Tata Elxsi vs Very: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Tata Elxsi (4.0/5) edges ahead of Very (3.8/5) overall. Tata Elxsi is the better choice for automotive and medical OEMs needing compliance at volume. Very is the stronger option for US companies building a first connected product. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Tata Elxsi vs Very: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Tata Elxsi | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1989 | 2011 |
| HQ | Bengaluru, India | USA (fully distributed) |
| Team size | 10,000+ | 51–200 |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Large, process-heavy embedded practices for automotive and medical compliance | Product-strategy-led IoT development with Nerves and Elixir experience |
| Pricing model | Time & materials, fixed project, offshore development centre | Time & materials, fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | C, AUTOSAR, Embedded Linux | C, Elixir, Nerves |
| Industries served | Automotive, Medical devices, Telecom & broadcast, Aerospace & defence | Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics, Energy & EV charging |
Tata Elxsi vs Very: overview
Tata Elxsi
Tata Elxsi is the Tata Group's design and technology services company, founded in 1989, headquartered in Bengaluru and listed on Indian exchanges. It reported 11,540 employees at the end of March 2026. Embedded product design is one of its oldest lines, and its automotive practice covers ECU software, AUTOSAR, infotainment and electric-vehicle systems, while its healthcare practice works on regulated medical devices. For firmware buyers, its main strengths are scale and compliance processes for ISO 26262 and IEC 62304 programmes.
Very
Very is a US IoT engineering firm that grew out of a design and development agency founded in 2011 and now works as a distributed team, with its earlier base in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Directory listings put its size at 51 to 200 people. It builds IoT products across hardware engineering, firmware, mobile apps and data, and it hired a co-author of the Nerves project, which runs Elixir on embedded Linux. Reviews mention hardware, firmware, React Native and AI feature work, so firmware is one part of a broader product offer.
Services and capabilities: Tata Elxsi vs Very
| Capability | Tata Elxsi | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Bare-metal & RTOS firmware | ✓ | ✗ |
| Embedded Linux & BSP | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electronics & PCB design | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wireless & IoT connectivity | ✗ | ✓ |
| Secure boot & OTA | ✓ | ✗ |
| FPGA development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Firmware testing & HIL | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Tata Elxsi vs Very
| Framework / platform | Tata Elxsi | Very |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | ✓ | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | ✓ | ✓ |
| Yocto | N/A | N/A |
| AUTOSAR | ✓ | N/A |
| STM32 | N/A | N/A |
| Nordic | N/A | ✓ |
| NXP | N/A | N/A |
| FPGA | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Tata Elxsi vs Very
| Criterion | Tata Elxsi | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Fixed project, Time & materials | Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Tata Elxsi vs Very
| Dimension | Tata Elxsi | Very |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Enterprise | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Automotive, Medical devices, Telecom & broadcast | Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics, Energy & EV charging |
| Best use cases | Delivering AUTOSAR ECU software for an EV platform, Running a multi-year medical device firmware programme | Taking a first IoT product from concept to pilot, Building Nerves-based device software on embedded Linux |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Fixed project |
Tata Elxsi vs Very: pros and cons
| Tata Elxsi | |
|---|---|
| + | Scale to staff multi-year automotive programmes |
| + | Established processes for ISO 26262, ASPICE and IEC 62304 work |
| + | Listed company with published financials, which helps vendor-risk reviews |
| - | Overhead and minimum team sizes make it a poor fit for small products |
| - | Generalist engineering services firm, so firmware depth varies by team |
| - | Headcount has fallen since 2024, so check staffing stability on your account |
| Very | |
|---|---|
| + | Combines product strategy, design and engineering for teams new to hardware |
| + | Nerves experience is rare and useful for Elixir-based device software |
| + | Delivers the device, app and data platform together |
| - | Firmware is one part of a product agency offer |
| - | US rates without a lower-cost offshore option |
| - | Office location and headcount details vary between sources |
Who should choose Tata Elxsi?
A typical fit: delivering AUTOSAR ECU software for an EV platform.
Large, process-heavy embedded practices for automotive and medical compliance. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Automotive, Medical devices, Telecom & broadcast, Aerospace & defence.
Who should choose Very?
A typical fit: taking a first IoT product from concept to pilot.
Product-strategy-led IoT development with Nerves and Elixir experience. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics, Energy & EV charging.
Decision matrix: Tata Elxsi vs Very
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Tata Elxsi |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Tata Elxsi |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Tata Elxsi (Not disclosed) vs Very (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Tata Elxsi |
| You need engineers to extend your own firmware team | Tata Elxsi |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Tata Elxsi vs Very
| Use case | Tata Elxsi fit | Very fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delivering AUTOSAR ECU software for an EV platform | Strong | Limited | Tata Elxsi |
| Running a multi-year medical device firmware programme | Strong | Limited | Tata Elxsi |
| Taking a first IoT product from concept to pilot | Limited | Strong | Very |
| Building Nerves-based device software on embedded Linux | Limited | Strong | Very |
| Fixed-price firmware build | Strong | Strong | Both |
| Extending an in-house firmware team | Strong | Strong | Both |
Verdict: Tata Elxsi vs Very
Tata Elxsi (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Large, process-heavy embedded practices for automotive and medical compliance.
Very (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need building Nerves-based device software on embedded Linux. If your situation matches that, Very is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Tata Elxsi vs Very FAQ
Is Tata Elxsi better than Very?
Tata Elxsi (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Tata Elxsi's strongest advantage: scale to staff multi-year automotive programmes. Very's strongest advantage: combines product strategy, design and engineering for teams new to hardware.
How do Tata Elxsi and Very differ in pricing?
Tata Elxsi uses time & materials, fixed project, offshore development centre pricing. Very uses time & materials, fixed project pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Tata Elxsi or Very?
Very is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each service provider before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Tata Elxsi and Very?
Tata Elxsi's primary differentiator is: Large, process-heavy embedded practices for automotive and medical compliance. Very's primary differentiator is: product-strategy-led IoT development with Nerves and Elixir experience. They also differ in team size (10,000+ vs 51–200), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Automotive, Medical devices vs Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics).
Verify all details directly with each service provider before making a decision.