Foundries.io Aims to Be the Red Hat of IoT with Processor‑Agile Linux & Zephyr Solutions

San Jose, Calif. – Foundries.io, a startup founded by former Linaro engineers, positions itself as the Red Hat of the Internet of Things. By offering processor‑agnostic configurations of Linux and the Zephyr RTOS, the company seeks to simplify firmware updates for end nodes, gateways, and connected vehicles.

"Every IoT product today is a custom design that must be tested and maintained in isolation, creating massive fragmentation," explains CEO George Grey. "Our goal is to make updating an embedded device as seamless as upgrading a smartphone, eliminating the need for a dedicated security expert."

Key product features include a Zephyr distribution that fits into as little as 512 KB of flash memory and an embedded Linux stack based on OpenEmbedded/Yocto that supports Docker containers and occupies less than 200 MB. Both stacks are delivered via a subscription model that initially provides weekly over‑the‑air security patches and updates.

Pricing is straightforward: a Linux subscription costs $2,500 per month ($25,000 per year) regardless of the number of devices, while Zephyr is $1,000 per month ($10,000 per year). Grey notes that this represents a fraction of the cost of building an in‑house software team, with no per‑unit fees or vendor lock‑in. “If you cancel your subscription, you keep the software but no longer receive updates,” he adds.

Target customers include system OEMs, and Foundries.io also operates a partner program that sells subscriptions to SoC and module vendors. The platform currently supports code for six development boards spanning ARM, Intel, and RISC‑V architectures.

Industry experts view Foundries.io as the first independent commercial venture to fully embrace Zephyr. Christopher Rommel, VP of embedded software and hardware at VDC Research Group, notes that Wind River’s withdrawal from active Zephyr promotion has opened a gap that Foundries.io is poised to fill. He also highlights the company’s RISC‑V support as evidence of the community’s momentum.

While the embedded OS market remains crowded with established players like MonoVista and Wind River, as well as new entrants from cloud and carrier giants, Foundries.io’s subscription model and broad architecture support give it a distinct edge.

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The startup’s Linux and Zephyr RTOS stacks do not initially include hypervisors.  (Image: Foundations.io)