USA Firmware vs EmLogic AS: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
USA Firmware (4.2/5) edges ahead of EmLogic AS (4.0/5) overall. USA Firmware is the better choice for small to mid-size programs wanting one accountable firmware and FPGA partner. EmLogic AS is the stronger option for zephyr RTOS firmware development and migration. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
USA Firmware vs EmLogic AS: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | USA Firmware | EmLogic AS |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 | 2021 |
| HQ | Brecksville, OH, USA | Norway |
| Team size | 17 | Not published |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Managed design services spanning electrical engineering, firmware, FPGA, and Linux under a single discovery-to-production process | Founding team with prior embedded-company-building experience concentrated specifically on Zephyr RTOS |
| Pricing model | Managed design service engagements | Project-based embedded design engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, FPGA Design | Zephyr RTOS, FPGA, C |
| Industries served | Industrial products, Commercial electronics | Industrial, IoT hardware |
USA Firmware vs EmLogic AS: overview
USA Firmware
USA Firmware was founded in 2011 by Bob Scaccia and operates from Brecksville, Ohio with a small team of around 17 people. Its managed design services combine electrical engineering, firmware, FPGA design, embedded software, and Linux expertise into a single discovery-through-production-enablement process, aimed at clients who want one accountable partner rather than coordinating separate electrical, firmware, and FPGA vendors. Leadership brings a stated 150-plus combined years of experience, concentrated in a small team rather than spread across a large organization.
EmLogic AS
EmLogic AS was founded on January 1, 2021 by Michal Koziel, Snorre Meland, Sven Ivar Mørch, and Espen Tallaksen, each with prior experience founding similar embedded companies, and operates as part of the TechSeed group in Norway. The firm specializes in embedded software, FPGA, and hardware design, with particular depth in Zephyr RTOS, the Linux Foundation-hosted real-time operating system that has become a de facto industry standard for secure, low-power connected devices. Its recency as a company means a shorter public track record than most competitors, offset by founders who each carry prior embedded-industry company-building experience.
Services and capabilities: USA Firmware vs EmLogic AS
| Capability | USA Firmware | EmLogic AS |
|---|---|---|
| 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: USA Firmware vs EmLogic AS
| Framework / platform | USA Firmware | EmLogic AS |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | 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: USA Firmware vs EmLogic AS
| Criterion | USA Firmware | EmLogic AS |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Managed design services | Project-based embedded design |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: USA Firmware vs EmLogic AS
| Dimension | USA Firmware | EmLogic AS |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Industrial products, Commercial electronics | Industrial, IoT hardware |
| Best use cases | Combined electrical, firmware, and FPGA design for a new industrial product, Firmware and Linux development requiring senior-level engineering attention on a smaller program | Migration of existing firmware from a legacy RTOS to Zephyr, New product firmware built natively on Zephyr RTOS |
| Typical project type | Managed design services | Project-based embedded design |
USA Firmware vs EmLogic AS: pros and cons
| USA Firmware | |
|---|---|
| + | Leadership brings a stated 150-plus combined years of experience concentrated in a small, senior team |
| + | Combines electrical engineering, firmware, and FPGA design under one managed process rather than three separate vendors |
| + | Discovery-through-production-enablement scope covers the full program, not just firmware coding |
| + | 14 years of operating history under its founder, Bob Scaccia |
| - | 17 employees is among the smallest teams on this list, limiting concurrent capacity for large programs |
| - | Public case study detail is limited, so verifying past client work requires direct outreach |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
| EmLogic AS | |
|---|---|
| + | Zephyr RTOS specialization targets the real-time operating system the Linux Foundation and much of the industry now treat as the de facto standard |
| + | All four founders bring prior experience founding similar embedded companies, not first-time entrepreneurship |
| + | FPGA and hardware design capability alongside firmware covers projects that need custom logic as well as MCU code |
| + | Part of the TechSeed group in Norway, giving it access to a broader company-building network |
| - | Founded in 2021, giving it the shortest public operating history of any company on this list |
| - | Public team size and detailed case study history are not yet published |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
Who should choose USA Firmware?
A typical fit: combined electrical, firmware, and FPGA design for a new industrial product.
Managed design services spanning electrical engineering, firmware, FPGA, and Linux under a single discovery-to-production process. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial products, Commercial electronics.
Who should choose EmLogic AS?
A typical fit: migration of existing firmware from a legacy RTOS to Zephyr.
Founding team with prior embedded-company-building experience concentrated specifically on Zephyr RTOS. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial, IoT hardware.
Decision matrix: USA Firmware vs EmLogic AS
| 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: USA Firmware (Not published) vs EmLogic AS (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | USA Firmware |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | USA Firmware |
Use case fit: USA Firmware vs EmLogic AS
| Use case | USA Firmware fit | EmLogic AS fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined electrical, firmware, and FPGA design for a new industrial product | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Firmware and Linux development requiring senior-level engineering attention on a smaller program | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Migration of existing firmware from a legacy RTOS to Zephyr | Limited | Strong | EmLogic AS |
| New product firmware built natively on Zephyr RTOS | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: USA Firmware vs EmLogic AS
USA Firmware (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Managed design services spanning electrical engineering, firmware, FPGA, and Linux under a single discovery-to-production process.
EmLogic AS (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need new product firmware built natively on Zephyr RTOS. If your situation matches that, EmLogic AS is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
USA Firmware vs EmLogic AS FAQ
Is USA Firmware better than EmLogic AS?
USA Firmware (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. USA Firmware's strongest advantage: leadership brings a stated 150-plus combined years of experience concentrated in a small, senior team. EmLogic AS's strongest advantage: zephyr RTOS specialization targets the real-time operating system the Linux Foundation and much of the industry now treat as the de facto standard.
How do USA Firmware and EmLogic AS differ in pricing?
USA Firmware uses managed design service engagements pricing. EmLogic AS uses project-based embedded design engagements pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: USA Firmware or EmLogic AS?
USA Firmware 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 USA Firmware and EmLogic AS?
USA Firmware's primary differentiator is: managed design services spanning electrical engineering, firmware, FPGA, and Linux under a single discovery-to-production process. EmLogic AS's primary differentiator is: founding team with prior embedded-company-building experience concentrated specifically on Zephyr RTOS. They also differ in team size (17 vs Not published), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Industrial products, Commercial electronics vs Industrial, IoT hardware).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.