Team Consulting vs Promenade Software: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Team Consulting (4.3/5) edges ahead of Promenade Software (4.1/5) overall. Team Consulting is the better choice for Inhalers, injectors and human-factors-heavy devices. Promenade Software is the stronger option for small device makers needing software and security. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Team Consulting vs Promenade Software: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Team Consulting | Promenade Software |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 | 2013 |
| HQ | Ickleton, Cambridge, UK | Irvine, CA, USA |
| Team size | 140–190 | 11–50 |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery | Pairs contract device software with its own medical cybersecurity tooling and information-sharing service |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, phased fixed project | Time and materials, fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | SolidWorks, Mechanical simulation, Usability engineering | Embedded C/C++, Cloud (AWS/Azure), IEC 62304 |
| Industries served | Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Diagnostics & lab devices | Surgical & therapeutic devices, Digital health, Diagnostics & lab devices |
Team Consulting vs Promenade Software: 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.
Promenade Software
Since 2013 this Irvine, California, company has developed software for medical devices, from low-level firmware to cloud services, along with postmarket support. Directory listings say it follows IEC 62304 and holds ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 9001:2015 certification. It has also built cybersecurity products for the industry, including CyberMed Cloud and the MedISAO information-sharing service. The team is small, with estimates of 11 to 50 people.
Services and capabilities: Team Consulting vs Promenade Software
| Capability | Team Consulting | Promenade Software |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Promenade Software
| Framework / platform | Team Consulting | Promenade Software |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ✓ |
| ISO 14971 | N/A | N/A |
| ISO 13485 QMS | ✓ | N/A |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Team Consulting vs Promenade Software
| Criterion | Team Consulting | Promenade Software |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Consulting, Fixed project, Time & materials | Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Team Consulting vs Promenade Software
| Dimension | Team Consulting | Promenade Software |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Diagnostics & lab devices | Surgical & therapeutic devices, Digital health, Diagnostics & lab devices |
| Best use cases | Designing a dry powder inhaler or autoinjector, Formative and summative usability studies | Firmware and cloud software for an early-stage device, Building SBOM and vulnerability monitoring for a cleared device |
| Typical project type | Consulting | Fixed project |
Team Consulting vs Promenade Software: 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 |
| Promenade Software | |
|---|---|
| + | Software-only, ISO 13485 certified team that knows FDA expectations |
| + | Owns cybersecurity products, so security work comes with tooling |
| + | Small team keeps costs and overhead down for startups |
| + | Southern California location close to the Orange County medtech cluster |
| - | Very small, so capacity for large programs is limited |
| - | No hardware or mechanical design |
| - | Certifications come from directory listings and should be confirmed with the company |
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 Promenade Software?
A typical fit: firmware and cloud software for an early-stage device.
Pairs contract device software with its own medical cybersecurity tooling and information-sharing service. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Surgical & therapeutic devices, Digital health, Diagnostics & lab devices.
Decision matrix: Team Consulting vs Promenade Software
| 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 Promenade Software (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 Promenade Software
| Use case | Team Consulting fit | Promenade Software fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Designing a dry powder inhaler or autoinjector | Strong | Limited | Team Consulting |
| Formative and summative usability studies | Strong | Limited | Team Consulting |
| Firmware and cloud software for an early-stage device | Limited | Strong | Promenade Software |
| Building SBOM and vulnerability monitoring for a cleared device | Limited | Strong | Promenade Software |
Verdict: Team Consulting vs Promenade Software
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.
Promenade Software (4.1/5) is worth a look if you need building SBOM and vulnerability monitoring for a cleared device. If your situation matches that, Promenade Software is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Team Consulting vs Promenade Software FAQ
Is Team Consulting better than Promenade Software?
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. Promenade Software's strongest advantage: Software-only, ISO 13485 certified team that knows FDA expectations.
How do Team Consulting and Promenade Software differ in pricing?
Team Consulting uses time and materials, phased fixed project pricing. Promenade Software 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: Team Consulting or Promenade Software?
Team Consulting 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 Promenade Software?
Team Consulting's primary differentiator is: three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery. Promenade Software's primary differentiator is: pairs contract device software with its own medical cybersecurity tooling and information-sharing service. They also differ in team size (140–190 vs 11–50), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices vs Surgical & therapeutic devices, Digital health).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.