. As a Nordic Semiconductor partner, the firm's stated background is specifically in positioning technology and micro-mobility, with prior team experience at companies like TomTom, and it covers the full stack from hardware through embedded software, RTOS, Linux, security, and connected-device architecture and project management. That positioning-technology specialty is narrow but genuinely differentiated, useful specifically for clients building location-aware or cellular-connected hardware rather than general-purpose embedded products.
Sigma Software Group
Sigma Software Group was founded in Kharkiv, Ukraine in 2002 by five friends and now employs more than 1,100 people across Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, and the United States. In 2006 the Swedish IT conglomerate Sigma Group acquired a 60% stake in the company, an ownership structure that has held since; the remaining 40% stays with the original Ukrainian founders. Its embedded and IoT services cover application development, firmware, middleware, device drivers, and human-machine interfaces, delivered as one practice within a much larger portfolio spanning gaming, aviation, and telecom software.
Services and capabilities: ARCH-Embedded vs Sigma Software Group
| Capability | ARCH-Embedded | Sigma Software Group |
|---|---|---|
| RTOS firmware development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bare-metal & driver development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Secure boot / OTA firmware updates | ✗ | ✗ |
| MCU & platform migration | ✗ | ✗ |
| Connectivity & IoT protocols | ✓ | ✓ |
| Functional safety / compliance | ✗ | ✗ |
| Embedded AI / on-device inference | ✗ | ✗ |
| Firmware GUI development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Hardware co-design / board bring-up | ✗ | ✗ |
| Staff augmentation | ✗ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: ARCH-Embedded vs Sigma Software Group
| Framework / platform | ARCH-Embedded | Sigma Software Group |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| STM32 | N/A | N/A |
| ARM Cortex-M | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | ✓ | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | N/A |
| MISRA | N/A | N/A |
| Secure Boot | N/A | N/A |
| AWS IoT | N/A | N/A |
| RISC-V | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: ARCH-Embedded vs Sigma Software Group
| Criterion | ARCH-Embedded | Sigma Software Group |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Project-based consultancy, Architecture and project management | Project-based engineering, Staff augmentation |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: ARCH-Embedded vs Sigma Software Group
| Dimension | ARCH-Embedded | Sigma Software Group |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Micro-mobility, Positioning and location technology, Industrial IoT | Aviation, Gaming, Telecom |
| Best use cases | Cellular and GNSS-connected firmware for a positioning or micro-mobility device, Nordic Semiconductor-based connected product architecture and firmware development | Device driver or middleware development as part of a broader embedded program, HMI development for an industrial or aviation-adjacent embedded product |
| Typical project type | Project-based consultancy | Project-based engineering |
ARCH-Embedded vs Sigma Software Group: pros and cons
| ARCH-Embedded | |
|---|---|
| + | Nordic Semiconductor partner status backs its cellular and positioning-technology hardware claims |
| + | Team background in positioning technology at companies like TomTom is a specific, differentiated specialty rather than general IoT experience |
| + | 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 |
| Sigma Software Group | |
|---|---|
| + | 1,100-plus employees across Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, and the US give substantial delivery capacity and timezone coverage |
| + | 60% Swedish ownership since 2006 brings the governance and stability of an established Scandinavian IT conglomerate |
| + | 23 years of operating history under continuous leadership from its original founding team |
| + | Multi-industry portfolio spanning aviation, gaming, and telecom means firmware engineers work alongside teams solving comparable real-time and reliability problems in other domains |
| - | Firmware and embedded work is one practice within a much broader multi-industry engineering group, not the company's sole focus |
| - | 60% ownership by Sweden's Sigma Group means the company is not independently controlled by its original Ukrainian founders |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
Who should choose ARCH-Embedded?
A typical fit: cellular and GNSS-connected firmware for a positioning or micro-mobility device.
Positioning-technology and cellular-connectivity specialty drawing on team experience from TomTom and micro-mobility products. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Micro-mobility, Positioning and location technology, Industrial IoT.
Who should choose Sigma Software Group?
A typical fit: device driver or middleware development as part of a broader embedded program.
Majority Swedish ownership since 2006 combined with a 1,100-plus person multi-country delivery footprint. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Aviation, Gaming, Telecom, Industrial IoT.
Decision matrix: ARCH-Embedded vs Sigma Software Group
| 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: ARCH-Embedded (Not published) vs Sigma Software Group (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Sigma Software Group |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Sigma Software Group |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | ARCH-Embedded |
Use case fit: ARCH-Embedded vs Sigma Software Group
| Use case | ARCH-Embedded fit | Sigma Software Group fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cellular and GNSS-connected firmware for a positioning or micro-mobility device | Strong | Limited | ARCH-Embedded |
| Nordic Semiconductor-based connected product architecture and firmware development | Strong | Limited | ARCH-Embedded |
| Device driver or middleware development as part of a broader embedded program | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| HMI development for an industrial or aviation-adjacent embedded product | Limited | Strong | Sigma Software Group |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Strong | Sigma Software Group |
Verdict: ARCH-Embedded vs Sigma Software Group
ARCH-Embedded (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Positioning-technology and cellular-connectivity specialty drawing on team experience from TomTom and micro-mobility products.
Sigma Software Group (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need HMI development for an industrial or aviation-adjacent embedded product. If your situation matches that, Sigma Software Group is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
ARCH-Embedded vs Sigma Software Group FAQ
Is ARCH-Embedded better than Sigma Software Group?
ARCH-Embedded (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. ARCH-Embedded's strongest advantage: nordic Semiconductor partner status backs its cellular and positioning-technology hardware claims. Sigma Software Group's strongest advantage: 1,100-plus employees across Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, and the US give substantial delivery capacity and timezone coverage.
How do ARCH-Embedded and Sigma Software Group differ in pricing?
ARCH-Embedded uses project-based embedded consultancy engagements pricing. Sigma Software Group uses project-based and staff augmentation engagements pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: ARCH-Embedded or Sigma Software Group?
Sigma Software Group 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 ARCH-Embedded and Sigma Software Group?
ARCH-Embedded's primary differentiator is: positioning-technology and cellular-connectivity specialty drawing on team experience from TomTom and micro-mobility products. Sigma Software Group's primary differentiator is: majority Swedish ownership since 2006 combined with a 1,100-plus person multi-country delivery footprint. They also differ in team size (2–10 vs 1,100+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Micro-mobility, Positioning and location technology vs Aviation, Gaming).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.