Consult Red vs InTechHouse: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Consult Red (4.3/5) edges ahead of InTechHouse (4.0/5) overall. Consult Red is the better choice for connected-device consulting from a team with direct prior product-company engineering leadership. InTechHouse is the stronger option for advisory engagements requiring a publicly disclosed, EU-certified R&D partner. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Consult Red vs InTechHouse: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Consult Red | InTechHouse |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 | 2003 |
| HQ | Shipley, UK | Bydgoszcz, Poland |
| Team size | 220+ | 51–200 |
| 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 | Publicly listed on Warsaw's NewConnect market since 2015, giving financial transparency most private advisory boutiques don't offer |
| Pricing model | Consulting and product development engagements | Project-based hardware and embedded consulting engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | RTOS, Embedded Software, Cloud Platforms | C, C++, Embedded Systems Programming |
| Industries served | Connected TV, IoT, Industrial, Pay TV / OTT | Industrial, Consumer electronics, Data & analytics products |
Consult Red vs InTechHouse: 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.
InTechHouse
InTechHouse operates as SoftBlue S.A., founded in 2003 and headquartered in Bydgoszcz, Poland, listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange's NewConnect market since 2015. Its 51 to 200-person team works across hardware design, embedded systems, and data analytics advisory, positioning itself as an EU-certified R&D partner delivering guidance from concept through production. For a consulting buyer weighing financial transparency and governance as part of vendor risk assessment, public-company disclosure requirements give InTechHouse a documentation trail most privately held advisory boutiques don't have.
Services and capabilities: Consult Red vs InTechHouse
| Capability | Consult Red | InTechHouse |
|---|---|---|
| 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 InTechHouse
| Framework / platform | Consult Red | InTechHouse |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| PCB Design | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Consult Red vs InTechHouse
| Criterion | Consult Red | InTechHouse |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Consulting, Product development, Staff augmentation | Project-based engineering, Concept-to-production programs |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Consult Red vs InTechHouse
| Dimension | Consult Red | InTechHouse |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Connected TV, IoT, Industrial | Industrial, Consumer electronics, Data & analytics products |
| Best use cases | Connected TV or RDK-based embedded software consulting, IoT product architecture consulting from a team with product-company engineering leadership background | Concept-to-production architecture advisory requiring public vendor disclosure, Embedded systems consulting requiring integrated data analytics guidance |
| Typical project type | Consulting | Project-based engineering |
Consult Red vs InTechHouse: 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 |
| InTechHouse | |
|---|---|
| + | Public listing on the Warsaw Stock Exchange's NewConnect market since 2015 gives financial disclosure most advisory boutiques don't provide |
| + | 22 years of operating history under the SoftBlue S.A. legal entity |
| + | Combined hardware design, embedded systems, and data analytics advisory covers connected-product architecture questions beyond firmware alone |
| + | EU-certified R&D partner status can simplify grant-funded or EU-based procurement processes |
| - | 51 to 200 employees is spread across hardware, embedded, and data analytics work, not a dedicated advisory-only bench |
| - | Public listing means quarterly disclosure obligations, a governance factor worth noting in procurement due diligence |
| - | 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 InTechHouse?
A typical fit: concept-to-production architecture advisory requiring public vendor disclosure.
Publicly listed on Warsaw's NewConnect market since 2015, giving financial transparency most private advisory boutiques don't offer. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial, Consumer electronics, Data & analytics products.
Decision matrix: Consult Red vs InTechHouse
| 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 InTechHouse (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 InTechHouse
| Use case | Consult Red fit | InTechHouse 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 |
| Concept-to-production architecture advisory requiring public vendor disclosure | Limited | Strong | InTechHouse |
| Embedded systems consulting requiring integrated data analytics guidance | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Strong | Limited | Consult Red |
Verdict: Consult Red vs InTechHouse
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.
InTechHouse (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need embedded systems consulting requiring integrated data analytics guidance. If your situation matches that, InTechHouse is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Consult Red vs InTechHouse FAQ
Is Consult Red better than InTechHouse?
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. InTechHouse's strongest advantage: public listing on the Warsaw Stock Exchange's NewConnect market since 2015 gives financial disclosure most advisory boutiques don't provide.
How do Consult Red and InTechHouse differ in pricing?
Consult Red uses consulting and product development engagements pricing. InTechHouse uses project-based hardware and embedded 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 InTechHouse?
InTechHouse 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 InTechHouse?
Consult Red's primary differentiator is: founded by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, employee-owned since its 2020 rebrand from Red Embedded. InTechHouse's primary differentiator is: publicly listed on Warsaw's NewConnect market since 2015, giving financial transparency most private advisory boutiques don't offer. They also differ in team size (220+ vs 51–200), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Connected TV, IoT vs Industrial, Consumer electronics).
Verify all details directly with each consultancy before making a decision.