Consult Red vs Promwad: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Consult Red (4.3/5) edges ahead of Promwad (4.0/5) overall. Consult Red is the better choice for connected-device consulting from a team with direct prior product-company engineering leadership. Promwad is the stronger option for ASIL-C automotive architecture advisory bundled with electronics design guidance. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Consult Red vs Promwad: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Consult Red | Promwad |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 | 2004 |
| HQ | Shipley, UK | Essen, Germany |
| Team size | 220+ | 146 |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Founded by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, employee-owned since its 2020 rebrand from Red Embedded | ASIL-C functional-safety experience in automotive ECU and infotainment architecture alongside full-stack electronics design |
| Pricing model | Consulting and product development engagements | Project-based electronics and firmware consulting engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | RTOS, Embedded Software, Cloud Platforms | C, C++, Embedded Linux |
| Industries served | Connected TV, IoT, Industrial, Pay TV / OTT | Telecom & networking, Automotive & transportation, Digital TV & video streaming, Industrial automation & IIoT |
Consult Red vs Promwad: 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.
Promwad
Promwad was founded in 2004 by Roman Pakholkov and is headquartered in Essen, Germany with roughly 146 employees across Europe, North America, and Asia. Its advisory work bundles embedded software architecture, hardware design, and PCB layout guidance, with ASIL-C functional-safety experience in automotive infotainment and ECU development alongside telecom, digital TV, and industrial automation consulting. For an automotive or safety-relevant architecture review, ASIL-C is a checkable credential rather than a general safety claim.
Services and capabilities: Consult Red vs Promwad
| Capability | Consult Red | Promwad |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Promwad
| Framework / platform | Consult Red | Promwad |
|---|---|---|
| C | ✓ | ✓ |
| C++ | N/A | ✓ |
| RTOS | ✓ | N/A |
| ISO 26262 | N/A | N/A |
| IEC 61508 | N/A | N/A |
| MISRA C | N/A | ✓ |
| FPGA | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | ✓ |
| PCB Design | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: Consult Red vs Promwad
| Criterion | Consult Red | Promwad |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Consulting, Product development, Staff augmentation | Project-based engineering |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Consult Red vs Promwad
| Dimension | Consult Red | Promwad |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Connected TV, IoT, Industrial | Telecom & networking, Automotive & transportation, Digital TV & video streaming |
| Best use cases | Connected TV or RDK-based embedded software consulting, IoT product architecture consulting from a team with product-company engineering leadership background | ASIL-C automotive ECU or infotainment architecture advisory, Combined electronics, PCB, and firmware architecture review |
| Typical project type | Consulting | Project-based engineering |
Consult Red vs Promwad: 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 |
| Promwad | |
|---|---|
| + | ASIL-C functional-safety credential in automotive ECU and infotainment architecture is independently checkable |
| + | Electronics design, PCB layout, and firmware architecture advisory sit inside one company |
| + | 21 years of operating history and roughly 146 people give more delivery capacity than most boutique advisory firms |
| + | 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 architecture reviews require |
| - | 146 employees spread across several industries means advisory specialists are shared across a broader practice |
| - | 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 Promwad?
A typical fit: ASIL-C automotive ECU or infotainment architecture advisory.
ASIL-C functional-safety experience in automotive ECU and infotainment architecture 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.
Decision matrix: Consult Red vs Promwad
| 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 Promwad (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 Promwad
| Use case | Consult Red fit | Promwad 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 |
| ASIL-C automotive ECU or infotainment architecture advisory | Limited | Strong | Promwad |
| Combined electronics, PCB, and firmware architecture review | Limited | Strong | Promwad |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Strong | Limited | Consult Red |
Verdict: Consult Red vs Promwad
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.
Promwad (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need combined electronics, PCB, and firmware architecture review. If your situation matches that, Promwad is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Consult Red vs Promwad FAQ
Is Consult Red better than Promwad?
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. Promwad's strongest advantage: ASIL-C functional-safety credential in automotive ECU and infotainment architecture is independently checkable.
How do Consult Red and Promwad differ in pricing?
Consult Red uses consulting and product development engagements pricing. Promwad uses project-based electronics and firmware consulting engagements 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 Promwad?
Consult Red 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 Promwad?
Consult Red's primary differentiator is: founded by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, employee-owned since its 2020 rebrand from Red Embedded. Promwad's primary differentiator is: ASIL-C functional-safety experience in automotive ECU and infotainment architecture alongside full-stack electronics design. They also differ in team size (220+ vs 146), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Connected TV, IoT vs Telecom & networking, Automotive & transportation).
Verify all details directly with each consultancy before making a decision.