Very vs Cogniteq: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Very (4.2/5) edges ahead of Cogniteq (4.0/5) overall. Very is the better choice for funded US product teams, platform-heavy IoT. Cogniteq is the stronger option for IoT MVPs with an EU-based vendor. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Very vs Cogniteq: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Very | Cogniteq |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 | 2005 |
| HQ | Bozeman, Montana, United States (distributed) | Vilnius, Lithuania (offices in Poland) |
| Team size | 150–250 | 50–250 |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | US-only distributed team with strong product management and platform engineering | Mid-sized EU vendor that covers IoT apps and some hardware engineering |
| Pricing model | Time and materials | Time and materials, fixed price |
| Min. engagement | $250,000 | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C, Elixir, Nerves | Embedded C, BLE, AWS IoT |
| Industries served | Industrial equipment, Energy, Consumer electronics, Agriculture | Healthcare, Logistics, Smart home, Retail |
Very vs Cogniteq: overview
Very
Very was founded in 2011 by Ben Wald and started out building software and websites before settling on IoT. Its staff work remotely across the US, with Bozeman, Montana listed as its base, and Built In counts 193 employees. The company covers hardware prototyping, firmware, IoT platforms and apps. Its Clutch profile lists a $250,000 minimum project size and $200 to $300 hourly rates.
Cogniteq
Cogniteq was founded in 2005 and lists its locations as Lithuania and Poland, with a head office in Vilnius. It has 50 to 250 people, depending on the directory, and reports more than 300 launched projects. Its IoT services include consulting, application development, MVPs and hardware engineering, next to web, mobile and enterprise work. Its Clutch profile shows a 4.9 rating from 44 reviews.
Services and capabilities: Very vs Cogniteq
| Capability | Very | Cogniteq |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics & PCB design | ✓ | ✓ |
| Firmware & embedded software | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wireless connectivity | ✗ | ✗ |
| IoT cloud platforms | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile & web apps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Edge AI & data | ✓ | ✗ |
| Prototyping & manufacturing support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Very vs Cogniteq
| Framework / platform | Very | Cogniteq |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | ✓ |
| LoRaWAN | N/A | N/A |
| AWS IoT | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure IoT | N/A | N/A |
| FPGA | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Very vs Cogniteq
| Criterion | Very | Cogniteq |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $250,000 | Not published |
| Engagement models | Time and materials, Team extension | Fixed project, Time and materials |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Very vs Cogniteq
| Dimension | Very | Cogniteq |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Industrial equipment, Energy, Consumer electronics | Healthcare, Logistics, Smart home |
| Best use cases | A funded start-up needs a connected product and platform built by a US team., An energy company wants a fleet monitoring platform. | A start-up needs a connected health MVP., A logistics firm wants a BLE tracking app. |
| Typical project type | Time and materials | Fixed project |
Very vs Cogniteq: pros and cons
| Very | |
|---|---|
| + | US-based engineers and product managers |
| + | Strong on cloud platforms and data, not just devices |
| + | Experience taking products from prototype to launch |
| - | $250,000 minimum and $200 to $300 hourly rates rule out most small projects |
| - | Less electronics design depth than dedicated hardware houses |
| Cogniteq | |
|---|---|
| + | Strong client reviews |
| + | EU locations for contracting |
| + | Handles MVPs well |
| - | Hardware engineering is less established than its software work |
| - | Office details differ between sources |
Who should choose Very?
A typical fit: a funded start-up needs a connected product and platform built by a US team.
US-only distributed team with strong product management and platform engineering. Minimum engagement starts at $250,000. Works best with clients in Industrial equipment, Energy, Consumer electronics, Agriculture.
Who should choose Cogniteq?
A typical fit: a start-up needs a connected health MVP.
Mid-sized EU vendor that covers IoT apps and some hardware engineering. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Healthcare, Logistics, Smart home, Retail.
Decision matrix: Very vs Cogniteq
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Cogniteq |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Very ($250,000) vs Cogniteq (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Very |
| You want engineers added to your own in-house team | Very |
| You need the circuit board designed as well as the firmware | Very |
Use case fit: Very vs Cogniteq
| Use case | Very fit | Cogniteq fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A funded start-up needs a connected product and platform built by a US team. | Strong | Limited | Very |
| An energy company wants a fleet monitoring platform. | Strong | Limited | Very |
| A start-up needs a connected health MVP. | Limited | Strong | Cogniteq |
| A logistics firm wants a BLE tracking app. | Limited | Strong | Cogniteq |
| You need custom electronics designed, not only firmware | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| You want a fixed-price first phase before a longer engagement | Limited | Strong | Cogniteq |
Verdict: Very vs Cogniteq
Very (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most IoT Development projects. US-only distributed team with strong product management and platform engineering.
Cogniteq (4.0/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a logistics firm wants a BLE tracking app. If your situation matches that, Cogniteq is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Very vs Cogniteq FAQ
Is Very better than Cogniteq?
Very (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Very's strongest advantage: US-based engineers and product managers. Cogniteq's strongest advantage: strong client reviews.
How do Very and Cogniteq differ in pricing?
Very uses time and materials pricing with a minimum engagement of $250,000. Cogniteq uses time and materials, fixed price pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Very or Cogniteq?
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 company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Very and Cogniteq?
Very's primary differentiator is: US-only distributed team with strong product management and platform engineering. Cogniteq's primary differentiator is: mid-sized EU vendor that covers IoT apps and some hardware engineering. They also differ in team size (150–250 vs 50–250), minimum engagement ($250,000 vs Not published), and primary industries served (Industrial equipment, Energy vs Healthcare, Logistics).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.