StarFish Medical vs MedAcuity: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
StarFish Medical (4.6/5) edges ahead of MedAcuity (4.3/5) overall. StarFish Medical is the better choice for startups needing design plus pilot manufacturing. MedAcuity is the stronger option for device makers with hardware but no software team. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
StarFish Medical vs MedAcuity: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | StarFish Medical | MedAcuity |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2007 |
| HQ | Victoria, BC, Canada | Westford, MA, USA |
| Team size | 201–250 | 100–130 |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Medtech-only practice that can build clinical and early commercial units in its own certified clean room | US-based, ISO 13485 certified team that does nothing but regulated device software |
| Pricing model | Phased fixed project, time and materials | Time and materials, fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | ISO 13485 QMS, IEC 62304, ISO 14971 | Embedded C/C++, C#/.NET, Qt |
| Industries served | Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Wearables & remote monitoring, Drug delivery | Surgical & robotics, Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Implantables & neuromodulation |
StarFish Medical vs MedAcuity: overview
StarFish Medical
StarFish Medical was founded in Victoria, British Columbia, by Scott Phillips (the company gives 1999; some directories list 1998). It works only on medical devices, covering design, development and low-volume manufacturing in ISO 13485 certified facilities, and reports around 230 staff across Victoria, Toronto and Irvine (per company website; independently unverifiable). In November 2024 it acquired Omnica Corporation, a California medical device design firm, which added a larger US West Coast presence. Victoria remains the headquarters and its largest site.
MedAcuity
MedAcuity was founded in 2007 by software engineers and is based in Westford, Massachusetts. It concentrates on medical technology software: architecture, embedded and application development, risk management and the technical documentation behind FDA submissions, with experience across Class I, II and III and PMA devices. It is ISO 13485:2016 certified, and listings put its team at about 119 people. In 2021 it partnered with Fathom Consulting to add human factors engineering.
Services and capabilities: StarFish Medical vs MedAcuity
| Capability | StarFish Medical | MedAcuity |
|---|---|---|
| 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: StarFish Medical vs MedAcuity
| Framework / platform | StarFish Medical | MedAcuity |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | N/A |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure) | N/A | ✓ |
| IEC 62304 | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISO 14971 | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISO 13485 QMS | ✓ | N/A |
| Qt | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: StarFish Medical vs MedAcuity
| Criterion | StarFish Medical | MedAcuity |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Manufacturing contract, Time & materials | Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: StarFish Medical vs MedAcuity
| Dimension | StarFish Medical | MedAcuity |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Wearables & remote monitoring | Surgical & robotics, Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health |
| Best use cases | Taking a venture-backed device from proof of concept to clinical-trial units, Designing an optical diagnostic instrument with its consumable | Writing and documenting the control software for a surgical system, Remediating software documentation gaps before an FDA submission |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
StarFish Medical vs MedAcuity: pros and cons
| StarFish Medical | |
|---|---|
| + | Every project is a medical device, so design reviews, risk files and documentation follow medtech practice by default |
| + | Prototype and pilot production happen in its own ISO 13485 facility, avoiding an early transfer to a contract manufacturer |
| + | The Omnica acquisition adds Southern California capacity for US clients |
| + | Multidisciplinary teams cover industrial design, mechanics, electronics, software and human factors |
| - | Volume manufacturing beyond pilot quantities still needs a larger contract manufacturer |
| - | North American cost base makes it more expensive than Eastern European or Asian engineering teams |
| - | The Omnica integration is recent, so cross-site processes are still settling |
| MedAcuity | |
|---|---|
| + | Software-only focus means IEC 62304 documentation and traceability are part of every project |
| + | Experience with PMA-level Class III software |
| + | US onshore team helps with data access and IP-sensitive programs |
| + | Secure lab space for testing with client hardware |
| - | Does not design hardware, so you need another partner for electronics and mechanics |
| - | US onshore rates are higher than nearshore software teams |
| - | Human factors work is handled through the Fathom partnership instead of an in-house group |
Who should choose StarFish Medical?
A typical fit: taking a venture-backed device from proof of concept to clinical-trial units.
Medtech-only practice that can build clinical and early commercial units in its own certified clean room. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Wearables & remote monitoring, Drug delivery.
Who should choose MedAcuity?
A typical fit: writing and documenting the control software for a surgical system.
US-based, ISO 13485 certified team that does nothing but regulated device software. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Surgical & robotics, Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Implantables & neuromodulation.
Decision matrix: StarFish Medical vs MedAcuity
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | StarFish Medical |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: StarFish Medical (Not disclosed) vs MedAcuity (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | StarFish Medical |
| 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: StarFish Medical vs MedAcuity
| Use case | StarFish Medical fit | MedAcuity fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taking a venture-backed device from proof of concept to clinical-trial units | Strong | Limited | StarFish Medical |
| Designing an optical diagnostic instrument with its consumable | Strong | Limited | StarFish Medical |
| Writing and documenting the control software for a surgical system | Limited | Strong | MedAcuity |
| Remediating software documentation gaps before an FDA submission | Limited | Strong | MedAcuity |
Verdict: StarFish Medical vs MedAcuity
StarFish Medical (4.6/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Medical Device Development projects. Medtech-only practice that can build clinical and early commercial units in its own certified clean room.
MedAcuity (4.3/5) is worth a look if you need remediating software documentation gaps before an FDA submission. If your situation matches that, MedAcuity is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
StarFish Medical vs MedAcuity FAQ
Is StarFish Medical better than MedAcuity?
StarFish Medical (4.6/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. StarFish Medical's strongest advantage: every project is a medical device, so design reviews, risk files and documentation follow medtech practice by default. MedAcuity's strongest advantage: software-only focus means IEC 62304 documentation and traceability are part of every project.
How do StarFish Medical and MedAcuity differ in pricing?
StarFish Medical uses phased fixed project, time and materials pricing. MedAcuity 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: StarFish Medical or MedAcuity?
StarFish Medical 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 StarFish Medical and MedAcuity?
StarFish Medical's primary differentiator is: medtech-only practice that can build clinical and early commercial units in its own certified clean room. MedAcuity's primary differentiator is: US-based, ISO 13485 certified team that does nothing but regulated device software. They also differ in team size (201–250 vs 100–130), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices vs Surgical & robotics, Diagnostics & lab devices).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.