Dojo Five vs Zone7 Engineering: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Dojo Five (4.5/5) edges ahead of Zone7 Engineering (3.8/5) overall. Dojo Five is the better choice for FDA-ready firmware for connected medical devices and diagnostics. Zone7 Engineering is the stronger option for small RFPs needing direct founder-level electronics and firmware engineering. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Dojo Five vs Zone7 Engineering: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Dojo Five | Zone7 Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 | 2010 |
| HQ | Saint Paul, MN, USA | Portland, OR, USA |
| Team size | 26 | Solo / small team |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Firmware delivery scoped exclusively around FDA-regulated medical device and diagnostics programs, not a general embedded practice | Founder-led electronics and firmware practice covering the full path from PCB design through production readiness |
| Pricing model | Project-based firmware engagements for medical device programs | Project-based electronics and firmware engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, Medical Device Firmware Standards | C, C++, PCB Design |
| Industries served | Medical devices, Diagnostics | Consumer electronics, Industrial products |
Dojo Five vs Zone7 Engineering: overview
Dojo Five
Dojo Five was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota with a team of 26 engineers. The firm's stated scope is narrow and deliberate: production-ready embedded firmware for connected medical devices and diagnostics, delivered on time and on budget, without the broader industrial or consumer electronics work that dilutes focus at larger firms. For an RFP built around a specific medical device program, that narrowness reads as depth rather than a limitation, since every engineer on the team works inside the same regulatory and reliability constraints day to day.
Zone7 Engineering
Zone7 Engineering is a Portland, Oregon electronics engineering practice founded and run by David Ashman, a senior electronics engineer with extensive experience designing digital and analog circuitry around various microprocessors and DSPs alongside embedded C/C++ firmware development. Its stated scope covers project planning, PCB and circuit design, embedded firmware development, prototyping, and production-readiness support. For an RFP scoped small enough for a solo or near-solo practitioner, that direct-founder-involvement model removes account-management layers entirely, though it also caps how much concurrent capacity is available.
Services and capabilities: Dojo Five vs Zone7 Engineering
| Capability | Dojo Five | Zone7 Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| Firmware development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hardware / PCB co-design | ✗ | ✓ |
| Functional safety / certification | ✓ | ✗ |
| Defense / aerospace credentials | ✗ | ✗ |
| Medical device firmware | ✓ | ✗ |
| Secure firmware updates | ✗ | ✗ |
| IoT connectivity | ✗ | ✗ |
| Embedded Linux | ✗ | ✗ |
| Staff augmentation | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Dojo Five vs Zone7 Engineering
| Framework / platform | Dojo Five | Zone7 Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| C | ✓ | ✓ |
| C++ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| PCB Design | N/A | ✓ |
| FPGA | N/A | N/A |
| MISRA C | N/A | N/A |
| ITAR | N/A | N/A |
| AWS IoT | N/A | N/A |
| ASIL | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Dojo Five vs Zone7 Engineering
| Criterion | Dojo Five | Zone7 Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Project-based firmware development | Project-based engineering |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Dojo Five vs Zone7 Engineering
| Dimension | Dojo Five | Zone7 Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Medical devices, Diagnostics | Consumer electronics, Industrial products |
| Best use cases | Firmware development for a connected diagnostic device ahead of FDA submission, Production-ready firmware handoff for a medical device already through concept and hardware design | Small mixed-signal hardware and firmware program led by a senior founder-engineer, PCB and circuit design paired with embedded C/C++ firmware for a compact product |
| Typical project type | Project-based firmware development | Project-based engineering |
Dojo Five vs Zone7 Engineering: pros and cons
| Dojo Five | |
|---|---|
| + | Sole focus on connected medical devices and diagnostics means the entire team works inside FDA-relevant constraints, not a fraction of it |
| + | Stated commitment to on-time, on-budget delivery is a specific procurement claim, not a generic marketing line |
| + | 7 years of operating history built entirely around this one vertical |
| + | Small team size gives a procurement contact direct access to senior firmware engineers rather than account layers |
| - | 26 engineers caps concurrent capacity; an RFP needing parallel workstreams across several device programs may need to confirm bench depth first |
| - | Its medical-device-only focus is a narrower fit for an RFP spanning non-medical hardware categories |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
| Zone7 Engineering | |
|---|---|
| + | Founder-led model means direct senior electronics engineering involvement on every engagement, with no account-management layer |
| + | Covers project planning through PCB design, firmware, prototyping, and production readiness in one continuous process |
| + | Analog and digital circuit design experience alongside firmware covers mixed-signal product requirements |
| + | Founding year (2010) predates many boutique competitors, giving over a decade of practice |
| - | Solo or near-solo team size severely limits capacity for an RFP requiring multiple concurrent workstreams |
| - | Public case study detail and named client references are very limited |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
Who should choose Dojo Five?
A typical fit: firmware development for a connected diagnostic device ahead of FDA submission.
Firmware delivery scoped exclusively around FDA-regulated medical device and diagnostics programs, not a general embedded practice. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Medical devices, Diagnostics.
Who should choose Zone7 Engineering?
A typical fit: small mixed-signal hardware and firmware program led by a senior founder-engineer.
Founder-led electronics and firmware practice covering the full path from PCB design through production readiness. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Consumer electronics, Industrial products.
Decision matrix: Dojo Five vs Zone7 Engineering
| 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: Dojo Five (Not published) vs Zone7 Engineering (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Dojo Five |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Dojo Five |
Use case fit: Dojo Five vs Zone7 Engineering
| Use case | Dojo Five fit | Zone7 Engineering fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firmware development for a connected diagnostic device ahead of FDA submission | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Production-ready firmware handoff for a medical device already through concept and hardware design | Strong | Limited | Dojo Five |
| Small mixed-signal hardware and firmware program led by a senior founder-engineer | Limited | Strong | Zone7 Engineering |
| PCB and circuit design paired with embedded C/C++ firmware for a compact product | Limited | Strong | Zone7 Engineering |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Dojo Five vs Zone7 Engineering
Dojo Five (4.5/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Embedded Firmware projects. Firmware delivery scoped exclusively around FDA-regulated medical device and diagnostics programs, not a general embedded practice.
Zone7 Engineering (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need PCB and circuit design paired with embedded C/C++ firmware for a compact product. If your situation matches that, Zone7 Engineering is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Dojo Five vs Zone7 Engineering FAQ
Is Dojo Five better than Zone7 Engineering?
Dojo Five (4.5/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Dojo Five's strongest advantage: sole focus on connected medical devices and diagnostics means the entire team works inside FDA-relevant constraints, not a fraction of it. Zone7 Engineering's strongest advantage: founder-led model means direct senior electronics engineering involvement on every engagement, with no account-management layer.
How do Dojo Five and Zone7 Engineering differ in pricing?
Dojo Five uses project-based firmware engagements for medical device programs pricing. Zone7 Engineering uses project-based electronics and firmware engagements pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Dojo Five or Zone7 Engineering?
Dojo Five is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each service provider before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Dojo Five and Zone7 Engineering?
Dojo Five's primary differentiator is: firmware delivery scoped exclusively around FDA-regulated medical device and diagnostics programs, not a general embedded practice. Zone7 Engineering's primary differentiator is: founder-led electronics and firmware practice covering the full path from PCB design through production readiness. They also differ in team size (26 vs Solo / small team), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Medical devices, Diagnostics vs Consumer electronics, Industrial products).
Verify all details directly with each service provider before making a decision.