Team Consulting vs Planet Innovation: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Team Consulting (4.3/5) edges ahead of Planet Innovation (4.2/5) overall. Team Consulting is the better choice for Inhalers, injectors and human-factors-heavy devices. Planet Innovation is the stronger option for diagnostics companies in Asia-Pacific and the US. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Team Consulting vs Planet Innovation: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Team Consulting | Planet Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 | 2009 |
| HQ | Ickleton, Cambridge, UK | Box Hill, Victoria, Australia |
| Team size | 140–190 | 300–400 |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery | Diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, phased fixed project | Fixed project, time and materials |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | SolidWorks, Mechanical simulation, Usability engineering | Embedded C/C++, Cloud (AWS/Azure), Microfluidics |
| Industries served | Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Diagnostics & lab devices | Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring |
Team Consulting vs Planet Innovation: overview
Team Consulting
Team Consulting began in 1986 as a general product development consultancy started by five former colleagues and has worked mainly in the medical sector since the early 1990s. It is employee-owned and based in a converted barn in Ickleton, near Cambridge, with somewhere between 140 and 190 staff depending on the source. Its best-known work is in inhaled and injectable drug delivery devices, where it combines industrial design, mechanical engineering and human factors.
Planet Innovation
Planet Innovation was founded in Melbourne in 2009 by four diagnostics industry specialists: Eduardo Vom, Sam Lanyon, Stuart Elliott and Troy O'Callaghan. It is headquartered in Box Hill, Victoria, with a facility in Irvine, California, and employs roughly 300 to 390 people depending on the source. The company has focused on regulated medical devices since 2016 and works across diagnostics, medical devices, biotechnology and connected health, including some product ventures of its own.
Services and capabilities: Team Consulting vs Planet Innovation
| Capability | Team Consulting | Planet Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Team Consulting vs Planet Innovation
| Framework / platform | Team Consulting | Planet Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | N/A | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | N/A |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure) | N/A | ✓ |
| IEC 62304 | N/A | N/A |
| ISO 14971 | N/A | N/A |
| ISO 13485 QMS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Team Consulting vs Planet Innovation
| Criterion | Team Consulting | Planet Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Consulting, Fixed project, Time & materials | Fixed project, Manufacturing contract, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Team Consulting vs Planet Innovation
| Dimension | Team Consulting | Planet Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Diagnostics & lab devices | Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring |
| Best use cases | Designing a dry powder inhaler or autoinjector, Formative and summative usability studies | Developing a connected point-of-care diagnostic, Commercialization planning for an Australian medtech startup |
| Typical project type | Consulting | Fixed project |
Team Consulting vs Planet Innovation: pros and cons
| Team Consulting | |
|---|---|
| + | Medical and pharma work has been its main business for over 30 years |
| + | Human factors engineering is one of the strongest in the UK for drug delivery |
| + | Employee ownership supports long-term client relationships |
| + | Industrial design quality is high, which matters for patient-handled devices |
| - | Electronics and connected-device software are a smaller part of its work than mechanics and design |
| - | No manufacturing; transfer to a CM is required |
| - | UK rates and location may not suit US startups on tight budgets |
| Planet Innovation | |
|---|---|
| + | Founders came from the diagnostics industry, and diagnostics is still its strongest area |
| + | Has launched products of its own, so it understands commercialization as well as engineering |
| + | Australian base offers time-zone coverage for Asia-Pacific clients |
| + | Irvine facility serves US clients locally |
| - | Runs its own product ventures, so ask how client work is prioritized |
| - | Less known in Europe |
| - | Headcount and certifications should be confirmed directly |
Who should choose Team Consulting?
A typical fit: designing a dry powder inhaler or autoinjector.
Three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Diagnostics & lab devices.
Who should choose Planet Innovation?
A typical fit: developing a connected point-of-care diagnostic.
Diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring.
Decision matrix: Team Consulting vs Planet Innovation
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Team Consulting |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Team Consulting (Not disclosed) vs Planet Innovation (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Team Consulting |
| 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: Team Consulting vs Planet Innovation
| Use case | Team Consulting fit | Planet Innovation fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Designing a dry powder inhaler or autoinjector | Strong | Limited | Team Consulting |
| Formative and summative usability studies | Strong | Limited | Team Consulting |
| Developing a connected point-of-care diagnostic | Limited | Strong | Planet Innovation |
| Commercialization planning for an Australian medtech startup | Limited | Strong | Planet Innovation |
Verdict: Team Consulting vs Planet Innovation
Team Consulting (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Medical Device Development projects. Three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery.
Planet Innovation (4.2/5) is worth a look if you need commercialization planning for an Australian medtech startup. If your situation matches that, Planet Innovation is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Team Consulting vs Planet Innovation FAQ
Is Team Consulting better than Planet Innovation?
Team Consulting (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Team Consulting's strongest advantage: medical and pharma work has been its main business for over 30 years. Planet Innovation's strongest advantage: founders came from the diagnostics industry, and diagnostics is still its strongest area.
How do Team Consulting and Planet Innovation differ in pricing?
Team Consulting uses time and materials, phased fixed project pricing. Planet Innovation uses fixed project, time and materials pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Team Consulting or Planet Innovation?
Planet Innovation 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 Team Consulting and Planet Innovation?
Team Consulting's primary differentiator is: three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery. Planet Innovation's primary differentiator is: diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US. They also differ in team size (140–190 vs 300–400), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices vs Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.