StarFish Medical vs Plexus: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
StarFish Medical (4.6/5) edges ahead of Plexus (3.8/5) overall. StarFish Medical is the better choice for startups needing design plus pilot manufacturing. Plexus is the stronger option for complex capital equipment needing build and sustaining. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
StarFish Medical vs Plexus: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | StarFish Medical | Plexus |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 1979 |
| HQ | Victoria, BC, Canada | Neenah, WI, USA |
| Team size | 201–250 | ~20,000 |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Medtech-only practice that can build clinical and early commercial units in its own certified clean room | Engineering, NPI and sustaining services for low-to-mid volume, high-complexity medical equipment |
| Pricing model | Phased fixed project, time and materials | NPI contract, manufacturing supply agreement |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | ISO 13485 QMS, IEC 62304, ISO 14971 | PCB design, PCB assembly, Embedded C/C++ |
| Industries served | Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Wearables & remote monitoring, Drug delivery | Surgical & robotics, Diagnostics & lab devices, Aerospace, Industrial |
StarFish Medical vs Plexus: 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.
Plexus
Plexus Corp. is a NASDAQ-listed company headquartered in Neenah, Wisconsin, that offers design and development, supply chain, new product introduction, manufacturing and sustaining services. Healthcare and life sciences is one of its three markets alongside aerospace and defense and industrial. Its healthcare work includes surgical equipment, imaging equipment and diagnostic instruments. The company has around 20,000 employees in total, though only part of that is healthcare.
Services and capabilities: StarFish Medical vs Plexus
| Capability | StarFish Medical | Plexus |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Plexus
| Framework / platform | StarFish Medical | Plexus |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | N/A |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure) | N/A | N/A |
| IEC 62304 | ✓ | N/A |
| ISO 14971 | ✓ | N/A |
| ISO 13485 QMS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: StarFish Medical vs Plexus
| Criterion | StarFish Medical | Plexus |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Manufacturing contract, Time & materials | Fixed project, Manufacturing contract |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: StarFish Medical vs Plexus
| Dimension | StarFish Medical | Plexus |
|---|---|---|
| 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, Aerospace |
| Best use cases | Taking a venture-backed device from proof of concept to clinical-trial units, Designing an optical diagnostic instrument with its consumable | Building and sustaining a diagnostic imaging subsystem, Electronics redesign for component obsolescence |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
StarFish Medical vs Plexus: 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 |
| Plexus | |
|---|---|
| + | Strong with complex, lower-volume capital equipment such as imaging and surgical systems |
| + | Offers product engineering as well as manufacturing |
| + | Sustaining engineering over long product lives |
| + | Public company with transparent financial reporting |
| - | Generalist manufacturer; healthcare competes with aerospace and industrial for capacity |
| - | Not a fit for early-stage concept work |
| - | Most engineering engagements lead toward a manufacturing contract |
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 Plexus?
A typical fit: building and sustaining a diagnostic imaging subsystem.
Engineering, NPI and sustaining services for low-to-mid volume, high-complexity medical equipment. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Surgical & robotics, Diagnostics & lab devices, Aerospace, Industrial.
Decision matrix: StarFish Medical vs Plexus
| 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 Plexus (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 Plexus
| Use case | StarFish Medical fit | Plexus 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 |
| Building and sustaining a diagnostic imaging subsystem | Limited | Strong | Plexus |
| Electronics redesign for component obsolescence | Limited | Strong | Plexus |
Verdict: StarFish Medical vs Plexus
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.
Plexus (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need electronics redesign for component obsolescence. If your situation matches that, Plexus is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
StarFish Medical vs Plexus FAQ
Is StarFish Medical better than Plexus?
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. Plexus's strongest advantage: strong with complex, lower-volume capital equipment such as imaging and surgical systems.
How do StarFish Medical and Plexus differ in pricing?
StarFish Medical uses phased fixed project, time and materials pricing. Plexus uses npi contract, manufacturing supply agreement 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 Plexus?
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 Plexus?
StarFish Medical's primary differentiator is: medtech-only practice that can build clinical and early commercial units in its own certified clean room. Plexus's primary differentiator is: Engineering, NPI and sustaining services for low-to-mid volume, high-complexity medical equipment. They also differ in team size (201–250 vs ~20,000), 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.