S3 Connected Health vs Delve: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
S3 Connected Health (4.2/5) edges ahead of Delve (4.0/5) overall. S3 Connected Health is the better choice for pharma companies adding connectivity to drug delivery. Delve is the stronger option for user research and industrial design for medtech. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
S3 Connected Health vs Delve: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | S3 Connected Health | Delve |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 | 2021 |
| HQ | Dublin, Ireland | Madison, WI, USA |
| Team size | 200–300 | 200–500 |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Combines embedded wireless engineering with patient-facing apps and data platforms for pharma programs | Design research and industrial design depth from two long-established US studios |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, time and materials, managed service | Time and materials, phased fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | BLE, Embedded C/C++, iOS | SolidWorks, Usability engineering, Rapid prototyping |
| Industries served | Drug delivery, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring | Wearables & remote monitoring, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Consumer products, Industrial |
S3 Connected Health vs Delve: overview
S3 Connected Health
S3 Connected Health is the connected health business of Dublin's S3 Group (Silicon & Software Systems), which dates to 1986; the connected health unit itself is listed as founded around 2001. After the group sold its semiconductor unit to Adesto, it concentrated on this business. It works with pharma and medtech companies on connected drug delivery, SaMD, IoMT platforms, wireless connectivity and data security, and partnered with Ypsomed on connected injection devices. Employee figures range from about 200 to 300.
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.
Services and capabilities: S3 Connected Health vs Delve
| Capability | S3 Connected Health | Delve |
|---|---|---|
| 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: S3 Connected Health vs Delve
| Framework / platform | S3 Connected Health | Delve |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | ✓ | N/A |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure) | ✓ | N/A |
| IEC 62304 | ✓ | N/A |
| ISO 14971 | N/A | N/A |
| ISO 13485 QMS | N/A | N/A |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: S3 Connected Health vs Delve
| Criterion | S3 Connected Health | Delve |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Fixed project, Time & materials | Consulting, Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: S3 Connected Health vs Delve
| Dimension | S3 Connected Health | Delve |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Drug delivery, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring | Wearables & remote monitoring, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Adding Bluetooth connectivity to an autoinjector, Building a patient adherence app and backend | Industrial design and user research for a wearable, Human factors work on a home-use device |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Consulting |
S3 Connected Health vs Delve: pros and cons
| S3 Connected Health | |
|---|---|
| + | Long experience in wireless and embedded software from its S3 Group background |
| + | Works directly with pharma on connected injectors and inhalers, such as the Ypsomed partnership |
| + | Covers apps, cloud and the device connectivity module |
| + | Delivery team includes a site in Poland, which helps with cost |
| - | Founding date and history are tangled with the wider S3 Group, so check which entity you contract with |
| - | Not a mechanical or industrial design firm |
| - | Pharma focus means pure medtech hardware projects are less common |
| 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 |
Who should choose S3 Connected Health?
A typical fit: adding Bluetooth connectivity to an autoinjector.
Combines embedded wireless engineering with patient-facing apps and data platforms for pharma programs. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Drug delivery, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring.
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.
Decision matrix: S3 Connected Health vs Delve
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | S3 Connected Health |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | S3 Connected Health |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: S3 Connected Health (Not disclosed) vs Delve (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: S3 Connected Health vs Delve
| Use case | S3 Connected Health fit | Delve fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adding Bluetooth connectivity to an autoinjector | Strong | Limited | S3 Connected Health |
| Building a patient adherence app and backend | Strong | Limited | S3 Connected Health |
| Industrial design and user research for a wearable | Limited | Strong | Delve |
| Human factors work on a home-use device | Limited | Strong | Delve |
Verdict: S3 Connected Health vs Delve
S3 Connected Health (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Medical Device Development projects. Combines embedded wireless engineering with patient-facing apps and data platforms for pharma programs.
Delve (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need human factors work on a home-use device. If your situation matches that, Delve is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
S3 Connected Health vs Delve FAQ
Is S3 Connected Health better than Delve?
S3 Connected Health (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. S3 Connected Health's strongest advantage: long experience in wireless and embedded software from its S3 Group background. Delve's strongest advantage: strong user research and industrial design, important for patient-worn devices.
How do S3 Connected Health and Delve differ in pricing?
S3 Connected Health uses fixed project, time and materials, managed service pricing. Delve uses time and materials, phased fixed project pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: S3 Connected Health or Delve?
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 S3 Connected Health and Delve?
S3 Connected Health's primary differentiator is: combines embedded wireless engineering with patient-facing apps and data platforms for pharma programs. Delve's primary differentiator is: design research and industrial design depth from two long-established US studios. They also differ in team size (200–300 vs 200–500), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Drug delivery, Digital health vs Wearables & remote monitoring, Surgical & therapeutic devices).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.