Promwad vs Oxalis Design: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Promwad (4.3/5) edges ahead of Oxalis Design (4.1/5) overall. Promwad is the better choice for automotive and telecom firmware bundled with electronics and PCB design. Oxalis Design is the stronger option for small connected-device programs needing direct access to senior engineers. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Promwad vs Oxalis Design: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Promwad | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 | 2019 |
| HQ | Essen, Germany | Bristol, UK |
| Team size | 146 | 2–10 |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | ASIL-C functional-safety experience in automotive ECU and infotainment work alongside full-stack electronics design | Founder-led two-person leadership team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware, no broader IT practice attached |
| Pricing model | Project-based electronics and firmware engagements | Project-based electronics and embedded engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | MISRA C, C, C++ | C, C++, RF Design |
| Industries served | Telecom & networking, Automotive & transportation, Digital TV & video streaming, Industrial automation & IIoT | Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial |
Promwad vs Oxalis Design: overview
Promwad
Promwad was founded in 2004 by Roman Pakholkov and is now headquartered in Essen, Germany, with roughly 146 employees across Europe, North America, and Asia. The company covers embedded software development, hardware design, PCB layout, and enclosure design, with stated ASIL-C functional-safety work in automotive infotainment and ECU development alongside telecom, digital TV, and industrial automation projects. That combination of electronics design and firmware under one roof, plus safety-relevant automotive experience, distinguishes it from firmware-only vendors that don't carry board-level design capability.
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. The firm's stated scope covers electronics hardware and RF design, embedded software development, and connected-device development for medical, consumer, and industrial clients, from early concept through pilot builds and the transfer to production. As a small, cohesive team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware rather than a broader product-design or general IT practice, it suits clients who want senior engineers directly on their project rather than layers of account management.
Services and capabilities: Promwad vs Oxalis Design
| Capability | Promwad | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Promwad vs Oxalis Design
| Framework / platform | Promwad | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | 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 |
| Secure Boot | N/A | N/A |
| AWS IoT | N/A | N/A |
| RISC-V | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Promwad vs Oxalis Design
| Criterion | Promwad | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Project-based engineering | Project-based engineering, concept through pilot build |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Promwad vs Oxalis Design
| Dimension | Promwad | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Telecom & networking, Automotive & transportation, Digital TV & video streaming | Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial |
| Best use cases | ASIL-C automotive ECU or infotainment firmware development, Combined electronics, PCB, and firmware design for a new industrial device | RF and firmware co-design for a new connected consumer device, Medical device electronics and embedded firmware from concept through pilot build |
| Typical project type | Project-based engineering | Project-based engineering, concept through pilot build |
Promwad vs Oxalis Design: pros and cons
| Promwad | |
|---|---|
| + | ASIL-C functional-safety work in automotive ECU and infotainment development is a specific, verifiable safety credential |
| + | Electronics design, PCB layout, and firmware sit inside one company rather than being split across vendors |
| + | 21 years of operating history and roughly 146 people give it more delivery capacity than most boutique firmware teams |
| + | Industry spread across telecom, automotive, digital TV, and industrial automation reduces single-sector concentration risk |
| - | ASIL-C is one level below the ASIL D some automotive safety programs require, which may not fit the most stringent projects |
| - | 146 employees spread across telecom, automotive, and industrial work means firmware specialists are shared across a broader practice, not a dedicated firmware-only team |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
| Oxalis Design | |
|---|---|
| + | Founded and led directly by two working electronics and software engineers, giving clients direct senior-level involvement |
| + | Focus on electronics and embedded firmware exclusively, without a broader IT or general software practice diluting attention |
| + | RF design capability in-house means wireless connectivity work doesn't require a separate specialist vendor |
| + | Serves medical, consumer, and industrial clients from concept through pilot build and transfer to production |
| - | 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 |
Who should choose Promwad?
A typical fit: ASIL-C automotive ECU or infotainment firmware development.
ASIL-C functional-safety experience in automotive ECU and infotainment work alongside full-stack electronics design. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Telecom & networking, Automotive & transportation, Digital TV & video streaming, Industrial automation & IIoT.
Who should choose Oxalis Design?
A typical fit: RF and firmware co-design for a new connected consumer device.
Founder-led two-person leadership team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware, no broader IT practice attached. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial.
Decision matrix: Promwad vs Oxalis Design
| 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: Promwad (Not published) vs Oxalis Design (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Promwad |
| 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: Promwad vs Oxalis Design
| Use case | Promwad fit | Oxalis Design fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASIL-C automotive ECU or infotainment firmware development | Strong | Limited | Promwad |
| Combined electronics, PCB, and firmware design for a new industrial device | Strong | Limited | Promwad |
| RF and firmware co-design for a new connected consumer device | Limited | Strong | Oxalis Design |
| Medical device electronics and embedded firmware from concept through pilot build | Limited | Strong | Oxalis Design |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Promwad vs Oxalis Design
Promwad (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. ASIL-C functional-safety experience in automotive ECU and infotainment work alongside full-stack electronics design.
Oxalis Design (4.1/5) is worth a look if you need medical device electronics and embedded firmware from concept through pilot build. If your situation matches that, Oxalis Design is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Promwad vs Oxalis Design FAQ
Is Promwad better than Oxalis Design?
Promwad (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Promwad's strongest advantage: ASIL-C functional-safety work in automotive ECU and infotainment development is a specific, verifiable safety credential. Oxalis Design's strongest advantage: founded and led directly by two working electronics and software engineers, giving clients direct senior-level involvement.
How do Promwad and Oxalis Design differ in pricing?
Promwad uses project-based electronics and firmware engagements pricing. Oxalis Design uses project-based electronics and embedded engagements pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Promwad or Oxalis Design?
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 company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Promwad and Oxalis Design?
Promwad's primary differentiator is: ASIL-C functional-safety experience in automotive ECU and infotainment work alongside full-stack electronics design. Oxalis Design's primary differentiator is: founder-led two-person leadership team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware, no broader IT practice attached. They also differ in team size (146 vs 2–10), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Telecom & networking, Automotive & transportation vs Medical devices, Consumer electronics).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.