Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Oxalis Design (4.0/5) edges ahead of ARCH-Embedded (3.8/5) overall. Oxalis Design is the better choice for very small teams wanting direct, ongoing access to the founding engineers. 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.
Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Oxalis Design | ARCH-Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 | 2022 |
| HQ | Bristol, UK | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Team size | 2–10 | 2–10 |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Founder-led team where both founders remain personally involved in client engineering work, not just management | Team includes engineers with prior experience at TomTom and in micro-mobility products, a specific and checkable positioning-technology background |
| Pricing model | Project-based electronics and embedded engagements | Project-based embedded consultancy engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, RF Design | Nordic nRF, Cellular Connectivity, RTOS |
| Industries served | Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial | Micro-mobility, Positioning and location technology, Industrial IoT |
Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded: 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.
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: Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded
| Capability | Oxalis Design | 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: Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded
| Framework / platform | Oxalis Design | ARCH-Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| C | ✓ | ✓ |
| C++ | ✓ | N/A |
| 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: Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded
| Criterion | Oxalis Design | ARCH-Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Project-based engineering, concept through pilot build | Project-based consultancy, Architecture and project management |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded
| Dimension | Oxalis Design | ARCH-Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial | Micro-mobility, Positioning and location technology, Industrial IoT |
| 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 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 engineering, concept through pilot build | Project-based consultancy |
Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded: 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 |
| 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 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 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: Oxalis Design 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: Oxalis Design (Not published) vs ARCH-Embedded (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 | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded
| Use case | Oxalis Design fit | ARCH-Embedded 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 engineers with direct positioning-technology experience for a location-aware device | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| 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: Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded
Oxalis Design (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Embedded Firmware Development projects. Founder-led team where both founders remain personally involved in client engineering work, not just management.
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
Oxalis Design vs ARCH-Embedded FAQ
Is Oxalis Design better than ARCH-Embedded?
Oxalis Design (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. ARCH-Embedded's strongest advantage: team includes engineers with prior experience at TomTom, a specific and checkable positioning-technology background.
How do Oxalis Design and ARCH-Embedded differ in pricing?
Oxalis Design uses project-based electronics and embedded 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: Oxalis Design or ARCH-Embedded?
Oxalis Design 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 ARCH-Embedded?
Oxalis Design's primary differentiator is: founder-led team where both founders remain personally involved in client engineering work, not just management. 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 (2–10 vs 2–10), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Medical devices, Consumer electronics vs Micro-mobility, Positioning and location technology).
Verify all details directly with each developer before making a decision.