# FAQ > Answers about Apprika: embedded firmware services, supported platforms (STM32, Nordic nRF, ESP32, Zephyr, FreeRTOS, Embedded Linux), QA and compliance, and how engagements work. Source: https://apprika.io/faq FAQ # Frequently asked questions What Apprika does, which platforms we work on, how we handle quality and compliance, and how a project gets started. [About Apprika](#about) · [Services & technology](#services) · [Quality & compliance](#quality) · [Working together](#working-together) ## About Apprika ### What does Apprika do? Apprika is an embedded software consultancy. We design and build firmware and embedded application software for industrial product companies: system architecture, board bring-up, device drivers, bootloaders, RTOS and bare-metal firmware, Embedded Linux, connectivity, and the quality assurance around them. ### Who is behind Apprika, and how big is the team? Apprika was founded in 2024 by Mostafa Mahmoud and is run as a solo, founder-led consultancy. You work directly with the founder on scope, architecture, and delivery; specialists join when a project needs extra capacity or a specific skill. Apprika is not a large agency or a talent marketplace. ### Which industries do you work with? We focus on industrial product companies in automotive, semiconductors, manufacturing, and robotics: ECUs and telematics, silicon bring-up and validation, real-time control and industrial IoT, and motion control and sensor fusion. ### Where are your clients located? Apprika serves industrial product companies in Europe and the United States. ## Services & technology ### Which microcontrollers and platforms do you work with? Our core platforms are STM32, Nordic nRF, ESP32, and ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers, plus SoC platforms running Embedded Linux. On the software side we work with Zephyr, FreeRTOS, bare-metal firmware, Embedded Linux with Yocto, and AUTOSAR. ### Which connectivity protocols do you support? We build connectivity and communication stacks including Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), MQTT, and LoRaWAN, along with the device drivers and data paths that sit underneath them. ### Can you bring up a new board or custom hardware? Yes. Board bring-up is a core service: HAL and peripheral drivers, bootloaders, and early firmware so new hardware can be exercised and integrated without guesswork, followed by the RTOS or Linux firmware and application layers on top. ### What is the difference between firmware engineering and embedded application software? Firmware engineering covers the low-level stack: architecture, bring-up, drivers, bootloaders, and RTOS or bare-metal firmware. Embedded application software is the device logic, middleware, and data paths that run on top, including on Embedded Linux. Apprika owns both, so the application layer stays aligned with the firmware underneath it. ### What is included in the Product Support Package? The Product Support Package combines firmware engineering, embedded application software, and QA under one founder-led engagement. It covers project coordination, product roadmapping, MVP scoping, prototyping and simulation, process optimization, and technical advisory, from feasibility through launch readiness. ## Quality & compliance ### How do you approach quality assurance for embedded products? QA is built into delivery: a test strategy matched to product risk, firmware unit tests, hardware/software integration tests, performance and real-time testing on the real target, regression testing, security review, and post-production support for field issues. ### Is Apprika certified to ISO 26262, IEC 62304, or similar standards? No. Apprika is not certified against ISO 26262, IATF 16949, IEC 62304, ISO 9001, or CE/FCC marks, and is not a certification body. We plan architecture, testing, and documentation against the standards your market expects, based on delivery experience with industrial product teams. ### Can you help with CE, FCC, or IEC compliance documentation? Yes. We provide regulatory documentation support: the evidence, test records, and traceability that support CE, FCC, IEC, and related submissions. We design against the standard; certification itself is granted by your test lab or notified body. ## Working together ### How do I start a project with Apprika? Book a technical consult through the contact page or email info@apprika.io. The first step is a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your requirements and constraints. You then receive a scoped proposal covering architecture, delivery plan, and estimates, followed by a project kickoff. ### How much does a project cost? Pricing depends on scope. After the initial consultation you receive a scoped proposal with honest estimates for the work, so you know the cost and milestones before the project starts. ### How do you handle intellectual property and confidentiality? Confidentiality is handled from the first conversation, and we are happy to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before you share project details. Don't see your question? Email [info@apprika.io](mailto:info@apprika.io) or [book a technical consult](https://apprika.io/contact). ## Ready to ship reliable firmware? Book a technical consult to discuss bring-up, RTOS, drivers, connectivity, or Embedded Linux — clear scoping, honest estimates, founder-led delivery. [Book a technical consult](https://apprika.io/contact)