Consult Red vs A2e Technologies: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Consult Red (4.3/5) edges ahead of A2e Technologies (4.3/5) overall. Consult Red is the better choice for connected-device consulting from a team with direct prior product-company engineering leadership. A2e Technologies is the stronger option for hardware security architecture advisory for ITAR-restricted defense and space programs. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Consult Red vs A2e Technologies: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Consult Red | A2e Technologies |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 | 2004 |
| HQ | Shipley, UK | San Diego, CA, USA |
| Team size | 220+ | 11–50 |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Founded by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, employee-owned since its 2020 rebrand from Red Embedded | ITAR-certified anti-tamper hardware security design advisory, a specialty found at very few firms |
| Pricing model | Consulting and product development engagements | Project-based engineering and advisory engagements, staffing solutions available |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | RTOS, Embedded Software, Cloud Platforms | C, C++, FPGA |
| Industries served | Connected TV, IoT, Industrial, Pay TV / OTT | Aerospace, Defense, Space, Commercial technology |
Consult Red vs A2e Technologies: overview
Consult Red
Consult Red was founded in 2003 by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, initially operating as Red Embedded before rebranding to Consult Red in February 2020. Headquartered at The Wave, Shipley, England, the firm has grown to more than 220 employees across four continents and transferred ownership to an Employee-Owned Trust, applying its embedded, hardware, and cloud technology experience to connected-device consulting across Connected TV, IoT, and industrial sectors. The founding team's direct engineering leadership background at Pace Micro, a real, named prior employer, gives its consulting credibility a specific origin story a buyer can trace.
A2e Technologies
A2e Technologies was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in San Diego, California with a team reported between 11 and 50 engineers, commonly cited around 47. Beyond hands-on hardware, FPGA, and firmware development, the firm's anti-tamper hardware security design work functions as a specialized advisory practice for defense and space clients navigating threat-model and export-control requirements, under ITAR certification. For a buyer whose consulting need is specifically security-architecture advisory in a regulated defense context, that ITAR-certified anti-tamper specialty is difficult to find outside a handful of firms.
Services and capabilities: Consult Red vs A2e Technologies
| Capability | Consult Red | A2e Technologies |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Feasibility assessment | ✗ | ✓ |
| Functional safety consulting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Technical training | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert-witness services | ✗ | ✗ |
| Hardware co-design | ✗ | ✓ |
| Medical device firmware | ✗ | ✗ |
| IoT connectivity | ✓ | ✗ |
| Staff augmentation | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Consult Red vs A2e Technologies
| Framework / platform | Consult Red | A2e Technologies |
|---|---|---|
| C | ✓ | ✓ |
| C++ | N/A | ✓ |
| RTOS | ✓ | N/A |
| ISO 26262 | N/A | N/A |
| IEC 61508 | N/A | N/A |
| MISRA C | N/A | N/A |
| FPGA | N/A | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| PCB Design | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: Consult Red vs A2e Technologies
| Criterion | Consult Red | A2e Technologies |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Consulting, Product development, Staff augmentation | Project-based engineering, Advisory consulting, Staffing solutions |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Consult Red vs A2e Technologies
| Dimension | Consult Red | A2e Technologies |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Connected TV, IoT, Industrial | Aerospace, Defense, Space |
| Best use cases | Connected TV or RDK-based embedded software consulting, IoT product architecture consulting from a team with product-company engineering leadership background | Anti-tamper hardware security architecture advisory for a defense or space payload, ITAR-restricted feasibility assessment for a new defense program |
| Typical project type | Consulting | Project-based engineering |
Consult Red vs A2e Technologies: pros and cons
| Consult Red | |
|---|---|
| + | Founded by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, a specific, verifiable prior employer that grounds the firm's founding expertise claim |
| + | 22 years of operating history, with employee ownership since its 2020 rebrand aligning staff incentives with long-term client relationships |
| + | 220-plus employees across four continents give substantial bench depth for concurrent consulting and development engagements |
| + | Connected TV and RDK-V/RDK-B specialization is a specific, differentiated niche within broader embedded consulting |
| - | Connected TV and OTT specialization is a narrower fit for a buyer whose product has no video or pay-TV component |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
| - | The 2020 rebrand from Red Embedded to Consult Red is worth confirming doesn't create confusion with unrelated firms using similar names |
| A2e Technologies | |
|---|---|
| + | ITAR certification is a hard prerequisite for many defense advisory engagements, and A2e holds it as a verifiable credential |
| + | Anti-tamper hardware security design advisory is a specific, uncommon specialty among general embedded consultancies |
| + | 21 years of operating history in aerospace, defense, and space engineering |
| + | Combines hands-on hardware, FPGA, and firmware capability with its advisory work, so recommendations can be prototyped by the same firm |
| - | ITAR-focused positioning is a narrower fit for commercial-only advisory engagements without export-control requirements |
| - | 11 to 50 employees limits capacity for the largest concurrent advisory programs |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
Who should choose Consult Red?
A typical fit: connected TV or RDK-based embedded software consulting.
Founded by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, employee-owned since its 2020 rebrand from Red Embedded. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Connected TV, IoT, Industrial, Pay TV / OTT.
Who should choose A2e Technologies?
A typical fit: anti-tamper hardware security architecture advisory for a defense or space payload.
ITAR-certified anti-tamper hardware security design advisory, a specialty found at very few firms. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Aerospace, Defense, Space, Commercial technology.
Decision matrix: Consult Red vs A2e Technologies
| 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: Consult Red (Not published) vs A2e Technologies (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Consult Red |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Consult Red |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Consult Red |
Use case fit: Consult Red vs A2e Technologies
| Use case | Consult Red fit | A2e Technologies fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connected TV or RDK-based embedded software consulting | Strong | Limited | Consult Red |
| IoT product architecture consulting from a team with product-company engineering leadership background | Strong | Limited | Consult Red |
| Anti-tamper hardware security architecture advisory for a defense or space payload | Limited | Strong | A2e Technologies |
| ITAR-restricted feasibility assessment for a new defense program | Limited | Strong | A2e Technologies |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Strong | Limited | Consult Red |
Verdict: Consult Red vs A2e Technologies
Consult Red (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Consulting projects. Founded by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, employee-owned since its 2020 rebrand from Red Embedded.
A2e Technologies (4.3/5) is worth a look if you need ITAR-restricted feasibility assessment for a new defense program. If your situation matches that, A2e Technologies is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Consult Red vs A2e Technologies FAQ
Is Consult Red better than A2e Technologies?
Consult Red (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Consult Red's strongest advantage: founded by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, a specific, verifiable prior employer that grounds the firm's founding expertise claim. A2e Technologies's strongest advantage: ITAR certification is a hard prerequisite for many defense advisory engagements, and A2e holds it as a verifiable credential.
How do Consult Red and A2e Technologies differ in pricing?
Consult Red uses consulting and product development engagements pricing. A2e Technologies uses project-based engineering and advisory engagements, staffing solutions available pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Consult Red or A2e Technologies?
A2e Technologies is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each consultancy before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Consult Red and A2e Technologies?
Consult Red's primary differentiator is: founded by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, employee-owned since its 2020 rebrand from Red Embedded. A2e Technologies's primary differentiator is: ITAR-certified anti-tamper hardware security design advisory, a specialty found at very few firms. They also differ in team size (220+ vs 11–50), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Connected TV, IoT vs Aerospace, Defense).
Verify all details directly with each consultancy before making a decision.