Delve vs Simbex: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Delve (4.0/5) edges ahead of Simbex (3.9/5) overall. Delve is the better choice for user research and industrial design for medtech. Simbex is the stronger option for sensor wearables and biomechanics research. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Delve vs Simbex: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Delve | Simbex |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2021 | 2000 |
| HQ | Madison, WI, USA | Lebanon, NH, USA |
| Team size | 200–500 | 11–100 |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Design research and industrial design depth from two long-established US studios | Biomechanics and sensor research background applied to wearable health devices |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, phased fixed project | Time and materials, fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | SolidWorks, Usability engineering, Rapid prototyping | BLE, Embedded C/C++, Sensor fusion |
| Industries served | Wearables & remote monitoring, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Consumer products, Industrial | Wearables & remote monitoring, Sports technology, Digital health |
Delve vs Simbex: overview
Delve
Delve is a product design and innovation firm headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, with studios in Boston, Philadelphia and San Francisco. Trinity Hunt Partners bought it in 2021 and merged it with Philadelphia's Bresslergroup (founded 1970), and the combined business now operates under the Delve name and later acquired digital design firm altr. Its team is estimated at 200 to 500 people. Delve says it designed and engineered the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor (per company website; independently unverifiable), and medical devices are a large share of its work alongside consumer and industrial products.
Simbex
Simbex was founded in 2000 in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and works on product design, applied research and commercialization in medtech, health tech and sports technology. Riddell, the American football helmet maker and a long-time client, acquired it in April 2024. Its medical work includes RestEaze, a remote monitoring device for sleep disorder diagnosis built with Tanzen Medical, and fall-detection wearables. Team size estimates range from 11 to 100.
Services and capabilities: Delve vs Simbex
| Capability | Delve | Simbex |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics & PCB design | ✓ | ✓ |
| Firmware & embedded software | ✗ | ✓ |
| SaMD & companion apps | ✗ | ✗ |
| Connected devices & IoT | ✗ | ✓ |
| Industrial design & human factors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mechanical engineering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Device cybersecurity | ✗ | ✗ |
| Regulatory & QMS support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Manufacturing & scale-up | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Delve vs Simbex
| Framework / platform | Delve | Simbex |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | ✓ |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure) | N/A | N/A |
| IEC 62304 | N/A | N/A |
| ISO 14971 | N/A | N/A |
| ISO 13485 QMS | N/A | N/A |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Delve vs Simbex
| Criterion | Delve | Simbex |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Consulting, Fixed project, Time & materials | Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Delve vs Simbex
| Dimension | Delve | Simbex |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Wearables & remote monitoring, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Consumer products | Wearables & remote monitoring, Sports technology, Digital health |
| Best use cases | Industrial design and user research for a wearable, Human factors work on a home-use device | Sensor-based wearable for remote monitoring, Biomechanics research study for a device concept |
| Typical project type | Consulting | Fixed project |
Delve vs Simbex: pros and cons
| Delve | |
|---|---|
| + | Strong user research and industrial design, important for patient-worn devices |
| + | Multiple US studios |
| + | Public wearable CGM experience |
| + | Bresslergroup brings a long patent and design-award record |
| - | Private-equity owned since 2021 and built through mergers |
| - | Medical is a large share, but consumer and industrial work compete for attention |
| - | ISO 13485 certification was not confirmed in our research |
| Simbex | |
|---|---|
| + | Strong sensor and biomechanics research skills |
| + | Experience with wearable monitoring devices |
| + | Covers design through commercialization planning |
| + | Small team with direct access to principals |
| - | Owned by Riddell since April 2024, so sports technology may take priority over medical clients |
| - | Small team |
| - | Fewer regulated Class II and III device credits than medtech-only firms |
Who should choose Delve?
A typical fit: industrial design and user research for a wearable.
Design research and industrial design depth from two long-established US studios. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Wearables & remote monitoring, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Consumer products, Industrial.
Who should choose Simbex?
A typical fit: sensor-based wearable for remote monitoring.
Biomechanics and sensor research background applied to wearable health devices. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Wearables & remote monitoring, Sports technology, Digital health.
Decision matrix: Delve vs Simbex
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Delve |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Delve (Not disclosed) vs Simbex (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Delve |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Delve vs Simbex
| Use case | Delve fit | Simbex fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial design and user research for a wearable | Strong | Limited | Delve |
| Human factors work on a home-use device | Strong | Limited | Delve |
| Sensor-based wearable for remote monitoring | Limited | Strong | Simbex |
| Biomechanics research study for a device concept | Limited | Strong | Simbex |
Verdict: Delve vs Simbex
Delve (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Medical Device Development projects. Design research and industrial design depth from two long-established US studios.
Simbex (3.9/5) is worth a look if you need biomechanics research study for a device concept. If your situation matches that, Simbex is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Delve vs Simbex FAQ
Is Delve better than Simbex?
Delve (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Delve's strongest advantage: strong user research and industrial design, important for patient-worn devices. Simbex's strongest advantage: strong sensor and biomechanics research skills.
How do Delve and Simbex differ in pricing?
Delve uses time and materials, phased fixed project pricing. Simbex uses time and materials, fixed project pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Delve or Simbex?
Delve is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Delve and Simbex?
Delve's primary differentiator is: design research and industrial design depth from two long-established US studios. Simbex's primary differentiator is: biomechanics and sensor research background applied to wearable health devices. They also differ in team size (200–500 vs 11–100), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Wearables & remote monitoring, Surgical & therapeutic devices vs Wearables & remote monitoring, Sports technology).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.