StarFish Medical vs Sunrise Labs: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
StarFish Medical (4.6/5) edges ahead of Sunrise Labs (4.5/5) overall. StarFish Medical is the better choice for startups needing design plus pilot manufacturing. Sunrise Labs is the stronger option for electromechanical devices, fluidics and infusion. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
StarFish Medical vs Sunrise Labs: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | StarFish Medical | Sunrise Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 1992 |
| HQ | Victoria, BC, Canada | Bedford, NH, USA |
| Team size | 201–250 | 90–110 |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Medtech-only practice that can build clinical and early commercial units in its own certified clean room | Three decades of work on pumps, fluidics and motion-heavy medical systems where mechanics and firmware are tightly coupled |
| Pricing model | Phased fixed project, time and materials | Time and materials, phased fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | ISO 13485 QMS, IEC 62304, ISO 14971 | Embedded C/C++, RTOS, IEC 60601 |
| Industries served | Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Wearables & remote monitoring, Drug delivery | Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices |
StarFish Medical vs Sunrise Labs: 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.
Sunrise Labs
Founded in 1992 by MIT-trained engineers, Sunrise Labs is a privately held product development firm that now operates from Bedford, New Hampshire, with a Boston-area office added in 2022. Its work concentrates on electromechanical medical devices: infusion and fluid handling, diagnostics instruments and therapeutic systems that combine motors, sensors, electronics and embedded software. Directory listings put the team at roughly 90 to 100 people. Sunrise Labs handles development and design transfer and does not run its own volume manufacturing.
Services and capabilities: StarFish Medical vs Sunrise Labs
| Capability | StarFish Medical | Sunrise Labs |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Sunrise Labs
| Framework / platform | StarFish Medical | Sunrise Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | ✓ |
| BLE | N/A | N/A |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure) | N/A | N/A |
| IEC 62304 | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISO 14971 | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISO 13485 QMS | ✓ | N/A |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: StarFish Medical vs Sunrise Labs
| Criterion | StarFish Medical | Sunrise Labs |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Sunrise Labs
| Dimension | StarFish Medical | Sunrise Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Wearables & remote monitoring | Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices |
| Best use cases | Taking a venture-backed device from proof of concept to clinical-trial units, Designing an optical diagnostic instrument with its consumable | Developing an infusion pump or fluid management system, Rescuing a stalled electromechanical device program before verification |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
StarFish Medical vs Sunrise Labs: 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 |
| Sunrise Labs | |
|---|---|
| + | Deep experience with infusion, fluid handling and other electromechanical systems that most software-led firms avoid |
| + | Engineers who own mechanics, electronics and firmware sit on the same team, which helps with system-level risk analysis |
| + | Long track record with US medtech clients and FDA submission support |
| + | Mid-sized team means senior engineers stay visible on projects |
| - | No in-house volume manufacturing; design transfer to a CM is part of every plan |
| - | US-only footprint and Northeast US rates put it at the higher end on cost |
| - | Less suited to software-only or SaMD projects |
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 Sunrise Labs?
A typical fit: developing an infusion pump or fluid management system.
Three decades of work on pumps, fluidics and motion-heavy medical systems where mechanics and firmware are tightly coupled. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices.
Decision matrix: StarFish Medical vs Sunrise Labs
| 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 Sunrise Labs (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 Sunrise Labs
| Use case | StarFish Medical fit | Sunrise Labs 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 |
| Developing an infusion pump or fluid management system | Limited | Strong | Sunrise Labs |
| Rescuing a stalled electromechanical device program before verification | Limited | Strong | Sunrise Labs |
Verdict: StarFish Medical vs Sunrise Labs
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.
Sunrise Labs (4.5/5) is worth a look if you need rescuing a stalled electromechanical device program before verification. If your situation matches that, Sunrise Labs is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
StarFish Medical vs Sunrise Labs FAQ
Is StarFish Medical better than Sunrise Labs?
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. Sunrise Labs's strongest advantage: deep experience with infusion, fluid handling and other electromechanical systems that most software-led firms avoid.
How do StarFish Medical and Sunrise Labs differ in pricing?
StarFish Medical uses phased fixed project, time and materials pricing. Sunrise Labs 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: StarFish Medical or Sunrise Labs?
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 Sunrise Labs?
StarFish Medical's primary differentiator is: medtech-only practice that can build clinical and early commercial units in its own certified clean room. Sunrise Labs's primary differentiator is: three decades of work on pumps, fluidics and motion-heavy medical systems where mechanics and firmware are tightly coupled. They also differ in team size (201–250 vs 90–110), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices vs Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.