Sirin Software vs Data Respons: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Sirin Software (4.4/5) edges ahead of Data Respons (3.9/5) overall. Sirin Software is the better choice for semiconductor teams wanting a boutique with genuine multi-protocol wireless depth. Data Respons is the stronger option for nordic teams wanting scale with (so far) retained embedded specialist focus. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Sirin Software vs Data Respons: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Sirin Software | Data Respons |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 | 1986 |
| HQ | Pompano Beach, Florida, USA (R&D in Kyiv and Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine) | Høvik, Norway |
| Team size | 11–50 | 1,400 |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | 11-50 person boutique with named depth across six wireless protocols — a narrower, more specific claim than most much larger generalist firms make about connectivity work | 1,400-person embedded specialist that has retained a genuinely focused practice through two ownership transitions, rather than being folded into a diversified engineering pool |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, staff augmentation | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Zephyr, FreeRTOS, ThreadX | Embedded Linux, C/C++, RTOS |
| Industries served | Consumer Electronics, Industrial IoT, Smart home, Semiconductor | Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media, Energy & Maritime, Medtech, Defense & Security |
Sirin Software vs Data Respons: overview
Sirin Software
Sirin Software, founded in 2014, runs an 11-50 person team headquartered in Pompano Beach, Florida with R&D centers in Kyiv and Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, specifically on SDKs, firmware, middleware, and driver development for semiconductor companies and IoT product teams. Small size here maps to genuine specialization rather than a limitation: named depth across six wireless protocols (Wi-Fi, BLE, Matter, UWB, NFC, LoRaWAN) spanning Linux, Zephyr, FreeRTOS, and ThreadX is a narrower, deeper claim than most much larger generalist firms make about connectivity work.
Data Respons
Data Respons, founded in 1986 and headquartered in Høvik, Norway, develops embedded systems across eight regulated sectors, employing roughly 1,400 people. At 1,400 people, it's larger than any true boutique on this list, but the practice remains genuinely embedded-focused rather than folded into a diversified engineering pool — a distinction worth checking directly given two ownership transitions in five years (AKKA Technologies in 2020, then folded into Akkodis), since integration into ever-larger parent organizations is the specific dilution risk a specialist-seeking buyer should watch for.
Services and capabilities: Sirin Software vs Data Respons
| Capability | Sirin Software | Data Respons |
|---|---|---|
| RTOS firmware development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux (Yocto/BuildRoot) | ✓ | ✓ |
| FPGA programming (Verilog/VHDL) | ✗ | ✗ |
| Hardware & PCB / electrical engineering | ✗ | ✓ |
| IoT connectivity & protocols | ✓ | ✓ |
| Edge AI / on-device ML | ✗ | ✗ |
| Embedded GUI development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Cybersecurity & secure boot | ✗ | ✗ |
| Staff augmentation / team extension | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Sirin Software vs Data Respons
| Framework / platform | Sirin Software | Data Respons |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | ✓ | N/A |
| Zephyr | ✓ | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | ✓ | ✓ |
| AUTOSAR | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | N/A | N/A |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | N/A |
| LoRaWAN | ✓ | N/A |
| CAN bus | N/A | N/A |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
| Verilog | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Sirin Software vs Data Respons
| Criterion | Sirin Software | Data Respons |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Staff augmentation | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Sirin Software vs Data Respons
| Dimension | Sirin Software | Data Respons |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer Electronics, Industrial IoT, Smart home | Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media, Energy & Maritime |
| Best use cases | Semiconductor companies needing SDK, driver, and middleware development from a specialist boutique rather than a generalist firm, Matter/Thread smart-home products requiring simultaneous multi-protocol wireless firmware support | Maritime or defense programs needing embedded systems with Nordic regulatory familiarity, Medtech products requiring embedded engineering from a multi-sector specialist team with a long independent operating history |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Sirin Software vs Data Respons: pros and cons
| Sirin Software | |
|---|---|
| + | Named coverage across six wireless protocols is a narrower, more specific claim than the generic 'connectivity expertise' most larger firms list |
| + | Works directly with semiconductor companies on SDK and driver development, closer to the chip than downstream product-firmware generalist work |
| + | Boutique size means the client-facing team is likely the same team doing the engineering, not separate sales and delivery layers |
| - | Small team (11-50, varying by source) limits capacity for programs needing several parallel workstreams |
| - | No public pricing tiers or minimum engagement figures for pre-qualification |
| - | Multi-protocol breadth within a small team means depth in any one protocol may be shallower than a single-protocol specialist |
| Data Respons | |
|---|---|
| + | Nearly 40 years of embedded systems specialization across eight distinct sectors, from maritime to medtech to defense |
| + | Nordic regional presence (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) plus Germany and Taiwan offices supports European and APAC delivery |
| + | Retains a genuinely embedded-focused delivery team despite two ownership transitions (AKKA in 2020, then Akkodis) |
| - | Two ownership transitions in five years (AKKA Technologies 2020, then folded into Akkodis) — confirm current team continuity directly, since parent-organization dilution is a real risk at this stage |
| - | 1,400-employee scale sits below the largest global engineering firms for very large concurrent programs |
| - | No public pricing or minimum engagement figures published |
Who should choose Sirin Software?
A typical fit: semiconductor companies needing SDK, driver, and middleware development from a specialist boutique rather than a generalist firm.
11-50 person boutique with named depth across six wireless protocols — a narrower, more specific claim than most much larger generalist firms make about connectivity work. Minimum engagement starts at Not disclosed. Works best with clients in Consumer Electronics, Industrial IoT, Smart home, Semiconductor.
Who should choose Data Respons?
A typical fit: maritime or defense programs needing embedded systems with Nordic regulatory familiarity.
1,400-person embedded specialist that has retained a genuinely focused practice through two ownership transitions, rather than being folded into a diversified engineering pool. Minimum engagement starts at Not disclosed. Works best with clients in Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media, Energy & Maritime, Medtech, Defense & Security.
Decision matrix: Sirin Software vs Data Respons
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Sirin Software |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Data Respons |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Sirin Software (Not disclosed) vs Data Respons (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Data Respons |
| 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: Sirin Software vs Data Respons
| Use case | Sirin Software fit | Data Respons fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semiconductor companies needing SDK, driver, and middleware development from a specialist boutique rather than a generalist firm | Strong | Limited | Sirin Software |
| Matter/Thread smart-home products requiring simultaneous multi-protocol wireless firmware support | Strong | Limited | Sirin Software |
| Maritime or defense programs needing embedded systems with Nordic regulatory familiarity | Limited | Strong | Data Respons |
| Medtech products requiring embedded engineering from a multi-sector specialist team with a long independent operating history | Limited | Strong | Data Respons |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Sirin Software vs Data Respons
Sirin Software (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Embedded Software Development projects. 11-50 person boutique with named depth across six wireless protocols — a narrower, more specific claim than most much larger generalist firms make about connectivity work.
Data Respons (3.9/5) is worth a look if you need medtech products requiring embedded engineering from a multi-sector specialist team with a long independent operating history. If your situation matches that, Data Respons is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Sirin Software vs Data Respons FAQ
Is Sirin Software better than Data Respons?
Sirin Software (4.4/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Sirin Software's strongest advantage: named coverage across six wireless protocols is a narrower, more specific claim than the generic 'connectivity expertise' most larger firms list. Data Respons's strongest advantage: nearly 40 years of embedded systems specialization across eight distinct sectors, from maritime to medtech to defense.
How do Sirin Software and Data Respons differ in pricing?
Sirin Software uses fixed project, staff augmentation pricing with a minimum engagement of Not disclosed. Data Respons uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of Not disclosed. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Sirin Software or Data Respons?
Data Respons is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each agency before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Sirin Software and Data Respons?
Sirin Software's primary differentiator is: 11-50 person boutique with named depth across six wireless protocols — a narrower, more specific claim than most much larger generalist firms make about connectivity work. Data Respons's primary differentiator is: 1,400-person embedded specialist that has retained a genuinely focused practice through two ownership transitions, rather than being folded into a diversified engineering pool. They also differ in team size (11–50 vs 1,400), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Consumer Electronics, Industrial IoT vs Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.