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While STM32 is everywhere, shipping a wireless product on it is still hard

STM32 is one of the most widely used microcontroller families in the world - which is exactly why the hard part isn't starting, it's shipping: BLE that holds under real traffic, MEMS sensors fused into something a product can trust, and battery life that survives contact with the field. needCode brings embedded, Bluetooth, and sensor-fusion depth to ST silicon - STM32 MCUs, STM32WB and STM32WBA Bluetooth, and ST's sensor catalogue - from a team that ships firmware for a living, measured in a dedicated power lab, under ISO 9001.
needCode IoT

We work with Industry Leaders

Ubiquitous silicon doesn't make a wireless product. Engineering does.

STM32's reach is a genuine advantage: mature tooling, a vast ecosystem, silicon for nearly every power and performance point, and engineers everywhere who've touched it. But ubiquity solves the getting-started problem, not the shipping problem. Adding Bluetooth with STM32WB or STM32WBA means a wireless stack that has to coexist with the application and hit a power budget. Building a sensor product on ST's MEMS catalogue means fusing accelerometer, gyroscope, and environmental data into a signal that's actually reliable in motion. And "low power" on a datasheet becomes real only when it's measured under real traffic.

needCode brings that shipping-grade engineering to ST silicon. The team ships production firmware across wireless platforms, built the world's first certified Bluetooth mesh stack, runs a dedicated BLE Power Optimization Lab, and does sensor fusion as a core competence. On STM32, the MCU foundation is familiar ground - bring-up, RTOS, drivers - and the wireless and sensing layers on top are exactly where a general MCU shop runs out of depth.

Deep embedded foundation

STM32 bring-up, RTOS, drivers, and low-power design - the MCU layer as home ground, not a learning curve.

BLE that ships

STM32WB/WBA Bluetooth from a team with a certified-mesh heritage and a dedicated power lab - wireless that holds under real load.

Sensing, fused

ST's MEMS catalogue turned into reliable signal - sensor fusion as a core competence, not a datasheet integration.

The ST silicon we work on

ST's breadth is the point - the MCU families, the Bluetooth parts, and the sensor catalogue a connected product actually combines.

STM32 Microcontrollers

The core MCU families - from ultra-low-power STM32L/U through mainstream STM32G/F to high-performance STM32H - the foundation nearly every ST-based product is built on. needCode's bring-up, RTOS, and driver work treats this as home ground across nine platform bring-ups of embedded experience.

STM32WB / STM32WBA Wireless

ST's Bluetooth Low Energy MCUs - the wireless STM32 parts for BLE, and the newer WBA generation. Adding BLE to an STM32 product is where the wireless stack has to coexist with the application and hit power targets, and where needCode's Bluetooth depth applies directly.

ST MEMS Sensors

ST's MEMS accelerometers, gyroscopes, IMUs, and environmental sensors - one of the industry's broadest sensor catalogues, and the raw material for motion and context products. needCode integrates and fuses them into reliable signal, including on-sensor intelligence where the part supports it.

Multi-Protocol & Adjacent Silicon

ST wireless beyond plain BLE - Bluetooth mesh, and the Thread/Zigbee/Matter directions ST silicon supports - plus the coexistence engineering of running more than one protocol on constrained parts. needCode's multi-protocol depth covers the concurrency real products need.

Building a wireless or sensor product on STM32?

Book a discovery call with our CEO

What we build on ST silicon

The full stack of engagements, from MCU bring-up to fused-sensor products - on the embedded and wireless discipline ST products demand.

Board Bring-Up & Firmware

Getting your STM32-based board to boot, run, and behave - clocks, power domains, peripherals, RTOS port, and drivers - from a team nine platform bring-ups deep. The STM32 ecosystem is familiar territory, so the work starts fast.

BLE & Wireless Firmware

STM32WB/WBA Bluetooth firmware - stack integration, application coexistence, connection stability, and the power engineering that keeps a wireless product within budget. Built by a team with a certified-mesh heritage.

Sensor Integration & Fusion

ST MEMS integration and sensor fusion - combining accelerometer, gyroscope, and environmental data into reliable motion and context, with on-sensor intelligence where the part supports it. Fusion is where a sensor product becomes trustworthy in the real world.

Ultra-Low-Power & Certification

Taking an ST product to its battery target under real traffic - measured in a dedicated power lab - and through BLE/Matter certification without a launch-date surprise. Low power and clean certification are where ST products most often stall.

Embedded, BLE, and sensing depth, brought to your ST design

The MCU layer is home ground

STM32 bring-up, RTOS porting, drivers, and low-power design are core needCode work - nine platform bring-ups of embedded depth mean the microcontroller foundation isn't a learning curve, it's the starting line.

Bluetooth that holds under load

needCode built the world's first certified Bluetooth mesh stack and runs a dedicated BLE Power Optimization Lab - so STM32WB/WBA wireless is delivered by a team that knows where BLE breaks and how to measure its way out.

Sensor fusion as a core competence

ST's MEMS catalogue is only as good as the fusion on top of it - and fusion (Kalman, complementary, ML-based, on constrained hardware) is a standing needCode competence, not a bolt-on.

Delivery discipline you can audit

ISO 9001-certified processes and automated test/CI on real hardware - the posture a medical, industrial, or safety-conscious ST product needs behind its firmware.

Four ways to bring needCode in

From a feasibility question to a standing team. We match the engagement to where your ST project is.

01

Feasibility & Architecture Consultation

  • Duration:
    2-4 weeks
  • Best for:
    Validating an STM32 part, wireless approach, and sensor set for your product - power, protocol, and fusion feasibility measured on hardware
  • Deliverable:
    Feasibility assessment on real silicon, architecture recommendation, power estimate, leadership readout

02

Bring-Up & Firmware Build

  • Duration: 
    Phased
  • Best for:
    STM32 board bring-up and the BLE, sensor, or application firmware your product ships on
  • Deliverable:
    Working firmware on your hardware, power validation, test harness, documentation

03

Sensor, Power & Certification Hardening

  • Duration: 
    Phased
  • Best for:
    Fusing ST sensors into reliable signal, hitting the battery target, and clearing BLE/Matter certification
  • Deliverable:
    Validated fusion, lab-measured power results, pre-certification testing, qualification support

04

Embedded Team

  • Duration: 
    Multi-year, retainer-based
  • Best for:
    Companies that want standing STM32 and wireless depth inside their programme
  • Deliverable:
    An embedded team in your cadence - the delivery model behind an 8-year silicon-scale programme

What we ship on

The ST stack a connected product actually combines - MCU, Bluetooth, and sensors.

ST silicon

STM32 (L / U / G / F / H series)
STM32WB
STM32WBA
ST MEMS sensors (IMU, environmental)

Protocols

Bluetooth LE
Bluetooth mesh
Thread / Matter
Zigbee

SDK & platforms

STM32Cube ecosystem
Zephyr
FreeRTOS
ThreadX
bare-metal

Sensing

MEMS integration
on-sensor intelligence
sensor fusion (Kalman / complementary / ML)

Power

BLE Power Optimization Lab
current profiling
sleep-state engineering

Quality & tooling

Automated PTS qualification
board-matrix CI
HIL rigs
ISO 9001 delivery discipline

Case studies

needCode's deepest public proof is on other vendors' silicon - shown here honestly, as evidence of engineering depth that transfers to ST designs, not as an ST relationship.

Qorvo: RF Leadership

Context: Rapid scaling for new chipset bring-up.
  • Scale: Grew from <10 to 30 FTEs.
  • Output: Supported bring-up of 9 new hardware platforms (SDKs, Drivers, Stacks).
  • Retention: Zero-churn core team retained for 5+ years.
Dedicated Development Center for RF Solutions
Bluetooth Mesh Smart Lighting Control System

Smart Lighting: Core R&D Extension

Context: Client needed deep, specialized expertise to pivot from proprietary tech to a new global standard.
  • Service: Deployed a dedicated squad of embedded engineers to function as the client's core R&D team.
  • Output: Co-authored official Bluetooth SIG protocols and delivered the world’s first certified BLE Mesh stack.
  • Value: Enabled the client to secure Series A funding and defined the industry standard for smart buildings.

Creative Werks: Innovation rescue

Context: Hardware obsolescence threatened production shutdown.
  • Action: Full-stack takeover (PCB redesign + Firmware + Mobile App).
  • ROI: 1230% ($1.6M value generated).
  • Speed: Payback period of 2-3 months.
NeedCode-case study - IoT Solution for Boat Lift Modernization - cover2s
needcode-powerpolen-case-study-cover2s

PowerPollen: AgTech automation

Context: Lack of internal expertise stalled a critical automation project.
  • Action: Re-architected system using unified MCU and ISOBUS standards.
  • ROI: 13.8x ($2.9M value generated).
  • Impact: Enabled $1.9M increase in harvester value.

Strategic Partnership

needCode is an official business partner of Qorvo, bringing over 8 years of proven expertise and trusted service to the technology sector.
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UWB-Alliance-logo-banner

Members of the UWB Alliance

In 2025 we became a member of the UWB Alliance. This strategic step reinforces our commitment to pioneering Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology.

Proudly Certified for Excellence and Security

needCode is officially certified for:
ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 – Information Security
ISO certifications reflect our focus on delivering reliable IoT solutions, smart product development, and secure technology services.
ISO 9001_2015ISO - IEC 27001_2022

Testimonials

“I think the key takeaway from needCode is their ability to adapt and understand the customer's requirements. That took away probably a large portion of what could have been a lot of development time and expense for both companies.”
Bob Folkestad
Bob Folkestad
President at Creative Werks
“One aspect that truly sets needCode apart is its profound expertise in firmware development. Their proficiency in various programming languages, embedded systems and hardware architecture is truly impressive. When faced with difficult problems, their strong problem-solving skills and analytical mindset shine through, allowing them to overcome obstacles with remarkable ease.”
avatar Semeh Sarhan
Semeh Sarhan
CEO at Xtrava
“I worked with needCode while leading the NWTN-Berlin team in 2018. A big chunk for our FW development has been outsourced to them and they had proven to iterate very quickly, following specs and deliver on time. It was great working with them. I recommend working with needCode’s team on any Embedded SW development.”
avatar Marco Salvioli Mariani
Marco Salvioli Mariani
CTO at NWTN Berlin GmbH
“needCode Team proved to be one of the best engineers I have ever met. The part I like the most about the team is the more difficult an obstacle seems to be, the more motivated they were to find a solution and a way forward.”
A Testimonial picture
Szymon Słupik
CTO at Silvair
“needCode is an outstanding partner. Their quick follow-up, scalability, and extensive professional network set them apart. Their expertise in wireless technologies has been valuable, supporting us from low-level drivers to architecture discussions.”
avatar Tim Allemeersch
Tim Allemeersch
Director at Qorvo, Inc.
“needCode did a great job improving the firmware of the Vai Kai connected toys and developing new features, surpassing our expectations multiple times. I would definitely recommend hiring Bartek and needCode for the embedded software projects!”
avatar Matas Petrikas
Matas Petrikas
CEO & Co-founder
at Vai Kai UG

Insights

FAQ

Yes - needCode develops on the STM32 microcontroller families (from ultra-low-power STM32L/U through STM32G/F to high-performance STM32H), covering bring-up, RTOS porting, drivers, and application firmware in the STM32Cube ecosystem, Zephyr, or FreeRTOS. Embedded MCU work is core needCode territory, backed by nine platform bring-ups. Engagements start with an NDA and a scoping call.

Yes - needCode develops BLE firmware on ST's wireless MCUs, STM32WB and the newer STM32WBA, handling stack integration, application coexistence, connection stability, and power. The team built the world's first certified Bluetooth mesh stack and runs a dedicated BLE Power Optimization Lab, so ST Bluetooth is delivered by engineers who know where BLE breaks under real load and how to measure their way out.

No - ST does not offer a merchant UWB product, so UWB ranging isn't built on ST parts. Where a product needs both an STM32 host or BLE and UWB ranging, needCode covers the UWB side on dedicated UWB silicon (Qorvo, NXP) alongside the ST work, as one team handling the whole design. Being straight about what silicon does what is part of how needCode advises.

Yes - ST has one of the industry's broadest MEMS catalogues, and needCode integrates its accelerometers, gyroscopes, IMUs, and environmental sensors, then fuses them into reliable motion and context signal using Kalman, complementary, and ML-based methods. Where the ST part offers on-sensor intelligence, that's used to offload the host. A sensor catalogue is only as good as the fusion on top of it.

needCode is not a corporate partner of ST - its named silicon partnership is with Qorvo. What needCode brings to ST projects is transferable embedded, Bluetooth, and sensor-fusion depth: nine platform bring-ups, a certified Bluetooth mesh heritage, a dedicated power lab, and sensor fusion as a core competence. For an STM32 product, that engineering depth is the capability that matters, and it's vendor independent.

It depends on your power, performance, and connectivity needs: the STM32L and STM32U lines target ultra-low-power designs, STM32G and STM32F cover mainstream applications, STM32H serves high-performance needs, and STM32WB/WBA add Bluetooth. needCode advises from your actual requirements - power budget, compute, wireless, and sensor load - in a feasibility consultation rather than defaulting to a familiar part.

Battery life is validated, not estimated: needCode measures current draw on instruments in a dedicated BLE Power Optimization Lab across real traffic and sleep states, then optimises through sleep-state engineering and protocol timing. STM32's low-power lines are genuinely efficient, but hitting a multi-year target under real conditions is engineering, not a datasheet figure - and it's the requirement products most often miss.

Yes - needCode supports BLE and Matter certification on ST silicon, with automated PTS qualification that compresses Bluetooth testing from weeks to an overnight run and pre-certification testing that removes launch-date surprises. As Bluetooth SIG members, the team treats certification as a checkpoint, handled through the Standards & Certification service. Matter support depends on the ST silicon's protocol capabilities.

Yes - needCode works across the STM32Cube ecosystem and in Zephyr, FreeRTOS, and ThreadX on ST silicon, choosing the platform that fits the product rather than forcing one. Zephyr depth in particular transfers across vendors, which is part of why embedded platform knowledge compounds. Bare-metal is available where a design requires it.

STM32 is common enough that many shops can write basic firmware for it; the difference shows up in the hard layers - BLE that holds under load, sensor fusion that's reliable in motion, and battery targets measured in a lab. needCode brings a certified-mesh heritage, sensor fusion as a core competence, a dedicated power lab, and ISO 9001 delivery - depth beyond writing STM32 application code.

Let's work on your next project together

Book a demo and discovery call with our CEO
to get a look at:
Strategic Expertise
End-to-End Solutions
Advanced Technology
Custom Hardware Devices
Bartek Kling
Bartek Kling / CEO
© 2026 needCode. All rights reserved.

Manufacturing

Modern manufacturing machines are typically equipped with IoT sensors that capture performance data. AIoT technology analyzes this sensor data, and based on vibration patterns, the AI predicts the machine's behavior and recommends actions to maintain optimal performance. This approach is highly effective for predictive maintenance, promoting safer working environments, continuous operation, longer equipment lifespan, and less downtime. Additionally, AIoT enhances quality control on production lines.

For example, Sentinel, a monitoring system used in pharmaceutical production by IMA Pharma, employs AI to evaluate sensor data along the production line. The AI detects and improves underperforming components, ensuring efficient machine operation and maintaining high standards in drug manufacturing.

Logistics & supply chain

IoT devices - from fleet vehicles and autonomous warehouse robots to scanners and beacons - generate large amounts of data in this industry. When combined with AI, this data can be leveraged for tracking, analytics, predictive maintenance, autonomous driving, and more, offering greater visibility into logistics operations and enhancing vendor partnerships.

Example: Amazon employs over 750,000 autonomous mobile robots to assist warehouse staff with heavy lifting, delivery, and package handling tasks. Other examples include AI-powered IoT devices such as cameras, RFID sensors, and beacons that help monitor goods' movement and track products within warehouses and during transportation. AI algorithms can also estimate arrival times and forecast delays by analyzing traffic conditions.

Retail

IoT sensors monitor movement and customer flow within a building, while AI algorithms analyze this data to offer insights into traffic patterns and product preferences. This information enhances understanding of customer behavior, helps prevent stockouts, and improves customer analytics to drive sales. Furthermore, AIoT enables retailers to deliver personalized shopping experiences by leveraging geographical data and individual shopping preferences.

For instance, IoT sensors track movement and customer flow, and AI algorithms process this information to reveal insights into traffic patterns and product preferences. This ultimately leads to better customer understanding, stockout prevention, and enhanced sales analytics.

Agriculture

Recent research by Continental reveals that over 27% of surveyed farmers utilize drones for aerial land analysis. These devices capture images of crops as they are and transmit them to a dashboard for further assessment. However, AI can enhance this process even further.

For example, AIoT-powered drones can photograph crops at various growth stages, assess plant health, detect diseases, and recommend optimal harvesting strategies to maximize yield. Additionally, these drones can be employed for targeted crop treatments, irrigation monitoring and management, soil health analysis, and more.

Smart Cities

Smart cities represent another domain where AIoT applications can enhance citizens' well-being, facilitate urban infrastructure planning, and guide future city development. In addition to traffic management, IoT devices equipped with AI can monitor energy consumption patterns, forecast demand fluctuations, and dynamically optimize energy distribution. AI-powered surveillance cameras and sensors can identify suspicious activities, monitor crowd density, and alert authorities to potential security threats in real-time, improving public safety and security.

For example, an AIoT solution has been implemented in Barcelona to manage water and energy sustainably. The city has installed IoT sensors across its water supply system to gather water pressure, flow rate, and quality data. AI algorithms analyze this information to identify leaks and optimize water usage. Similarly, smart grids have been introduced to leverage AI to predict demand and distribute energy efficiently, minimizing waste and emissions. As a result, these initiatives have enabled the city to reduce water waste by 25%, increase renewable energy usage by 17%, and lower greenhouse gas emissions by 19%.

Healthcare

Integrating AI and IoT in healthcare enables hospitals to deliver remote patient care more efficiently while reducing the burden on facilities. Additionally, AI can be used in clinical trials to preprocess data collected from sensors across extensive target and control groups.

For example, intelligent wearable technologies enable doctors to monitor patients remotely. In real-time, sensors collect vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels. AI algorithms then analyze this data, assisting doctors in detecting issues early, developing personalized treatment plans, and enhancing patient outcomes.

Smart Homes

The smart home ecosystem encompasses smart thermostats, locks, security cameras, energy management systems, heating, lighting, and entertainment systems. AI algorithms analyze data from these devices to deliver context-specific recommendations tailored to each user. This enables homeowners to use utilities more efficiently, create a personalized living space, and achieve sustainability goals.

For example, LifeSmart offers a comprehensive suite of AI-powered IoT tools for smart homes, connecting new and existing intelligent appliances and allowing customers to manage them via their smartphones. Additionally, they provide an AI builder framework for deploying AI on smart devices, edge gateways, and the cloud, enabling AI algorithms to process data and user behavior autonomously.

Maintenance (Post-Release Support)

When your product is successfully launched and available on the market we provide ongoing support and maintenance services to ensure your product remains competitive and reliable. This includes prompt resolution of any reported issues through bug fixes and updates.

We continuously enhance product features based on user feedback and market insights, optimizing performance and user experience.

Our team monitors product performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and proactively addresses potential issues. This phase aims to sustain product competitiveness, ensure customer satisfaction, and support long-term success in the market.

Commercialization (From MVP to Product

Our software team focuses on completing the full product feature range, enhancing the user interface and experience, and handling all corner cases. We prepare product software across the whole lifecycle by providing all necessary procedures, such as manufacturing support and firmware upgrade.

We also finalize the product's hardware design to ensure robustness, scalability and cost-effectiveness.

This includes rigorous testing procedures to validate product performance, reliability, and security. We manage all necessary certifications and regulatory compliance requirements to ensure the product meets industry standards and legal obligations.

By the end of this phase, your product is fully prepared for mass production and commercial deployment, with all documentation and certifications in place.

Prototyping (From POC to MVP)

Our development team focuses on implementing core product features and use cases to create a functional Minimum Viable Product (MVP). We advance to refining the hardware design, moving from initial concepts to detailed PCB design allowing us to assemble first prototypes. Updated documentation from the Design phase ensures alignment with current project status. A basic test framework is established to conduct preliminary validation tests.

This prepares the product for real-world demonstrations to stakeholders, customers, and potential investors.

This phase is critical for validating market readiness and functionality before proceeding to full-scale production.

Design (From Idea to POC)

We meticulously select the optimal technology stack and hardware components based on your smart product idea with detailed use cases and feature requirements (Market Requirements Document / Business Requirements Document). Our team conducts thorough assessments of costs, performance metrics, power consumption, and resource requirements.

Deliverables include a comprehensive Product Requirements Document (PRD), detailed Software Architecture plans, an Initial Test Plan outlining validation strategies, Regulatory Compliance Analysis to ensure adherence to relevant standards, and a Proof of Concept (POC) prototype implemented on breakout boards.

This phase aims to validate the technical feasibility of your concept and establish a solid foundation for further development.

If you lack a validated idea and MRD/BRD, consider utilizing our IoT Strategic Roadmap service to gain insights into target markets, user needs, and desired functionality. Having a structured plan in the form of an IoT Strategic Roadmap before development begins is crucial to mitigate complications in subsequent product development phases.