What 3mdeb Embedded Systems Consulting does

3mdeb Embedded Systems Consulting (legal entity 3mdeb Sp. z o.o.) is a founder-owned, bootstrapped Polish engineering consultancy headquartered in Gdańsk, founded circa 2012 by Piotr Król and employing an estimated 11-50 people. It specializes in open-source firmware, embedded systems, and platform-security work, serving enterprise technology companies, hardware vendors and OEMs, engineering teams needing training, and emerging critical-infrastructure segments such as maritime and industrial systems. The company's technical footprint spans the open-source firmware stack — coreboot, LinuxBoot, UEFI/EDK2, TrenchBoot DRTM, and Yocto/OpenEmbedded — across x86, ARM, POWER, and RISC-V architectures.

Its core product is Dasharo, an open-source firmware distribution built on coreboot that provides a transparent, owner-controlled alternative to proprietary BIOS/UEFI on platforms including MSI, Dell OptiPlex, and Protectli. This is complemented by proprietary tools and frameworks such as the Remote Testing Environment (RTE) for automated firmware validation, the Fobnail USB attestation token, the Zarhus OpenBMC-based board management controller, and the Dasharo Tools Suite for root-of-trust provisioning. The company's positioning centers on addressing proprietary-firmware security weaknesses (Intel ME, AMD PSP), verifiable boot chains, and regulatory drivers such as the EU Cyber Resilience Act and NIS2.

Revenue is generated through multiple streams: project-based and hourly embedded-firmware consulting; instructor-led Pace Enterprise Training courses on coreboot, UEFI, Yocto, and root-of-trust technologies; Dasharo enterprise support, certification, and custom development; an e-commerce shop selling hardware pre-loaded with Dasharo firmware with worldwide shipping; and a bug-bounty program paying $1-$500+ per merged contribution via Open Collective. Go-to-market blends a sales-led motion (consultation booking and enterprise engagement) with a strong community-led motion built on extensive open-source contributions and event hosting (Boot Security Mastery Conference, Dasharo User Groups, vPub, and participation in FOSDEM, Qubes OS Summit, and Yocto Project events).

Name

3mdeb Embedded Systems Consulting

Legal name

3mdeb Sp. z o.o.

Website

https://3mdeb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Founder-owned Polish consultancy specializing in open-source firmware, embedded systems, and platform security. It builds Dasharo (coreboot-based firmware) and serves enterprise technology firms, hardware OEMs, and engineering teams via consulting, training, hardware sales, and community-driven open-source development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Embedded Firmware Consulting

NAICS

Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Server Firmware, BMC & Remote Management (iDRAC/iLO/IPMI) (HDABADAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAM)

Keywords

• Embedded firmware consulting
• Open-source firmware development
• Coreboot engineering services
• Boot security training
• UEFI firmware porting

Headquarters

HQ city

Gdansk

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Embedded Firmware Consulting: Professional consulting services for embedded firmware development, including coreboot porting, UEFI development, and firmware security hardening. Billed through project-based engagements and hourly consulting.
2. Enterprise Training: Pace Enterprise Training (PET) offering instructor-led courses on firmware development, embedded Linux, Yocto Project, UEFI, platform security and root of trust technologies. Training delivered as multi-day sessions with materials.
3. Dasharo Open Source Software: Open-source firmware distribution with enterprise support options, hardware certification services, and custom development for specific platforms.
4. E-commerce Shop: Online shop selling hardware products including single-board computers, development kits, and pre-built systems with Dasharo firmware. Worldwide shipping with VAT handling.
5. Bug Bounty Program: Open-source contribution bounty program with financial support payments ranging from $1-$500+ for merged contributions addressing tagged GitHub issues. Payments processed through Open Collective.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

3mdeb Embedded Systems Consulting provides expert consulting, development, and training services for embedded firmware, operating systems, hypervisors, and boot security. The company's flagship product is Dasharo, an open-source firmware distribution built on coreboot, complemented by professional services covering firmware porting, UEFI development, platform security, Yocto-based embedded Linux, Xen hypervisor integration, and hardware enablement. 3mdeb also delivers instructor-led Pace Enterprise Training programs and sells Dasharo pre-flashed hardware through its e-commerce shop.

Product overview

3mdeb Embedded Systems Consulting is a Polish embedded firmware and systems engineering consultancy offering both products and professional services. Their core product is Dasharo, an open-source firmware distribution built on coreboot that provides transparent, user-controlled firmware for x86, ARM, and POWER platforms. This is complemented by their Open Source Software portfolio including TrenchBoot (DRTM implementation), fwupd/LVFS integration, and related boot security projects. Services include embedded firmware development, operating systems (Yocto/Embedded Linux), hypervisors (Xen), software/hardware security, hardware support, IoT solutions, and automated validation. They also offer Pace Enterprise Training for firmware and security engineering teams, and organize the Boot Security Mastery Conference (BSMconf). The company maintains registered memberships with UEFI, Yocto Project, coreboot consulting, LVFS, and OpenPOWER Foundation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dasharo: Open-source firmware distribution developed by 3mdeb, providing open-source替代 proprietary firmware for various hardware platforms.

Products and services

• Dasharo Open-source firmware distribution built on coreboot that provides a transparent, user-controlled alternative to proprietary UEFI/BIOS firmware for x86, ARM, and POWER platforms. Used by enterprise technology companies and hardware vendors requiring verifiable boot chains and supply chain security.
• Embedded Firmware Development Professional consulting and development services for embedded firmware, including coreboot porting, UEFI development, and platform security implementation. Targeted at enterprise technology companies and hardware vendors.
• Operating Systems Development Embedded Linux and custom OS development services using Yocto Project, Buildroot, and other build systems. Targeted at engineering teams building Linux-based embedded products.
• Hypervisors Development Xen hypervisor integration, configuration, and optimization services for embedded and server platforms. Targeted at server and security-focused computing deployments.
• Software and Hardware Security Security assessment, hardening, and implementation services for firmware and hardware, including TPM integration, secure boot, and attestation. Targeted at enterprise technology companies and regulated industries.
• Hardware Development Support Hardware enablement support including schematics review, bring-up services, and platform initialization. Targeted at hardware vendors and OEMs.
• Internet of Things Solutions IoT firmware and software development services using Zephyr RTOS and other embedded platforms. Targeted at IoT product companies.
• Automated Validation

Quantifiable outcome

• Active in open-source firmware community for 10+ years with contributions to coreboot, TrenchBoot, fwupd/LVFS, and multiple upstream projects
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and moderate.

• GapfruitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSid Hussmann from Gapfruit serves on the Boot Security Mastery Conference Review Board, contributing to the evaluation of talk proposals and shaping the conference agenda.
• Dark MentorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerXeno Kovah from Dark Mentor serves on the Boot Security Mastery Conference Review Board, bringing security expertise to the boot security community event.
• Yocto ProjectcoreTechnology or IntegrationRegistered Yocto Project Participants with active contributions to the OpenEmbedded ecosystem. Yocto Project provides build framework for embedded Linux systems used in 3mdeb's Dasharo and training offerings.
• OpenPOWER FoundationmoderateTechnology or IntegrationOpenPOWER Foundation member with contributions to POWER architecture firmware support in coreboot. Enables open-source firmware for POWER9 and other OpenPOWER processors.
• Qubes OS / Invisible Things LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term collaboration with Qubes OS team including co-organizing Qubes OS Summits, hardware certification support, TrenchBoot integration for Anti Evil Maid, and firmware contributions.
• Linux Foundation (fwupd/LVFS)coreTechnology or IntegrationActive contributor to fwupd and LVFS (Linux Vendor Firmware Service) project, adding flashrom support and coreboot platform updates. Strategic project operating at OS and firmware boundary.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bootlin: French embedded Linux and boot firmware consultancy offering Yocto/Buildroot training and coreboot/UEFI porting services. Comparable size, business model (consulting + training + upstream contributions), and customer base to 3mdeb.
• Konsulko Group: Open-source embedded systems consulting firm with active Yocto Project and automotive Linux contributions. Similar consulting-plus-upstream-contributions business model and comparable headcount.
• Timesys: Embedded Linux/Yocto tools and consulting firm offering build system support, security maintenance, and developer training. Closely overlaps with 3mdeb's OS development and embedded training services.
• 9elements Cyber Security: German firm specializing in coreboot firmware development, security audits, and embedded systems consulting. Works on similar open-source firmware projects and serves overlapping enterprise customers seeking transparent boot chains.

Emerging players

• wolfSSL: Embedded TLS/cryptography library provider used in firmware and boot security stacks. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but addresses the same low-level security buyer 3mdeb targets with TrenchBoot.
• Star Lab: Embedded systems security and anti-tamper firm. Overlaps with 3mdeb's software/hardware security service line and serves similar defense and critical infrastructure customers.

Broad incumbents

• Phoenix Technologies: Legacy BIOS/UEFI firmware vendor with OEM partnerships across enterprise PCs and servers. Represents the proprietary establishment that open-source initiatives like coreboot and Dasharo position against.
• Secunet: German IT security firm with embedded/trusted computing and secure operating system practice. Competes with 3mdeb in European high-assurance firmware and digital sovereignty engagements but at much larger scale.
• Insyde Software: Major UEFI/BIOS firmware vendor shipping into most PC OEMs. Overlaps with Dasharo at the platform firmware layer but as a proprietary, closed-source incumbent rather than an open-source alternative.
• AMI (American Megatrends): Largest independent BIOS/UEFI firmware vendor serving OEMs globally. Competes in the same firmware distribution category as Dasharo but with established commercial bundling economics and a far larger customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/3mdeb
• Xx.com/3mdeb_com

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 3mdeb Embedded Systems Consulting